DC Water has announced new and updated fees and charges for services. Some existing fees increased, while some remained the same. DC Water also implemented several new fees for services. For instance, there are a number of new fees for permit reviews for new development. The manual meter reading fee increased as did the fee for returned checks. The fees increased for food-serving establishments to address clogged sewer lines, sewer backups, and infrastructure damage caused by the improper discharge of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) into the sewer system.
New/Increased Fees:
- Backflow Prevention Assembly Fee FAQ
- Fats, Oils, Grease Fee FAQ
- Hydrant Use and Permit Fees FAQ
- Manual Meter Reading Fee FAQ
- Notice to Follow-Up Compliance Fee (FAQ)
- Industrial Pretreatment Fees
- Special Event Equipment and Personnel Fees
DC Water had not revisited the fee structure since 2019. Ensuring the fees cover the cost to provide the services prevents those costs being unfairly recovered from everyone in the customer base, DC Water commissioned a cost of service study in late 2021 to ensure our fees and charges cover the cost of providing services. The last comprehensive cost of service study of miscellaneous fees was conducted in 2019. DC Water coordinated with independent consultants to ensure that the fees are reasonable and generally represent the cost of providing the service. The analysis also took into account the level of fees in comparison to peer utilities in the region. As a result, many fees remained the same.
Water Quality Fees
| Customer Compliance Fees | Fee |
|---|---|
| Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG) Facility Monthly Fee | $18.70 |
| Cross-Connection/Back Flow Prevention Monthly Fee | $6.70 |
Customer Service
| Customer Service Fees | Fee |
|---|---|
| Customer Bad Check Fee | $30 |
| Declined Credit Card Fee | $40 |
| Customer Penalty Late Fee | 10% after 30 days |
| Additional Penalty Late Payment Fee | 1% per month after 60 days, compounded monthly |
| New Customer Account Initiation Fee | $55 |
| Turn Off Charges for Non-Payment | $55 |
| Reconnection Fee – Residential Customer | $50 |
| Reconnection Fee – Multi-Family and Non-Residential Customer |
$100 |
| Broken By-Pass Seal | $745 |
| Unauthorized Turn On | $260 |
| Notice of Follow Up (NOFOL) Compliance Fee | $475 |
| Second Water Audit within 24 months | $135 |
| Manual Meter Reading Fee * | $20/month/per meter |
| Manual Meter Reading Fee* 5/8”-2” Multi-Family and Non-Residential | $100 /month/meter |
| Manual Meter Reading Fee* 3”-4” Multi-Family and Non-Residential | $250 /month/meter |
| Manual Meter Reading Fee* 6” & greater Multi-Family and Non-Residential | $500/month/meter |
*The Manual Meter Read Fee is charged if customer refuses or does not respond to request to install Automatic Meter Reader or if the meter transmission unit is not transmitting due to the customer's failure to provide appropriate transmission requirements.
Water Taps and Connections Fees
| Water Taps and Connections Fees | Fee |
|---|---|
| Cross-Connection Turn-off 5/8” to 2” | $215 |
| Cross-Connection Turn-off 3” to 5” | $425 |
| Cross-Connection Turn-off 6” and larger | $955 |
| 1 Inch Tap Insertion | $455 |
| 1.5 Inch Tap Insertion | $530 |
| 2 Inch Tap Insertion | $575 |
| Water Connection | Reimbursable |
| Water Connection 3” and Larger | $2,500 |
| Water Tap Abandonment (2” or less diameter) | $425 |
| Water Service Connection Abandonment (greater than 2' diameter) | $850 |
| Inspect Pointing up Sewer Taps | $915 |
| Inspect Insertion of Y-Branch | $325 |
| Inspect Installation of Standard Cleanout | $325 |
| Inspect Sewer Tap Removal | $325 |
