Water & Sewer Rates

The Albany Water Board held a Rate Increase Public Hearing at 6 pm on January 27, 2022, and approved a 2.5% rate increase to be effective February 1, 2022. 

The Public Hearing for the 2023 proposed Rate Increase of 5% will be held December 12, 2022 at 6:00pm. The Hearing will take place in the Conference Room at 10 North Enterprise Drive Albany, NY.

How Are Rates Set?

The Albany Water Board sets rates based on the costs associated with operating, maintaining, and making necessary improvements to our water and sewer systems. Each year our staff, Board, and consultants estimate expected costs and set rates to generate enough revenue to meet those costs.

You can have your say in the budget process at any of our public board meetings and at public hearings that are held before a rate increase is approved. Sewer rates, which pay for the sanitary and storm sewer system, are set at 100% of your water usage.

What's the Value of Your Water?

Your drinking water costs less than a penny a gallon. On average, per month it costs one Albany resident:

  • $1.66 to do laundry
  • $0.06 to drink water
  • $2.21 to use the shower
  • $2.44 to flush the toilet

Operations

The Albany Water Board provides clean drinking water and maintains the sewer system for the City of Albany at a low cost.

As a 24/7 operation, we manage the water supply at local reservoirs, clean the water at our treatment plant, and reliably deliver water through our transmission and distribution system.

We also maintain the pipes that safely carry away wastewater and stormwater. Much of Albany's water and sewer infrastructure is over 100 years old. Repairs and upgrades are necessary to guarantee the delivery of clean water and the removal of wastewater and stormwater. Your water and sewer bill helps pay for these system improvements, as well as daily operation and maintenance. To keep costs to ratepayers low, Albany Water has applied for and received almost $30 million in grants in recent years.

Water & Sewer System Improvements