Akron residents’ water bills will rise Jan. 1 and again in 2028 and 2029 as the city finances repairs and updates to its aging water system.
The increases, which would initially be about $5 per month for an “average” home, would then go up to $6 per month the following two years, city officials said. Residents will first see the increase on their February 2027 bills.
An example provided by city administrators showed that the average home in Akron pays about $25.24 for a monthly drinking water bill. Next year, this will increase by $5.16 to about $30.40. The increases do not affect the sewer and trash portions of the bill.
The water system is on track to have as many as 500 water main breaks this year and has already had four boil water alerts across Summit County. Approximately 35 percent of Akron’s water mains are more than 90 years old, the city stated in a press release, and the water treatment plant began operating in 1915.
The additional money raised by the new rates will increase the city’s ability to invest in water main replacements from about $3 million to at least $5 million per year. During Monday’s Public Utilities, Public Service and Green Committee meeting, at-large City Council Member Mark Greer asked about possible increases again in 2030.
Chris Ludle, Akron’s director of public service, responded that the rate increase happening from 2027 to 2029 will “level set” the city back to implementing best practices. City officials said that best practices include replacing 1 percent of a city’s water mains annually. Since Akron has 1,200 miles of water mains, 12 miles a year should be replaced.
Ludle also said during the committee meeting that best practice is to have rate increases of between 5 and 8 percent a year in order to maintain infrastructure and a fund balance to do repair work.
Since it now costs $2 million to replace one mile, only two to three miles of water mains each year have been replaced, said Jeff Bronowski, Akron’s deputy director of public service.
Stephanie Marsh, the city’s spokesperson, explained that the new rate increase will support:
- Repair and replacement of the chemical feed systems.
- Replacement of the transmission main from the plant and pipe replacements throughout the system.
- Rehabilitation of one storage tank per year.
- Pay account balances and rising essential chemical costs.
Additionally, it will support daily operations and payments on $153 million in existing drinking water debt, according to a press release from the city.
“Look at an overview of our water plant, you see buildings that are 100 years old,” said Ludle. “That’s not sustainable.”
“So, it’s infrastructure that needs improved, and unfortunately it takes dollars to do it.”
Council members tabled an ordinance that would allow Ludle to launch a $3 million master plan for the city that would develop a long-term strategic plan for drinking water supply, distribution, infrastructure and operations.
The mayor and city service director set water rates, according to the Akron City Charter. The last water rate increase took effect in January 2024. Prior to that, rates hadn’t increased since 2012.
How much are the increases in water rates?
Akron utility bills cover charges for water, sewer and trash. Within the bill, infrastructure fees and water-usage charges per hundred cubic feet (HCF) will increase over the next three years.
The infrastructure fee is based on the size of the water meter in a home or building. Most homes have a 1-inch meter — industrial buildings are typically larger and are charged more because they put more wear and tear on the system.
A typical home uses about 4 HCF, or about 3,000 gallons, of water, each month.
To figure out the potential increase in your monthly household bill in 2027, add together the following charges:
- The billing charge for all meter sizes is $4 and will remain that way through at least 2029.
- Add $3 to the current $9 infrastructure fee.
- Calculate the increase in your water-usage charge by multiplying $3.60 (the increased HCF rate) times your HCF water usage.
- Add the three numbers together for your new water bill.
This example is accurate for a typical-size home, said city officials. Other home sizes and buildings will follow the same formula. See the chart above for information about varying meter sizes and water-use charges above 4 HCF and over the next three years.
