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Community Assessments (Rates)
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority


How Community Assessments Work

MWRA is a "wholesaler" to its member communities. 

MWRA's charges ("community assessments") typically represent about 45% of the amount that communities bill their customers. The proportion varies considerably among communities.

Latest MWRA Community Assessments

MWRA Water and Sewer Rate Methodology

How MWRA sets water and sewer assessments to for communities:


Water Rates

In setting water rates, MWRA first identifies through its budgeting process the total amount of revenue that must be raised to run the water system.  Charges are calculated using a flat rate per million gallons – $4,021.42 for FY2020 – times the metered water use by a community in the last full calendar year.


Sewer Rates

Sewer charges are computed on a proportional allocation basis utilizing total flow, contributing population and census population for each community. The total amount of required revenue for the sewer system is allocated either to operating costs or capital costs.  Operating costs are allocated to each community based on the average of the prior three calendar years’ total flow, with adjustments for strength of flow.

Capital costs, including debt service, are allocated to each community based on a combination of (1) average of the prior three years’ peak month wastewater flow and average concentrations of total suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand; (2) the proportion of the population of the community that is served by the local sewer system; and (3) the proportion of the community’s U.S. census population to the total census population in the sewer system.


Allocation of Total Sewer Charges for FY20

Pie Chart - MWRA Sewer Rate Allocation

 

If You Have Questions About Your Bill

If you live in an MWRA community, your water and sewer bills come from from your local water and/or sewer department. If you have questions or concerns about your water/sewer bill, you should contact your local water/sewer department.


Retail Rates

Each community has its own rate structure and accounting policies. The MWRA Advisory Board publishes an Annual Retail Rate Survey.

 
Archive - MWRA Wholesale Assessments (Rates)

Documents are in PDF format
Final FY2024 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted June 21, 2023
Preliminary FY2024 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted March 30, 2023

Final FY2023 wholesale assessments to communities

Posted June 27, 2022

Preliminary FY2023 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted February 18, 2022

Final FY2022 wholesale assessments to communities

Posted June 15, 2021

Preliminary FY2022 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted February 17, 2021

Final FY 2021 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted May 6, 2020

Preliminary FY2021 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted February 20, 2020

Final FY 2020 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted June 19, 2019

Preliminary FY2020 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted February 20, 2019

Final FY 2019 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted June 20, 2018

Final FY 2018 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted June 27, 2017
Preliminary FY 2018 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted February 15, 2017
Final FY 2017 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted June 29, 2017

Preliminary FY 2017 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted February 10, 2016

Final FY 2016 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted June 24, 2015

Preliminary FY 2016 wholesale assessments to communities (PDF)

Posted February 11, 2014
Final FY 2015 wholesale assessents to communities (PDF)

Posted June 25, 2013
Preliminary FY 2015 wholesale assessents to communities (PDF)

Posted February 2013
Final FY 2014 wholesale assessents to communities

Posted June 26, 2013
Preliminary FY 2014 wholesale assessents to communities

Posted February 13, 2013
Final FY 2013 wholesale assessents to communities

Posted June 27, 2012
Preliminary FY 2013 wholesale assessments to communities

Posted February 13, 2012
Final FY 2012 wholesale assessments to communities

Posted June, 2011
Preliminary FY 2012 wholesale assessments to communities

Posted February, 2011
Final FY 2011 wholesale assessments to communities

Posted June, 2010
Details about MWRA's rate strategy for FY 2011-2010

Updated June 30, 2010
MWRA Proposes Lowest Rate Increase in 14 Years

Posted February 11, 2010
Proposed FY 2011 wholesale assessments to communities

Posted February, 2010
What Drives MWRA's Rates:

Facts about the Proposed FY2010 Rates and Budget- Posted 02/13/09
CEB Overview

Posted 02/12/09
Proposed FY 2010 wholesale assessments to communities
Final FY 2009 water and sewer assessments to communities
 

PDF files on this site require Adobe Acrobat Reader® (free download).

Updated March 7, 2024