Your ABQ water bill could go up 12%. Here’s what to know.

Increasing costs for fuel, power and chemicals could increase your water and sewer bill. At a May 8 meeting of the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority board, the group will decide whether to approve a 12% adjustment in base rates.

Why the increase?Water authority staff have pointed to increasing operational costs for water and sewer services.

“Operational costs have risen significantly,” water authority board chair Eric Olivas said in a statement. “... Construction costs are running as much as 70% higher than anticipated in some cases.”

The last time the water authority increased rates was in 2022. In this fiscal year, operational costs are expected to be $10 million greater, water authority spokesperson David Morris said in an email to the Journal.

The cost of power and chemicals has increased the most, Morris said, to the tune of $3.6 million more since 2022. Fleet and facility maintenance costs have also increased by $1.1 million and water field operations to upkeep pipes, wells and other water infrastructure have increased by $1 million, partly because of “price hikes” for materials like pipes, steel and concrete, Morris said.

What’s the impact?A typical single-family customer using about 5,000 gallons of water per month would see a bill increase of around $6. In total, it’s still cheaper than the average bills for Rio Rancho and Santa Fe, according to a release from the water authority, with the average Rio Rancho bill running almost double a comparable Albuquerque/Bernalillo County bill.

The 12% increase will affect commercial and residential ratepayers.

“Base rates differ according to meter size,” Morris said. “Commercial customers often require larger meters to accommodate their usage needs.”

The water authority also bills for trash pickup for the city of Albuquerque; trash pickup rates will not increase.

When will I see the increased costs?If approved, the new rates would go into effect on July 1 and be reflected in August bills. The May meeting will be at 5 p.m. in the Vincent E. Griego Chambers, in the basement of the One Civic Plaza Government Center. The governing board includes county commissioners, city councilors and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller.