Richmond, VA 2026 Commercial Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater Rates
Richmond’s July 1, 2026 commercial rates are $5.92/CCF water and $10.24/CCF wastewater. See fixed fees, stormwater, drought pricing, and a bill model.
Direct answer
Effective July 1, 2026, Richmond charges commercial accounts $5.92/CCF water, $10.24/CCF wastewater, and meter-size fixed fees; nonresidential stormwater is $5.50 per 1,000 square feet monthly. During the current voluntary conservation period, excess use above 140% of the December–February average is priced at $8.43/CCF. A two-inch 100-to-80 CCF base-rate model changes by $323.20; conservation pricing and stormwater are excluded.
$5.92
Commercial water
Per CCF beginning July 1, 2026
$10.24
Wastewater
Per CCF for commercial accounts
$301.33
Two-inch fixed
Monthly water plus wastewater
$5.50
Stormwater
Per 1,000 ft² impervious area monthly
Account and bill-line map
Separate Richmond’s fixed, volume, stormwater, and conservation lines
The adopted July 2026 schedule gives commercial and industrial accounts flat water and wastewater volume rates, fixed fees by meter size, impervious-area stormwater, and a conditional conservation rate. The declared model uses only one two-inch base-rate path.
| Account or bill fact | Current treatment |
|---|---|
| Meter-size fixed charges | A two-inch commercial account lists $130.06 monthly for water and $171.27 for wastewater, or $301.33 combined. Other meter sizes have different fixed amounts. |
| Commercial water volume | The adopted base rate is $5.92 for each CCF. The model assumes usage remains below the conservation threshold. |
| Commercial wastewater volume | The adopted rate is $10.24 for each CCF. Confirm the bill’s actual wastewater quantity and any account adjustment. |
| Nonresidential stormwater | The monthly charge is $5.50 per 1,000 square feet of impervious area. Metered water use does not set this line. |
| Voluntary or mandatory conservation | Only water above 140% of the December–February monthly average is priced at $8.43/CCF during voluntary conservation or $11.25/CCF during mandatory conservation. This is excluded from the base model. |
| Other account lines | Taxes, penalties, late fees, adjustments, fire service, strength treatment, and account-specific charges remain outside the example. |
Current schedule controls
This guide replaces the March proposal-era alert
This guide replaces our March 20 proposal-era alert. The adopted July 1 commercial schedule—not a projected percentage increase—now controls. The earlier annual-impact estimate has been withdrawn.
Richmond’s current utility page and adopted Ordinance 2026-063 list the commercial and industrial fixed, water-volume, wastewater-volume, and stormwater values used here. The page retains the original publication date and shows July 25 as the current update and source-check date.
Base water and wastewater
Commercial volume is flat while fixed charges follow meter size
Richmond lists $5.92/CCF for commercial and industrial water and $10.24/CCF for wastewater at all usage levels under the base schedule. The combined usage-linked base rate is $16.16/CCF.
Fixed fees remain separate. A two-inch account carries $130.06 in monthly water fixed charges and $171.27 in wastewater fixed charges. The model keeps that $301.33 floor unchanged at both usage levels; a different meter size requires its own fixed values.
Active conservation check
The voluntary rate applies only above a winter-average threshold
Richmond’s official Drought Watch says voluntary conservation measures began July 1, 2026. The adopted ordinance says water use above 140% of the customer’s December–February monthly average is priced at $8.43/CCF during voluntary conservation. The mandatory-conservation rate for that excess volume is $11.25/CCF.
This is threshold-dependent pricing, not a flat surcharge on every CCF. The base model below assumes the account stays below the threshold and therefore excludes both conservation values. A property near or above the boundary should calculate its winter average and excess water separately.
Stormwater boundary
Impervious area—not metered water—sets the nonresidential stormwater line
Richmond lists nonresidential stormwater at $5.50 per 1,000 square feet of impervious area each month, equivalent to $16.50 quarterly or $66 annually for each 1,000-square-foot unit.
Roof, parking, and other impervious-area treatment require a parcel-specific review. Lower metered water use does not by itself reduce this line, so it remains outside every usage-volume calculation on this page.
Commercial implication
The first useful forecast begins with meter size and winter-average context
Hotels, restaurants, multifamily buildings, offices, hospitals, laundries, campuses, car washes, and industrial sites should record the meter size, billed water and wastewater CCF, December–February average, service dates, impervious area, and every other account line before forecasting.
The calculation below is Smart Valve analysis for one declared two-inch account at the adopted base rates. It compares 100 with 80 CCF and is not a City bill quote, a citywide average, a drought-pricing example, or a guaranteed operational result.
