AURORA | Aurora Water is proposing a 3.5% water rate increase for residential customers in 2027, as well as an across the board increase of 6.5% for sewer and stormwater rates.
The proposed increases come as the city is planning for a number of capital project investments and Aurora experiences a prolonged drought. Aurora Water Executive Director Marshall Brown said water will likely continue to get more expensive.
“While we try to be very careful and manage costs as responsibly as we can, you’ll note that our rates and the connection fees to developers are going up every year, simply because all of the factors driving the costs are going up,” Brown said.
Those factors include things like construction costs for water storage and pipe maintenance, treatment facility improvements and water monitoring technology.
Aurora Water has separate rates for different types of users, as well as for the amount of water used. The 2027 rates would increase 3.5% for residences, 1% for multi-family, 14% for irrigation and 2% for commercial.
For residences, the rate change will equate to $6, or an additional 20 cents, for water use up to 5,000 gallons. The rate for between 6,000 and 10,000 gallons will be $7.56, up 26 cents; for 11,000 to 19,000 gallons, it’s $10.78, up 36 cents; and for over 20,000 gallons, it’s $15.11, up 51 cents.
The 6.5% increase for sewer and stormwater rates are driven by increases from Metro Water and Recovery, which are being passed to consumers, Brown said.
“Costs in the sewer and stormwater space have affected us a little more heavily than the water this year,” Brown said. “A lot of our stormwater infrastructure is aging and stormwater infrastructure, with the corrugated metal pipes, has shorter lifespans than water distribution infrastructure.”
Water development fees will also increase 5% for water and stormwater services.
The 2027 combined water and wastewater proposed operating budget is $258.5 million, which is $8.1 million (3.2%) more than in 2026. Brown said mandated costs for utilities, ditch assessments and sewer and stormwater services have increased, necessitating the bigger budget.
The estimated 2027 revenue for water is $276.8 million and for wastewater, it’s $133.1 million.
For capital projects, the city plans in five-year increments. From 2027 to 2031, the city is planning $2.2 billion in water capital projects and $159.4 million for wastewater capital projects.
The largest capital project being planned is the $1.3 billion Wild Horse Reservoir, followed by about $400 million for water treatment facility improvements.
Put the increase on those who are the reason for the needed increase in supply, Developers. I see no reason for my bills to increase so developers can profit from more sprawl which destroys wildlife habitat, pollutes our night sky with light to the point where the very stars are not visible, adds to traffic congestion, and stresses our already inadequate public safety services. Time to say we are more than big enough. time to live within our means. time for Council to be answerable to residents rather than the profit of Developers confirmed by science to be soulless.