Water and Sewer Rate Study

Public comment period for the preliminary water/sewer rate study begins Nov. 13^th and ends Dec. 3^rd.

2025 Preliminary Water and Sewer Rate Study(PDF, 7MB)

Comments can be sent to the City Clerk’s office at 300 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, by email to watercs@grcity.us, or in person at our rate study office hours. These will be held at the Main Branch of the Grand Rapids Public Library (111 Library St NE) on the following dates:

Monday, November 17, 10 AM – 2 PM
Friday, November 21, 10 AM – 2 PM
Monday, November 24th, 10 AM – 2 PM

Download our Citizen's Guide to the 2025 Preliminary Water and Sewer Rate Study to learn more about this process.(PDF, 1MB)

The Grand Rapids City Commission will consider approval of the rates on Tuesday, December 16th.

Current Final Water and Sewer Rate Study

We use a complex, but transparent, method to determine the rates for the Grand Rapids Water System. Changes to the rates are effective the 1st of each year, after a study, review and approval process. Users, customer communities and the City Commission are all involved in this process.

Download the 2024 Final Rate Study(PDF, 8MB)

The main reason for the study is to set rates to meet revenue needs. We calculate our revenue needs using historical costs. We then adjust these to account for known increases and decreases in costs.

We have created a video that explains in more detail how we determine water and sewer rates.