December 16, 2020
At its December 15, 2020 meeting, the Lawrence City Commission approved new billing rates for solid waste, stormwater, and water and wastewater. The new rates will go into effect on all bills issued on or after January 1, 2021. Additionally, beginning April 1, 2021, water volume charges will be calculated using an individual inclining block rate methodology. The new methodology was previously approved and set to go into effect on May 1, 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More information on inclining block rates will be shared in early 2021.
The complete list of new rates is below.
Solid Waste
Residential solid waste rates will remain the same in 2021. Commercial rates will increase 5% from the 2020 rate, and roll-off services will increase by 3% (roll-off dumpster sizes and pick-up frequency varies).
Stormwater
| Apartment footprint per unit | ERUs* | Monthly Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 750 | 0.37 | $ 2.50 |
| 751+ | 0.66 | $ 4.46 |
| Single-family footprint | ERUs* | Monthly Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 | 0.67 | $ 4.52 |
| 1,001 to 1,800 | 1.00 | $ 6.75 |
| 1,801 to 3,000 | 1.25 | $ 8.44 |
| 3,001 to 4,800 | 1.80 | $ 12.15 |
| 4,801+ | 2.50 | $ 16.88 |
*Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) is the average impervious area of a detached dwelling unit property within the City and is used as the basis for determining stormwater service charges. 1 ERU is equal to 2,366 square feet of impervious surface.
Water & Wastewater
Water Volume Charges (Effective January 1, 2021 – March 31, 2021
| Customer Class | Inside City | Outside City |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | $ 7.35/1,000 gal | $ 8.09/1,000 gal |
| Multifamily | $ 5.93/1,000 gal | $ 6.53/1,000 gal |
| Commercial | $ 6.64/1,000 gal | $ 7.31/1,000 gal |
| Industrial | $ 6.27/1,000 gal | $ 6.90/1,000 gal |
| Irrigation | $ 8.17/1,000 gal | $ 8.99/1,000 gal |
Water Volume Charges (Effective April 1, 2021)
| Customer Class | Inside City | Outside City |
|---|---|---|
| Residential – Block 1* | $ 7.10/1,000 gal | $ 7.81/1,000 gal |
| Residential – Block 2* | $ 7.81/1,000 gal | $ 8.60/1,000 gal |
| Residential – Block 3* | $ 8.17/1,000 gal | $ 8.99/1,000 gal |
| Multifamily | $ 5.93/1,000 gal | $ 6.53/1,000 gal |
| Commercial | $ 6.64/1,000 gal | $ 7.31/1,000 gal |
| Industrial | $ 6.27/1,000 gal | $ 6.90/1,000 gal |
| Irrigation | $ 8.17/1,000 gal | $ 8.99/1,000 gal |
*Residential blocks are calculated using each customer’s individual Winter Quarter Average (WQA) as follows: Block 1 rate is applied to monthly usage up to and including 125% of the customer’s WQA; Block 2 rate is applied to all monthly usage above 125% up to and including 200% of the customer’s WQA; Block 3 rate is applied to all monthly usage above 200% of the customer’s WQA.
Winter Quarter Average (WQA): Monthly average usage computed based on a customer’s actual water usage for the December, January and February billing periods. A minimum WQA of 3,000 gallons will be in place.
Water Meter Service Charges
| Meter Size | Inside City | Outside City |
|---|---|---|
| 5/8 and 3/4 Inch | $ 4.40 | $ 4.80 |
| 1 Inch | $ 5.25 | $ 5.80 |
| 1 1/2 Inch | $ 6.05 | $ 6.65 |
| 2 Inch | $ 8.35 | $ 9.20 |
| 3 Inch | $ 25.00 | $ 27.50 |
| 4 Inch | $ 31.10 | $ 34.20 |
| 6 Inch | $ 46.20 | $ 50.85 |
| 8 Inch | $ 62.10 | $ 68.30 |
| 10 Inch | $ 81.50 | $ 89.65 |
| 12 Inch | $ 94.85 | $ 104.30 |
| 15 Inch | $ 126.50 | $ 139.15 |
| Multi-Family (Per Unit) | $ 4.40 | $ 4.80 |
Wastewater (Sewer) Volume Charges
| Customer Class | Inside City | Outside City |
|---|---|---|
| All Classes | $ 8.73/1,000 gal | $ 11.35/1,000 gal |
Wastewater (Sewer) Service Charges
| Meter Size | Inside City | Outside City |
|---|---|---|
| All Sizes | $ 14.85 | $ 16.30 |