Many cities across the U.S. will see big increases in water and sewer costs in 2026. If you manage multifamily properties, these changes can impact your budget in a major way.
Some cities will only see small jumps, but others have already approved large increases—some of the biggest in the country. Here’s what to expect and how you can prepare.
Cities With the Highest Increases
Several major cities have multi-year plans that raise rates every year. Many of these cities are seeing 5–8% yearly increases, with sewer rates sometimes rising even faster.
Cities with larger increases include:
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Seattle, WA – Around 5–6% increases each year
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Phoenix, AZ – Another 6.5% water rate jump planned
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Oakland / East Bay, CA – 6.5% higher water and 8.5% higher sewer
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Tampa, FL – 6% water increase and 3% sewer increase
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San Francisco, CA – About 8% increases continuing
Other cities have steady CPI-style increases of around 2–4% each year.
For owners and managers, this means your utility bills will continue to rise—and so will your risk if you aren’t billing correctly.
What This Means for Property Managers
Rising city rates can:
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Reduce your NOI
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Create uneven or unfair billing if not updated correctly
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Make it harder to communicate increases to residents
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Lead to more water usage when tenants don’t see their usage
If your billing system is outdated or slow, these problems can get worse very quickly.
How Livable Helps Properties in Any City
Livable gives you simple tools to stay ahead—even in cities with the biggest rate hikes.With Livable, you can:
✓ Update rates quickly when your city changes them
✓ Recover costs fairly with modern RUBS tools
✓ Keep residents aware of their usage and encourage conservation
✓ Review statements before they are sent
✓ Boost property value by recovering expenses you’re currently eating
Everything is built to make your life easier so you can focus on managing your property—not chasing down utility numbers.
Make a Plan Before Rates Go Up Again
If your property sits in a high-increase city, the best time to update your billing process is right now. With Livable, you get flexible billing tools, smart conservation features, and an easier way to protect your NOI.
What to see how simple it can be?
👉 Schedule a Discovery Call
