Orange County Utilities water and wastewater rates went up October 1, 2026

Orange County Utilities charges more for water and wastewater from October 1, 2026. The county's own bill calculator now prices bills "based on rates that will be effective October 1, 2026". It is the first of five yearly increases: "Effective October 1st of each year, 2026 through 2030".

What changed

• Water fixed charge: up 9% a year. For the smallest meter (5/8 by 3/4 inch) it went from $9.03 to $9.84 a month.
• Wastewater fixed charge: up 5% a year. For the smallest meter it went from $19.33 to $20.30 a month.
• Water usage, homes: up 3% a year, for the charge the resolution calls "Volume Charge – Residential Customers".
• First 3,000 gallons: $1.43 to $1.47 per 1,000 gallons.
• Next 7,000 gallons: $1.98 to $2.04.
• 11,000 to 20,000 gallons: $3.94 to $4.06.
• Wastewater usage, homes: up 5% a year; the charge is now $4.61 per 1,000 gallons.
• The usual automatic yearly increase "shall be suspended through 2030 for all rates, fees, and charges".

When

• In effect: October 1, 2026. The county's notice says "we will implement rate increases effective October 1, 2026".
• Next: the same increases again each October 1 through 2030.
• Adopted: on January 27, 2026, the Board of County Commissioners voted to "approve and execute Resolution 2026-M-04 setting a revised Water System Charge Schedule" and Resolution 2026-M-05 for wastewater. Each motion carried 6-0, with Commissioner Scott absent. The water resolution is stamped "APPROVED BY ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BCC Mtg. Date: January 27, 2026".
• Earlier: WFTV reported the preliminary vote on December 2, 2025, when "A final vote is scheduled for January 2026".

Where

Customers of Orange County Utilities, the county's water and wastewater utility.

What it means if you live here

• The water part of a home bill, for 13,000 gallons a month on the smallest meter, goes from $39.00 to $40.71, by our arithmetic on the county's rates: the fixed charge plus the three usage tiers.
• The wastewater part rises too: the fixed charge by $0.97, and the usage charge by 5%.
• To see your own bill, the county's residential bill calculator uses the new rates.