Baltimore water bill calculator: what your monthly DPW bill should be in 2026-27

Baltimore City water and sewer rates for 2026-27

Monthly charges for Baltimore City residential customers. Source: Baltimore City DPW, Rates & Fees (rate schedule approved by the Board of Estimates on Jan. 22, 2025).

Why Baltimore water bills keep rising

The Board of Estimates approved a three-step increase in January 2025: a mid-year bump on Feb. 1, 2025, then 9% increases in water and sewer rates on July 1, 2025, and again on July 1, 2026, with stormwater fees rising about 3% a year. For DPW's typical household, the bill went from $154.82 a month in FY2026 to $167.90 in FY2027, an increase of about 8.4%. The money pays for the city's aging water mains, its treatment plants and the sewer work required under a federal consent decree.

Sewer is the biggest line on most bills. Sewer usage is billed on the same metered CCF as water, at nearly three times the price ($14.37 versus $4.86 per CCF), so cutting water use lowers both. At 6 CCF a month, usage charges are about $115 of the $167.90 typical bill; the rest is fixed charges you pay even if you use no water.

Frequently asked questions

How much water does a Baltimore household use?

DPW estimates about 3 CCF per person per month, and uses 6 CCF (4,488 gallons) for its typical-bill example. Your bill shows your actual usage for the service period.

What is the stormwater fee?

It is a monthly fee for the hard surfaces on your property, such as roofs, patios and driveways, that send rain into the storm drains. Single-family homes pay one of three tiers: up to 820 square feet, 821 to 1,500 square feet, or more than 1,500 square feet.

Is there help with Baltimore water bills?

Yes. The Water4All program lowers bills for Baltimore City households with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, renters included, and you reapply every year. DPW also offers payment plans for balances of $50 or more, leak adjustments and a medical exemption that prevents shutoffs.

I live in Baltimore County. Does this apply to me?

No. Baltimore City bills Baltimore County water customers quarterly at different rates, and Baltimore County bills sewer as an annual charge on the July property tax bill. This calculator covers Baltimore City residential accounts only.

Why doesn't my bill match exactly?

Bills cover the period between meter reads, which is not always exactly 30 days, and DPW does not publish how it prorates longer or shorter periods. Past-due balances, adjustments and credits also change the total.

Data checked October 9, 2026. This is an estimate; your DPW bill is the final word.