The approved plan includes multiple increases beginning this year and extending through 2030. The changes will affect monthly utility bills as well as the cost of connecting to the county’s water and wastewater systems.
The ordinance, adopted by the Polk County Commission, covers water service, wastewater service and utility connection fees. The first adjustment will take effect in October with a 50% increase, followed by another 33% increase in April 2027. After that, additional annual increases ranging from 7% to 10% will be introduced each year through 2030.
Customers Will See Different Bill Increases Based on Water Usage
The impact of the new rates will vary depending on monthly water consumption. According to The U.S. Sun, customers using 10,000 gallons of water per month will see their charge increase from $26.30 to $47.10, representing a 79.1% increase.
By comparison, an average monthly bill for customers using 6,000 gallons will rise from $32.12 to $35.25, an increase of 9.7%. Water and wastewater customers will continue to face annual 6% increases through the end of the decade.
Utility Connection Fees Are Also Increasing
Beyond monthly service charges, Polk County has approved higher fees for new utility connections. According to the county’s updated rate schedule, the water connection fee will increase from $3,038 to $3,989, while the wastewater connection fee will rise from $6,169 to $7,460.
Together, the combined connection cost will increase from $9,207 to $11,449. The ordinance also establishes a new septage processing fee of 15 cents per gallon.
County Says Higher Rates Will Support Operations and Infrastructure
Polk County said the revised rates are designed to help its utility system manage increasing expenses.
According to a county news release, “The changes are designed to help Polk County Utilities continue providing reliable water and wastewater services while keeping pace with rising operating and construction costs.”
The county also stated that “The updated rate plan also supports ongoing maintenance and future infrastructure improvements across the utility system.”
A complete schedule of the updated utility rates and fees has been posted on the Polk County website.
