News Flash

Planning & Public Works

Posted on: December 21, 2022

Pierce County sewer rates to increase Jan. 1, 2023

Customers in Pierce County’s sewer service area will see a 3 percent increase in their sewer rates starting Jan. 1, 2023.

In November 2021 the Pierce County Council passed Ordinance No. 2021-106, which set the sewer rate as part of the 2022-23 biennial budget.

Within the Chambers Creek service area, single-family residential customers will pay $59.06 monthly, up from $57.34 in 2022. Multi-family customers will pay $51.59 per unit monthly, up from $50.09. Commercial customers will pay a basic service charge of $17.67 each month, up from $17.16. Commercial volume service charges vary by classification and will also increase by 3 percent from 2022. 

Within the Cascadia service area, single-family residential customers will pay $65.17 monthly, up from $63.27 in 2022. Multi-family customers will pay $57.39 per unit monthly, up from $55.72. Commercial customers will pay a basic service charge of $8.77 each month, up from $8.51. Commercial volume service charges vary by classification and will also increase by 3 percent from 2022. For specific sewer rate information, visit PierceCountyWa.gov/Sewer-Rates

A rate adjustment is necessary to support the operation and reliability of the public sewer system in the service area. Rates help fund increasing costs for preventative maintenance, regulatory requirements, and meeting growth demands in Pierce County. They also cover operational costs associated with our various regulatory compliance permits through the Washington State Department of Ecology.

In addition to operating the Chambers Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant in University Place and the Cascadia Wastewater Treatment Plant in Tehaleh, Pierce County Planning and Public Works maintains approximately 715 miles of pipeline, 100 lift stations, and 770 residential grinder pump stations.  

The Planning and Public Works Department provides sanitary sewer service to an estimated population of nearly 320,700 people through approximately 71,000 residential and commercial accounts in unincorporated Pierce County and the cities of Lakewood, University Place, DuPont, Edgewood, and Milton, the Town of Steilacoom, and portions of the cities of Tacoma and Fife.

Pierce County Council will review the 2023 sewer connection charges in January 2023, and the new connection rates will go into effect Feb. 1, 2023.


MEDIA CONTACT:
Akiko Oda, Pierce County public information specialist
[email protected]
(253) 753-4428


Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Planning & Public Works

8th Ave. S culvert replacement, Nov. 6-8

Posted on: November 3, 2023

Groundwater Monitoring Season Reminder

Posted on: September 21, 2023

Annual fee changes coming in 2023

Posted on: December 28, 2022

No building inspections on May 24

Posted on: May 9, 2022

Please Continue to Use Online Services

Posted on: January 21, 2022

Annual Fee Changes Coming in 2022

Posted on: December 17, 2021

New septic-to-sewer conversion process

Posted on: November 10, 2021

New application requirement coming Oct. 1

Posted on: September 28, 2021

Recording fees increase on July 25

Posted on: July 16, 2021

Development Center Operations Update

Posted on: March 23, 2021