Seattle Commercial Utility Rates: 2026 Water, Sewer, and Drainage Charges to Separate
Seattle 2026 commercial utility rates include peak and off-peak water, sewer per CCF, meter-size base service charges, and drainage fees based on parcel hard-surface tiers rather than metered water usage.
Quick Answer
Seattle 2026 commercial water rates list inside-city peak usage at $7.70 per CCF and off-peak usage at $6.06, while sewer is $20.18 per CCF. Commercial drainage fees are parcel-based by hard-surface tier, so water savings and drainage exposure must be modeled separately.
$7.70
Peak Water
Inside Seattle per CCF
$6.06
Off-Peak Water
Inside Seattle per CCF
$20.18
Sewer
Per CCF in 2026
$44.35
2-Inch Base
Inside Seattle monthly
What changed in Seattle
Source-reported facts: Seattle Public Utilities lists 2026 commercial water base service charges and commodity charges effective January 1, 2026.
For inside-Seattle commercial water, the 2026 commodity charge is $6.06 per CCF off peak and $7.70 per CCF during peak season. The 2026 sewer rate is listed at $20.18 per CCF.
Who may be affected
Hotels, restaurants, multifamily buildings, healthcare sites, office towers, campuses, industrial users, and high-irrigation properties should separate water seasonality, sewer volume, and drainage charges.
Commercial and industrial parcels also face drainage charges by parcel area and hard-surface percentage, which is a different cost driver than metered water use.
Why peak water, sewer, and drainage need separate models
Seattle commercial water has peak and off-peak rates, while sewer is a separate per-CCF charge. A 2-inch inside-Seattle commercial water base service charge is $44.35 per month.
Drainage fees for commercial parcels are based on parcel square footage divided by 1,000 and multiplied by a hard-surface tier rate. That is not the same as a CCF-based water or sewer charge.
What a 20 percent usage reduction could mean
Directional estimate: assume an inside-Seattle commercial account uses 300 CCF in a peak month and sewer tracks water usage. A 20 percent reduction equals 60 CCF.
At $7.70 peak water plus $20.18 sewer per CCF, those 60 CCF represent about $1,672.80 in monthly variable exposure. Drainage fees and meter-size base charges are excluded because they do not fall directly with metered usage.
What to check first on your bill
Confirm service area, peak or off-peak billing period, water CCF, sewer CCF, meter size, drainage parcel size, hard-surface percentage tier, and whether any drainage credits or low-impact discounts apply.
If the property has large parking, roof, loading, or paved yard areas, drainage can be a major non-usage exposure that needs a separate stormwater strategy.
Where Smart Valve fits
Smart Valve may fit Seattle properties where controllable water volume drives both water and sewer charges. It cannot reduce parcel-based drainage fees or meter-size base charges.
The strongest first step is to isolate peak-season water and sewer exposure from drainage and fixed charges before estimating payback.
What to Do Next
Separate peak water, off-peak water, sewer, and drainage before modeling savings.
Keep commercial drainage fees outside CCF-based usage-reduction estimates.
Check parcel hard-surface tier and eligibility for low-impact or stormwater credits.
FAQ
What is Seattle inside-city commercial peak water rate for 2026?
Seattle lists inside-city commercial peak usage at $7.70 per CCF for 2026.
What is Seattle sewer rate for 2026?
Seattle Public Utilities lists the 2026 sewer rate at $20.18 per CCF for residential and commercial accounts.
Are Seattle commercial drainage fees based on water use?
No. Commercial drainage fees are based on parcel square footage and hard-surface percentage tier, not metered water usage.
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.
