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Water Rates
Notice of Water Rate Increase
On November 10, 2015, the Village Board was presented a 5 year Water Rate Study that recommended annual increases of 10%, 10%, 7%, 7%, and 7% beginning in 2016. A copy of the Water Rate Study Report (PDF) can be found here. It cites three main reasons causing the need for the increase:
- There were significant increases by DuPage Water Commission and City of Chicago over the past 4 years. In 2012, Chicago increased its rate for 4 years of 25%, 15%, 15%, and 15%. Then DuPage Water Commission added an additional increase on top of that resulting in increases of 30%, 20%, 18%, and 17%. The Village did not raise its rates high enough to keep up with these increases.
- There was a substantial increase in the non-revenue water in the last 5 years. Non-Revenue water is referred to as loss and unaccounted for water. Public Works will be working with our consultant to reduce this amount to obtain substantial savings.
- The water system infrastructure is aging. Large portions of the system have reached their useful life. A significant investment is needed to avoid disruptions in water service due to failed equipment.
During 2018, the Village updated the original 2015 Water Rate Study. The updated 2018 Water Rate Study (PDF) Report can be found here. The updated report provided the Village with recommendations to set rates for 2019 to 2023. The recommended rates allowed the Village to continue to fund its capital projects without incurring debt.
The Village Board adopted a 7% rate increase effective January 1, 2020 based on the results of this report. The new rates would go into effect January 1, 2020 and be reflected in water bills issued on or around March 1, 2020 for residents and non-residents. For corporate customers, the new rate will be reflected in water bills issued on or around February 1, 2020.
| Water Rates | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Charge per Customer, per Month | $10.00 | $10.00 | $10.00 | $10.00 | $10.00 |
| Resident Rate per 1,000 gallons | $10.50 | $11.24 | $11.69 | $12.04 | $12.28 |
| Non-Resident per 1,000 gallons | $12.40 | $13.27 | $13.80 | $14.21 | $14.49 |
| From hydrant at 3003 Jorie Boulevard per 1,000 gallons | $12.40 | $13.27 | $13.80 | $14.21 | $14.49 |
Below is a comparison of charges for a 10,000-gallon bimonthly water bill for surrounding communities:
| Community | Resident Water Rate Per 1,000 Gallons | Additional Costs | Sample Bimonthly Bill at 10,000 Gallons (Water Only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downers Grove | $8.09** | $12.59 bimonthly charge for 5/8" meter | $93.49 |
| Elmhurst | $10.95 | $15.31 monthly fee (up to 1" meter) | $140.12 |
| Hinsdale | $11.03* | $110.30 | |
| Lombard | $8.04 | $1.30 per 1,000 capital rate, $5.05 monthly service charge, $5.00 monthly capital charge | $113.50 |
| Oak Brook | $11.24 | $10 monthly fee | $132.40 |
| Oakbrook Terrace | $9.97 | Minimum charge of $59.82 for first 6,000, $9.97 for every 1,000 thereafter | $99.70 |
| Villa Park | $9.01 | $1.50 monthly fee. $4.74 monthly for 3/4" meter | $102.58 |
| Westchester | $10.52 | $6.00 monthly fee | $117.20 |
| Westmont | $10.61 | $5.00 charge for first 1,000 | $111.10 |
*Billed per 1,000 cubic feet, rate converted to per 1,000 gallons.
** Billed at $6.07 per 750 gallons, rate converted to per 1,000 gallons.
Despite the increases in water rates, it is important to continue implementation of the 2018 Water Rate Study recommendations to ensure the on-going viability of Oak Brook's water system.