2027 Water Rates: Residential, Multi-Family, Business
Water utility rates will increase beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The amount of the increase depends on your customer type, water use and the services included on your account.
Residential metered customer rates
Residential metered customers include single-family, semi-detached and duplex homes with a water meter.
The example below is based on a Residential Metered customer with a 15 mm meter using 19 m³ of water per month.
In 2027, this customer would see a combined water, wastewater and stormwater rate and service charge increase of 12.2%.
- This is a total increase of $14.50 per month, for a monthly bill of $133.71.
- Water treatment and supply rates and service charges increase by $4.74 per month. Change of +10.1%
- Wastewater collection and treatment rates and service charges increase by $8.77 per month. Change of +15.9%
- The stormwater management service charge increases by $0.99 per month. Change of +5.8%.
Residential Metered Customers (Based on household using 19m3 per month) | ||||||
2026 | 2027 | % change | Impact on monthly bill | 2027 monthly bill | ||
| Water treatment and supply | Usage rate per cubic metre (1 cubic metre = 1000 litres) | $1.7409 | $1.9903 | +10.1% | +$4.74 | $51.65 |
Service charge per 30 days | $13.83 | $13.83 | ||||
| Wastewater collection and treatment | Usage rate per cubic metre* (1 cubic metre = 1000 litres) | $1.9050 | $2.4292 | +15.9% | +$8.77 | $64.07 |
Service charge per 30 days | $23.45 | $23.45 | ||||
| Stormwater management | Service charge per 30 days | $17.00 | $17.99 | +5.8% | +$0.99 | $17.99 |
* Not all of the water delivered to your home over 12 months is returned to the wastewater system. In 2027 the wastewater usage is your water usage multiplied by 0.88 to reflect that over the course of the year you return around 88% of the water used to the wastewater system. This percentage is used year-round and recognizes seasonal fluctuations where you send more water to the wastewater treatment system in the winter months and less during the summer months because of outdoor activities like watering.
Multi-family customer rates
Multi-Family customers include apartment buildings and other residential properties with multiple dwelling units where water service is billed for the property rather than through an individual residential account for each unit. Examples include apartment, condominium and townhouse complexes with five or more units attached.
The example below is based on a Multi-Family customer with a 40 mm meter using 584 m³ of water per month, consistent with the water use of a 30 to 35-unit building.
In 2027, this customer will see a combined water, wastewater and stormwater rate and service charge increase of 14.3 %.
- This is an increase of $357.38 per month on the average monthly bill of $2,860.76
- Water treatment and supply rates and service charges increase by $162.00 per month. Change of +17.4%
- Wastewater collection and treatment rates and service charges increase by $194.39 per month. Change of +12.5%
- The stormwater management service charge increases by $0.99 per month. Change of +5.8%.
Multi-Family Customers (Based on multi-family building using 584m3 per month) | ||||||
2026 | 2027 | % change | Impact on monthly bill | 2027 monthly bill | ||
| Water treatment and supply | Usage rate per cubic metre (1 cubic metre = 1000 litres) | $1.4992 | $1.7766 | +17.4% | +$162.00 | $1,094.68 |
Service charge per 30 days | $57.15 | $57.15 | ||||
| Wastewater collection and treatment | Usage rate per cubic metre* (1 cubic metre = 1000 litres) | $2.7582 | $3.0762 | +17.4% | +$194.39 | $1,748.09 |
Service charge per 30 days | $23.45 | $23.45 | ||||
| Stormwater management | Service charge per 30 days | $17.00 | $17.99 | +5.8% | +$0.99 | $17.99 |
* Not all of the water delivered to your home over 12 months is returned to the wastewater system. In 2027 the wastewater usage is your water usage multiplied by 0.96 to reflect that over the course of the year you return around 96% of the water used to the wastewater system. This percentage is used year-round and recognizes seasonal fluctuations where you send more water to the wastewater treatment system in the winter months and less during the summer months because of outdoor activities like watering.
Business customer: Regular meter
Regular meter business customers includes non-residential customers, including commercial, industrial and institutional customers with a meter smaller than 75 mm. Examples may include a medium-sized restaurant, big-box retail store or grocery store.
A regular meter business customer with a 25 mm meter using 400 m³ of water per month will see a combined water, wastewater and stormwater rate and service charge increase of 14.9 %.
- In 2027, this customer would see an increase of $247.14 per month on an average monthly bill of $1,908.47.
- Water treatment and supply rates and service charges increase by $100.40 per month. Change of +14.8%
- Wastewater collection and treatment rates and service charges increase by $145.75 per month. Change of +15.1%
- The stormwater management service charge increases by $0.99 per month. Change of +5.8%.
Business Customer: Regular Meter, General Service Rate (Based on a business using 400m3 per month) | ||||||
2026 | 2027 | % change | Impact on monthly bill | 2027 monthly bill | ||
| Water treatment and supply | Usage rate per cubic metre (1 cubic metre = 1000 litres) | $1.6265 | $1.8775 | +14.8% | +$100.40 | $781.07 |
Service charge per 30 days | $30.07 | $30.07 | ||||
| Wastewater collection and treatment | Usage rate per cubic metre* (1 cubic metre = 1000 litres) | $2.6117 | $3.0851 | +15.1% | +$145.75 | $1,109.41 |
Service charge per 30 days | $23.45 | $23.45 | ||||
| Stormwater management | Service charge per 30 days | $17.00 | $17.99 | +5.8% | +$0.99 | $17.99 |
* Not all of the water delivered to your business over 12 months is returned to the wastewater system. In 2027 the wastewater usage is your water usage multiplied by 0.88 to reflect that over the course of the year you return around 88% of the water used to the wastewater system. This percentage is used year-round and recognizes seasonal fluctuations where you send more water to the wastewater treatment system in the winter months and less during the summer months because of outdoor activities like watering.