| Meter Setter Inspection | $250 |
| Meter Setter Re-Inspection | $250 |
| Meter Vault Inspection | $1,000 |
| Meter Vault Re-Inspection | $1,000 |
Fire Hydrant Flow Test and Use Charges
| Fire Hydrant Flow Test Fees | Fee |
|---|---|
| Fire Hydrant Flow Test (Field Test) | $320 |
| Fire Hydrant Flow Test (Computer Model) | $320 |
| Fire Hydrant Flow Test (Recent Test Record Available) | $135 |
| Letter in Lieu of Hydrant Flow Test | $250 |
| Private Fire Hydrant Flush | $90 |
| Fire Hydrant Use Fees | Fee | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Hydrant Permit | $75 | |
| Water and Sewer Rate – for Hydrant Use | Prevailing | Usage Based |
| 3” Fire Hydrant Meter Deposit | $1,750 | per rental |
| 3” Fire Hydrant Meter Rental < 15 days | $130 | |
| 3” Fire Hydrant Meter Rental ≥ 15 days | $10 | per day |
| 3” Fire Hydrant Meter w/Backflow Preventer Deposit | $2,750 | per rental |
| 3” Fire Hydrant Meter w/Backflow Preventer Rental < 15 days | $195 | per rental |
| 3” Fire Hydrant Meter w/Backflow Preventer Rental ≥ 15 days | $15 | per day |
| 5/8” Fire Hydrant Meter w/Backflow Preventer Deposit | $950 | per rental |
| 5/8” Fire Hydrant Meter w/Backflow Preventer Rental < 15 days | $115 | per rental |
| 5/8” Fire Hydrant Meter w/Backflow Preventer Rental ≥15 days | $10 | per day |
Installation and Removal of Water Bubblers
| Installation and Removal of Water Bubblers | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 Water Bubbler | $262 |
| Each additional Water Bubbler after the first in the same general location | $54 |
Large Projects
| Engineering Large Plans Review and Existing Permitting Fees |
Standard Review Fee New Fee |
Expedited Review New Fee |
Standard Review Time* (Business Days) |
Expedited Review Time* (Business Days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large Project Base Plan - 1st Submission Administrative Fee |
$140 $200 |
N/A N/A |
N/A | N/A |
| Large Project Rejected Plan Resubmission Administrative Fee |
$75 $100 |
N/A N/A |
N/A | N/A |
| Large Plan Review Fee per meter: |
$10,000 $15,000 |
$17,500 $30,000 |
30 | 15 |
| Large Project Foundation to Grade |
$1,000 $1,750 |
$1,750 $3,500 |
21 | 11 |
| Large Project Approved Plan Revision (APR) |
$1,000 $2,000 |
$1,750 $4,000 |
14 | 7 |
| Large Project Sheeting and Shoring |
$6,500 $12,500 |
$11,300 $25,000 |
30 | 15 |
| Large Project Abandonment Waiver Request |
$500 $750 |
$880 $1,300 |
14 | 7 |
| Large Project Temporary Water Connections |
$3,300 $5,000 |
$5,800 $10,000 |
21 | 11 |
| Large Fire Service Only Greater than 2” - with no interior renovations |
$4,500 $5,000 |
$7,800 $10,000 |
21 | 11 |
| Large Sanitary or Combined Connection Only 8” or larger |
$4,500 $5,000 |
$7,800 $10,000 |
21 | 11 |
| Large Storm Connection Only 15” or larger |
$4,500 $5,000 |
$7,800 $10,000 |
21 | 11 |
| Large Project Sign Off Only in DCRA ProjectDox |
-- $500 |
-- $1000 |
10 | 5 |
| Large Water Meter Size Reduction Plan (with no other work) |
$3,300 $5,000 |
$5,800 $10,000 |
21 | 11 |
| Large Project Raze Only Utility Release Letter - No Abandonments |
$330 $500 |
$580 $1,000 |
14 | 7 |
| Large Project Raze Only Utility Release Letter - With Abandonments |
$700 $1,500 |
$1200 $3,000 |
14 | 7 |
| Utility Infrastructure Only Review Fee (0 to 1,000 linear feet of water and/or sewer mains) |
-- $10,000 |
-- $20,000 |
30 | 15 |
| Utility Infrastructure Only Review Fee (1,000 – 2,500 linear feet of water and/or sewer mains) |
-- $15,000 |
-- $30,000 |
30 | 15 |
| Utility Infrastructure Only Review Fee (greater than 2,500 linear feet of water and/or sewer mains) |
-- $18,000 |
-- $36,000 |
30 | 15 |
*Review times are estimated; Actual time may vary.