Smart Valve analysis — declared two-inch account
Base water and wastewater at 100 versus 80 CCF
Assume one monthly two-inch commercial account, equal billed water and wastewater quantities, and use below the 140%-of-winter-average conservation threshold. Include only fixed water, fixed wastewater, and base volume charges.
Scroll the table horizontally to compare all columns.
| Included line | 100 CCF | 80 CCF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-inch water + wastewater fixed | $301.33 | $301.33 | $0.00 |
| Water volume at $5.92/CCF | $592.00 | $473.60 | $118.40 |
| Wastewater volume at $10.24/CCF | $1,024.00 | $819.20 | $204.80 |
| Included water + wastewater total | $1,917.33 | $1,594.13 | $323.20 |
The modeled monthly bill difference is $323.20, or $3,878.40 across twelve identical months. The $301.33 fixed amount stays unchanged. Conservation-threshold pricing, stormwater, taxes, penalties, adjustments, fire service, strength treatment, and other account-specific lines are excluded.
Decision checklist
What to check first on the bill
- 1Confirm the service period uses Richmond’s adopted schedule effective July 1, 2026.
- 2Match the actual meter size to separate water and wastewater fixed charges.
- 3Read billed water and wastewater CCF independently before assuming they match.
- 4Calculate the account’s December–February monthly average and identify whether current water exceeds 140% of it.
- 5Apply conservation pricing only to qualifying excess water; do not add it to every CCF.
- 6Record nonresidential impervious area and keep stormwater outside the metered-usage model.
- 7Separate taxes, penalties, adjustments, fire, strength, and other account-specific lines.
- 8Use actual bills and operating conditions before treating the declared 20% comparison as achievable.
Scope boundary
Where Smart Valve realistically fits
Smart Valve can help a commercial team review controllable metered use and the associated base water and wastewater exposure after the meter size, billed CCF, winter-average threshold, pressure conditions, and operating baseline are confirmed.
Smart Valve does not change fixed charges, adopted rates, impervious-area stormwater, drought-stage rules, the winter-average threshold, taxes, penalties, or adjustments. The declared model is a transparent scenario, not a savings guarantee.
Related commercial water decisions
Track Mid-Atlantic commercial utility decisions
Follow adopted rates, fixed fees, drought signals, stormwater, and billing-policy changes across the region.
Check Richmond’s current tariff profile
Review the normalized base rate and adopted meter-size schedule before using a city-rate tool.
Separate every Richmond bill line
Map fixed, water, wastewater, stormwater, and conditional charges before forecasting.
Review source and estimate boundaries
See how official facts, Smart Valve calculations, assumptions, and exclusions are separated.
Frequently asked questions
What are Richmond’s commercial water and wastewater rates from July 1, 2026?
Richmond’s adopted commercial and industrial base schedule lists water at $5.92/CCF and wastewater at $10.24/CCF, plus separate fixed charges by meter size.
What are Richmond’s two-inch commercial fixed charges?
The adopted schedule lists $130.06 per month for water and $171.27 for wastewater on a two-inch account, or $301.33 combined.
How does Richmond’s voluntary-conservation rate work?
During voluntary conservation, only water above 140% of the customer’s December–February monthly average is priced at $8.43/CCF. The adopted mandatory rate for qualifying excess water is $11.25/CCF.
Can lower metered water use reduce Richmond’s commercial stormwater fee?
Not under the reviewed schedule. Richmond charges nonresidential stormwater by impervious area at $5.50 per 1,000 square feet monthly, not by metered water volume.
What does the $323.20 Richmond model include?
It includes one two-inch water and wastewater fixed amount plus base water and wastewater volume at 100 versus 80 CCF. It excludes conservation-threshold pricing, stormwater, taxes, penalties, adjustments, and all other account-specific lines.
Primary source trail
Sources and retrieval details
Published: Current FY2027 rate pageEffective: July 1, 2026Retrieved: July 25, 2026
Primary current source for commercial and industrial fixed charges, water and wastewater volume rates, and nonresidential stormwater values.
Source URL: https://www.rva.gov/public-utilities/utility-rates
Published: Adopted May 11, 2026Effective: July 1, 2026Retrieved: July 25, 2026
Controlling adoption record for FY2027 commercial fixed, volume, stormwater, and conservation-threshold pricing.
Published: Voluntary measures began July 1, 2026Status checked: July 25, 2026Retrieved: July 25, 2026
Primary current source for the active voluntary-conservation stage and operating guidance; the ordinance controls the threshold rate values.
Source URL: https://www.rva.gov/public-utilities/droughtwatch
Audit the Richmond account before forecasting a change
Start with meter size, water and wastewater CCF, the winter average, impervious area, and every other account line. Keep the $323.20 example bounded to the declared base-rate account.