Water rates

Adopted 2022-2026 municipal water rates

The City Council adopted five-year water rates on May 11, 2021. The City Council also adopted new capacity charges, a one-time charge for new and upgraded connections to the water system. It is based on the size of the service connection and recovers the value of system capacity provided for the new/upgraded service. The water rates for fiscal year 2021-22 will be effective for bills issued on or after July 1, 2021.

Menlo Park Municipal Water relies on water rate revenues to fund the costs of operating and maintaining the water system including purchasing wholesale water from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

Water rates are the same for all customers. Rates consist of the following components:
Item  Description 
Meter charge A monthly service charge based on meter size. There is a different monthly service charge for fire services based on the size of the service connection. This charge is included on customer monthly bills.
Consumption charge (3-tier) A charge based on the amount of water consumption measured in centum cubic feet (ccf, where one ccf = 100 cubic feet = 748 gallons) in three tiers as follows:
• Tier 1: 0 – 6 ccf
• Tier 2: 7 – 12 ccf
• Tier 3: Above 12 ccf

This charge is included on customer monthly bills.
Capital facility surcharge The capital facility surcharge is based on the measured amount of water used and helps to partially fund water capital projects. This charge is included on customer monthly bills.
Drought surcharge The Water Shortage Contingency Plan includes six drought stages representing specific drought scenario (up to 10%, up to 20%, up to 30%, up to 40%, up to 50%, and greater than 50% reductions). The Plan includes City actions and corresponding regulations/prohibitions that would be implemented if the City Council declares a drought stage. Drought surcharges would be included on customer monthly bills during a City Council declared drought.
Capacity charges Note: MPMW also collects monthly service charges for fire services and water capacity charges for new and upgraded connections to the water system based on the size of the service connections.