Existing Small Plan Review Fees (Service tap 2 inches or less Fee
| Existing Small Plan Review Fees (Service tap 2 inches or less Fee |
Standard Fee New Fee |
Expedited Review Current Fee New Fee |
Standard Review Time* (Business Days) | Expedited Review Time* (Business Days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Project Base Plan - 1st Submission Administrative Fee – All Small Projects |
$140 $200 ** |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Small Project Rejected Plan Resubmission Administrative Fee - All Small Projects |
$75 $100 |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Small Project Sheet and Shore - All Small Projects |
$700 $1,250 |
$1,200 $2,500 |
14 | 7 |
| Small Residential or Townhouse Project per meter connection | SEE BELOW | SEE BELOW | SEE BELOW | SEE BELOW |
|
1 to 5 metered connections |
$700 $1,500 - each meter |
$1,200 $3,000- each meter |
14 | 7 |
|
6 to 20 metered connections |
$700 $1,500 - each meter |
$1,200 $3,000- each meter |
21 | 11 |
|
21 to 50 metered connections |
$700 $1,500 - each meter |
$1,200 $3,000- each meter |
40 | 20 |
|
greater than 50 metered connections |
$700 $1,500 - each meter |
$1,200 $3,000- each meter |
50 | 25 |
| Small Non-Residential Project per meter connection | SEE BELOW | SEE BELOW | SEE BELOW | SEE BELOW |
|
1-3 metered connections |
$3,300 $5,000 - each meter |
$5,800 $10,000 - each meter |
21 | 11 |
|
4 or more metered connections |
$3,300 $5,000- each meter |
$5,800 $10,000- each meter |
30 | 15 |
| Small Hybrid Project per meter connection |
$5,000 $6,750 |
$8,700 $13,500 |
21 | 11 |
| Small Residential Approved Plan Revision (APR) per metered connection |
$250 $500 |
$500 $1,000 |
14 | 7 |
| Small Non-Residential or Hybrid APR per metered connection |
$1,000 $1,450 |
$1,750 $2,900 |
21 | 11 |
| Small Residential, Non-Residential or Hybrid Raze Permit Review and Utility Release Letter - No Abandonment |
-- $400 |
-- $800 |
14 | 7 |
| Small Raze Permit Review and Utility Release Letter - With Abandonments |
$700 $1000 |
$1,200 $2,000 |
14 | 7 |
| Small Non-Residential Temporary Water Connections |
$700 $2,000 |
$1,200 $4,000 |
21 | 11 |
| Small Project Review and Sign Off - only in DCRA ProjectDox or for DCRA Walk-In Applicants |
-- $150 |
N/A | 7 | N/A |
*Review times are estimated; Actual time may vary.
Miscellaneous Fees
| Miscellaneous Fees |
Prior Fee New Fee |
Expedited Review Current Fee New Fee |
Standard Review Time* (Business Days) | Expedited Review Time* (Business Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Residential or Townhouse Plan Excessive Submission Review (5th review or more) per meter connection |
$360 $500 |
-- | Based on No. of metered connections | Based on No. of metered connections |
| Small Non-Residential and Hybrid Plan Excessive Submission Review (5th review or more) |
$600 $750 |
-- | Based on No. of metered connections | Based on No. of metered connections |
| Large Plan Excessive Submission Review (5th review or more) |
$2,400 $3,500 |
-- $7,000 |
||
| Request for Information (RFI) |
$30 $175 |
$60 $350 |
20 | 10 |
| Request for As-Built Drawings |
$90 $200 |
$150 $400 |
20 | 10 |
| Water and Sewer Availability Letter |
$500 $750 |
$880 $1,300 |
||
| Delayed Abandonment or Waiver |
$500 $750 |
$880 $1,300 |
14 | 7 |
| Processing of Standard Easement and Covenant (Initial Document) |
$1,000 $2,000 |
$1,750 $4,000 |
14 | 7 |
| Processing of Non-Standard Easement and Covenant (Initial Document) |
$5,000 $8,500 |
$8,750 $17,000 |
21 | 11 |
| One Day Plan Design and Review and Approval (Velocity Sign-Off Program) |
$20,000 $25,000 |
N/A | 1 | N/A |
Miscellaneous Review Fees
| Miscellaneous Review Fees |
Current Fee New Fee Effective October 1, 2022 |
Expedited Current New Fee Effective October 1, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Existing Sanitary or combined Sewer connection only 6” and less New Fee equal to small residential fee |
$700 $1,500 |
