Sunnyvale Commercial Water and Wastewater Rates: FY2026/27 Strength-Class Bill Checks
Sunnyvale proposed FY2026/27 utility rates include a 7.5 percent water increase, a 7 percent wastewater increase, commercial water service fees by meter size, and wastewater strength classes that can materially affect restaurants, laundries, car washes, and industrial users.
Quick Answer
Sunnyvale proposed FY2026/27 utility rates include 7.5 percent higher water rates and 7 percent higher wastewater rates. The proposed commercial water rate is $6.53 per CCF, while commercial wastewater varies by strength class from $7.49 to $14.28 per CCF. Restaurants and industrial users should verify strength class before estimating savings.
7.5%
Water Change
Proposed FY2026/27
7%
Wastewater Change
Proposed FY2026/27
$6.53
Commercial Water
Proposed per CCF
$14.28
High Strength
Wastewater per CCF
What changed in Sunnyvale
Source-reported facts: Sunnyvale issued a Proposition 218 notice for proposed FY2026/27 utility rates covering water, wastewater, solid waste, and recycling. The notice says the City is proposing increases of 7.5 percent for water, 7 percent for wastewater, and 3 percent for solid waste.
The proposed rate schedule lists commercial water at $6.53 per CCF, recycled water at $5.88 per CCF, and commercial wastewater strength classes at $7.49, $8.28, and $14.28 per CCF for low, standard, and high strength.
Who may be affected
Sunnyvale businesses, restaurants, laundries, car washes, hotels, offices, industrial users, multifamily operators, and campuses should review both water service fees and wastewater strength classifications.
The commercial schedule also lists meter-size service fees. A 2-inch commercial water service moves to $182.61 monthly, or $365.22 for a two-month billing cycle, before usage charges are added.
Why wastewater strength matters
A commercial account should not model Sunnyvale wastewater as one flat sewer line. The proposed schedule lists low strength at $7.49 per CCF, standard strength at $8.28 per CCF, and high strength at $14.28 per CCF.
Restaurants, laundries, food-service users, car washes, and significant industrial users should confirm how wastewater strength is classified before estimating payback from usage reduction or process changes.
What a 20 percent usage reduction could mean
Directional estimate: assume a Sunnyvale commercial account uses 400 CCF in a two-month billing period and its wastewater is billed at standard strength. A 20 percent usage reduction equals 80 CCF.
At the proposed $6.53 commercial water rate plus $8.28 standard-strength wastewater rate, those 80 CCF represent about $1,184.80 in two-month variable water and wastewater exposure. Actual savings depend on metered usage, sewer classification, fixed charges, recycled-water use, and site feasibility.
What to check first on your bill
Confirm billed CCF, meter size, billing period length, commercial water service fee, wastewater strength class, recycled-water service, and whether any industrial discharge charges apply.
Do not include fixed water service fees, fireline charges, landscape meter charges, or solid waste lines in a usage-reduction estimate unless the bill proves those lines change with metered water volume.
Where Smart Valve fits
Smart Valve may be relevant when a Sunnyvale commercial property has controllable metered water volume and wastewater charges track the same or related volume. It cannot reduce fixed service charges or non-usage solid waste charges.
The practical next step is a 12-month bill review that separates water usage, wastewater strength, meter-size fees, recycled-water charges, and non-water utility lines before estimating project economics.
What to Do Next
Confirm whether the account is low, standard, or high wastewater strength.
Separate meter-size fees from CCF-based water and wastewater charges.
Use two-month billing periods consistently when modeling savings.
FAQ
What is Sunnyvale proposing for FY2026/27 water and wastewater rates?
Sunnyvale proposed a 7.5 percent increase for water and a 7 percent increase for wastewater in its FY2026/27 utility-rate notice.
What is Sunnyvale proposed commercial water rate per CCF?
The proposed FY2026/27 schedule lists commercial water at $6.53 per CCF.
Does Sunnyvale wastewater cost depend on business type?
Yes. The proposed schedule lists low, standard, and high wastewater strength classes, plus separate significant industrial user charges.
Sources
Related Commercial Water Resources
Model This Market Against Your Actual Bill
Use your local rate, current monthly bill, and billed usage to estimate how much controllable volume reduction could offset this market pressure.
