Annual sewer rate increase on Kaua‘i kicks in on July 1

A sewer rate increase approved by the Kaua‘i County Council with the passage of Bill 2874 in September 2022 will go into effect on July 1.

The measure increases the sewer rate by 11% per year over five years. The previous adjustment to wastewater rates was on July 1, 2024.

“Funds from this increase will go into much-needed repairs of facilities that are over four decades old,” said County Engineer Troy Tanigawa. “Repairs will avoid costly emergency repairs and will increase the overall efficiency of wastewater operations. We thank the Kaua‘i County Council for their assistance in implementing this change, which will greatly benefit wastewater infrastructure for the island.”

The rate structure was developed using a Cost of Service Analysis from the American Water Works Association’s M1 Manual, Principles of Water Rates, Fees, and Charges (7th Edition), and the Water Environment Federation’s Manual of Practice No. 27, Financing and Charges for Wastewater Systems.

“The County uses Wastewater Treatment Capacity Assessment revenues and Sewer Connection Charge revenues to pay for wastewater management operating and capital costs, including debt service payments,” Tanigawa said.

For more information and to view a copy of the approved Bill 2874 covering the Sewer Rate Increase, contact Donald Fujimoto at 808-241-4084 or dfujimoto@kauai.gov.