$1,200 $3,000 |
| Existing Storm sewer connection only less than 15” New Fee equal to small residential fee |
$700 $1,500 |
$1,200 $3,000 |
| Existing/ Proposed As-Built Fee | Standard |
|---|---|
| SFU Residential service connection -Small Residential | $250 - each building |
| Townhouses or SFU from multi-unit project | $250 - each building |
| Small non-residential, Large service connection (per connection) | $500 - each building |
| Small non-residential Hybrid | $750 - each building |
| Large non-residential water service 3” or more, sewer service 8” or more, fire service 3” or more | $750 - each connection |
| New water or sewer main (20 to 100 feet) (each) | $2,500 |
| Each additional 200 feet of water line | $2,000 |
| Each additional 400 ft. sewer main/line | $2,000 |
| If installing more than 200 linear feet or any Water line larger than 24" in diameter | Determined on a per project basis |
| If installing more than 200 LF of sewer or any Sewer larger than 60” in diameter | Determined on a per project basis |
Construction Phase Customer Service Fees
| Fee Name | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential Projects (including new Small Residential or Townhouse water/sewer connections, raze, temporary connection, 2” or less water meter) | $500 |
| Small Non-Residential or Hybrid (including new connections, raze, temporary connection, 2” or less water meter) | $2,000 |
| Large (including new connections, raze, sheeting and shoring, temporary connection, 3” or larger water meter) | $4,500 |
Event and Equipment Fee
| Size of Event (Attendees) | Number of DC Water Personnel Per Event | (Cost per event at $90/hour per person) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 – 2,000 | 2 | $180/hour |
| 2,000 – 5,000 | 4 | $360/hour |
| 5,000 or more | 6 | $540/hour |
| Per Unit Per Event Equipment * | Current Fee |
|---|---|
| Misting Tent* | $585 |
| Mobile Brita Hydration Station* | $640 |
| Cooling Station | $450 |
| Quench Buggy | $2,650 |
| DC Water Mascot | $80 |
1 Refers to a per unit per event, assuming a single day event. For a multi-day event, the per unit cost would be multiplied by the number of days.
Industrial User Permitting & Sampling Fee to recover the cost of service
| Fee Name | Current Fee |
|---|---|
| Waste Hauler Discharge Annual Permit Fee per Vehicle | $50 |
| Waste Hauling Disposal Fees | |
| High strength grease trap waste | $0.077 per gallon |
| High strength septage waste | $0.077 per gallon |
| Domestic strength waste | $0.004 per gallon |
| Low strength waste | $0.004 per gallon |
Industrial User Permit Fees
| Industrial User Permit Fees | Current Fee |
|---|---|
| Permit Initial Fee | $2,865 |
| Permit Renewal Fee | $955 |
| Significant or Non-Significant Categorical Industrial User Annual Compliance Fee- 1 Outfall | $3,290 |
| Significant or Non-Significant Categorical Industrial User Annual Compliance Fee- 2 or more Outfalls | $4,560 |
| Significant Non-Categorical Industrial User Annual Compliance Fee- 1 or more Outfalls | $3,290 |
| Significant Non-Categorical Industrial User Annual Compliance Fee- 2 or more Outfalls | $4,560 |
| Non-Significant Non-Categorical Industrial User Annual Compliance Fee- 1 Outfall | $745 |
| Non-Significant Non-Categorical Industrial User Annual Compliance Fee- 2 Outfalls | $955 |
| High Strength Waste Fees | Current Fee |
|---|---|
| Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) | $0.162 Per Pound |
| Total Suspended Solids (TSS) | $0.278 Per Pound |
| Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) or Total Nitrogen (TN) | $1.662 Per Pound |
| Total Phosphorus (TP) | $5.234 Per Pound |
Existing Miscellaneous Fees
| Legal Charges | Unit |
|---|---|
| Witness Fee | $40 + Travel Expenses |
| DC Water Staff Expert Witness Fee | Salary + Fringe + Travel Expenses |
| Standard Letter and Legal Pages Photocopying (per sheet) | $0.75 per sheet |
| FOIA Processing Fee | $10 + Staff Salary + Fringe |
