2024 monthly residential utility rates

Single family residential homes located within city limits are billed monthly for water, sewer, LOTT, and stormwater services.

Understanding your statement

Water charges consist of two parts:

• Base Fee - This flat rate, sometimes called the "ready to serve" fee, is billed every month regardless of the quantity of water used. This fee covers operational costs the utility incurs, like water quality monitoring, treatments, and meter reads. 
• Consumption Fee - Consumption fees are structured in a four tier system to allow accounts to be billed for the amount of water that is used. Higher usage of water is billed at a higher rate than those with lower water usage. Conserve water and save on your monthly water bill!

All fees are subject to a 6% utility tax that is reflected on the monthly statement.

Residential utility bill example

Below is an example of the monthly charges for a single family residential home with no water consumption compared to a home that used 900 cubic feet (CF) of water, both with a 3/4" meter. Please note: On an actual bill, the base and consumption fees are combined.

Consumption fee rates

Fee rates

Note: LOTT is a non-profit formed by the cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Thurston County to provide wastewater management and treatment services. The city of Tumwater does not develop the LOTT rate.  For more information regarding LOTT’s services and fees visit the LOTT website.

Commercial utility rates

Commercial accounts are billed monthly for water, sewer, LOTT, and stormwater services. Commercial accounts may have the ability to establish a separate water meter for irrigation systems.

Water charges consist of two parts:

• Base fee - This flat rate based on meter size, sometimes called the "ready to serve" fee, is billed every month regardless of the quantity of water used. This fee covers operational costs the utility incurs, like water quality monitoring, treatments, and meter reads.
• Consumption fee - Consumption fees are billed at a rate of $3.34 per 100 cubic feet (CF) of water used.

All the fees below are subject to a 6% utility tax that is reflected on the monthly statement. Use the table below

2024 fees and rates

Use the table below to determine your base fee by meter size. Please note that LOTT is a non-profit formed by the cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Thurston County to provide wastewater management and treatment services. The city of Tumwater does not develop the LOTT rate. For more information regarding LOTT services and fees visit the LOTT website.

Commercial Utility Bill Example

Below is an example of a 2" meter commercial account (non-irrigation) with no water consumption for the month compared to a 2" meter commercial account that used 1200 cubic feet (cf) of water during the month. This example also reflects stormwater charges for a commercial property with 22,750 square feet of impervious surface. Please note that on an actual bill monthly base and consumption fees are combined.

2024 monthly multi-family utility rates

Multi-family units located within city limits are billed monthly for water, sewer, LOTT, and stormwater services. Sewer, LOTT, and stormwater fees are based on number of units whereas water is billed for consumption.

All the fees below are subject to a 6% utility tax that is reflected on the monthly statement.

• Base fee - This flat rate based on meter size, sometimes called the "ready to serve" fee, is billed every month regardless of the quantity of water used. This fee covers operational costs the utility incurs, like water quality monitoring, treatments, and meter reads.
• Consumption fee - Consumption fees are structured in a four tier system to allow accounts to be billed for the amount of water that is used. During the summer months when the irrigation season is upon us, accounts tend to be billed at a higher rate for larger amounts of water used.

Property owners are responsible for all water that passes through the meter onto the property. Do not tamper with a water meter as they belong to the city. Any damage that might occur due to tampering could lead to additional charges. Meters are read at the beginning of each month and are billed at the end of the month. Please contact the Utility Billing staff at (360) 754-4133 if you need help understanding your bill or if you are concerned that you may have a leak.

The City of Tumwater does not develop the LOTT rate. For more information regarding LOTT’s services and fees visit the LOTT website.

2024 Low Income Senior/Disabled Utility Discounted Rates (Lifeline Program)

Reduced Rates

Discounted utility rates are available to low income senior residents (62 and over) and low-income residents with disabilities that qualify for the City of Tumwater Lifeline program. Lifeline accounts for single family residential homes are billed monthly. All fees are subject to a 6% utility tax that is reflected on the monthly statement.  

• Base Fee - This flat rate based on meter size, sometimes called the "ready to serve" fee, is billed every month regardless of the quantity of water used. This fee covers operational costs the utility incurs, like water quality monitoring, treatments, and meter reads.
• Consumption Fee - The second part of the water charge is the consumption charge measured in cubic feet (CF). Consumption fees are structured in a four tier system to allow accounts to be billed for the amount of water that is used. There is a 50% reduction in the consumption charges for qualify lifeline accounts.  

The City of Tumwater does not set the LOTT rate. For more information regarding LOTT services and fees, visit the LOTT website.

Sample Utility Bill Comparison

Below is an example of a single family home's charges for the month with 900 cubic feet (CF) of water with regular residential rates compared to lifeline rates. Please note that on an actual bill, the monthly base fee and the consumption will be combined.

Miscellaneous Fees Associated With Utility Billing