Business customer: Large meter
Large meter business customers are commercial, industrial and institutional customers with a meter larger than 75 mm. These customers could be a large food or beverage processor, building-material producer, large retail shopping centre or a recreation centre.
The example below is based on a Large General Service customer with a 150mm meter using 10,365 m³ of water per month.
In 2027, this customer would see a combined water, wastewater and stormwater rate and service charge increase of 20%.
- This is a total increase of $8,171.28 per month for a monthly bill of $49,085.74
- Water treatment and supply rates and service charges increase by $4,393.72 per month. Change of +26.6%
- Wastewater collection and treatment rates and service charges increase by $3,776.57 per month. Change of +15.5%
- The stormwater management service charge increases by $0.99 per month. Change of +5.8%.
Business Customer: Large Meter, Large General Service Rate (Based on a business using 10,365m3 per month) | ||||||
2026 | 2027 | % change | Impact on monthly bill | 2027 monthly bill | ||
| Water treatment and supply | Usage rate per cubic metre (1 cubic metre = 1000 litres) | $1.5404 | $1.9643 | +26.6% | +$4,393.72 | $20,904.49 |
Service charge per 30 days | $544.52 | $544.52 | ||||
| Wastewater collection and treatment | Usage rate per cubic metre* (1 cubic metre = 1000 litres) | $2.6117 | $$3.0851 | +15.5% | +$3,776.57 | $28,163.26 |
Service charge per 30 days | $23.45 | $23.45 | ||||
| Stormwater management | Service charge per 30 days | $17.00 | $17.99 | +5.8% | +$0.99 | $17.99 |
* Not all of the water delivered to your business over 12 months is returned to the wastewater system. In 2027 the wastewater usage is your water usage multiplied by 0.88 to reflect that over the course of the year you return around 88% of the water used to the wastewater system. This percentage is used year-round and recognizes seasonal fluctuations where you send more water to the wastewater treatment system in the winter months and less during the summer months because of outdoor activities like watering.
Frequently asked questions
Why are rates increasing so much now?
Several pressures are driving the need for greater investment in the water system: aging infrastructure, rapid population growth, higher costs and a clearer understanding of infrastructure condition and system risks. The approved rates provide more funding to renew infrastructure, expand capacity and improve system reliability.
What value am I actually getting for the increase?
Investing helps ensure: clean drinking water reaches homes and businesses, wastewater is safely collected and treated, stormwater is managed to protect communities from flooding, and the system is better prepared for emergencies. It also means backup systems to keep essential services running when equipment fails.
Major investments include:
- Two new feeder mains and supporting infrastructure to increase drinking water capacity in north and south Calgary.
- Upgrades to the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant and Glenmore Water Treatment Plant.
- Planning and early construction of Calgary’s first new water treatment plant in decades.
- Expansions at the Fish Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, Pine Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant to increase wastewater capacity.
- Advanced metering and improved system monitoring.
- Stormwater infrastructure and flood protection.
- Stronger emergency preparedness and system reliability.
How much will my bill increase?
The increase depends on the customer group and water use. The sample 2027 monthly impacts above from 12.2% for the residential metered example to 20.0% for the large general service example. The increases by service are 19.9% for drinking water, 15.2% for wastewater and 5.8% for stormwater, but those percentages are not applied directly to every customer’s total bill.
What support is available if I’m having difficulty paying my bill?
The Water Utility does not provide a customer bill-assistance program. Customers can contact ENMAX, The City's contracted customer care, billing and collections service provider to discuss different options such as payment arrangements.
To reach ENMAX please dial 310-2010 (or 1-877-571-7111 outside of Alberta).
Customers can also reduce the usage-based portion of their bill by saving water. Simple ways to save water include checking for leaks, running dishwashers and washing machines with full loads and using water-efficient fixtures and appliances. Customers may also qualify for up to $150 through the Home Water Savings Rebate Program toward eligible water-efficient bathroom fixtures.
What is the difference between usage charges and fixed charges?
Usage charges change based on how much water a customer uses. Drinking water and wastewater both include usage-based charges, so using less water can reduce this part of the bill.
Fixed charges do not change based on water use. They help pay for the services and infrastructure that must remain available whether a customer uses a little water or a lot, including pipes, treatment facilities, meters, billing and fire protection.
Stormwater is charged as a fixed charge, rather than based on water use. This charge helps pay for drainage, flood-risk reduction, maintenance of the stormwater system and protection of rivers.
What do the different charges on my bill pay for?
Drinking water charges help pay for treating and delivering safe drinking water, testing water quality, building infrastructure, maintaining the system and providing services such as metering and fire protection.
Wastewater charges help pay for collecting wastewater, moving it through the wastewater system, treating it at wastewater treatment plants and safely returning treated water to the river.
Stormwater charges help pay for street drainage, flood-risk reduction, maintenance of stormwater infrastructure and work that protects rivers and communities.
Can I lower my bill by using less water?
Yes. Drinking water and wastewater include usage-based charges, so using less water can reduce that portion of the bill. Fixed charges remain because infrastructure and services must be available regardless of how much water is used.
Don’t property taxes pay for water services?
No. Calgary’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services are self-supported. They’re funded through utility rates, levies, fees and other utility revenues rather than property taxes.
Why are high-water-use businesses seeing large dollar increases?
For high-water-use businesses, changes to usage-based drinking water and wastewater rates are the main driver of the increase. Because these businesses use larger volumes of water, changes to usage rates result in larger dollar impacts.