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# Understanding Your Utility Bill
Your utility payments cover water, sewer, drainage, and waste services. See how these rates are set and where the dollars go.
## How rates are set
### Metro Vancouver sets the rates for most services
Metro Vancouver sets the rates to supply bulk water and treat wastewater, which make up the majority of your utility bill.
### City of Surrey only controls a small portion of the total utility rate
We deliver services locally and maintain infrastructure.
* The City is committed to transparency and fiscal responsibility.
* We advocate for fair regional rates, but we do not control Metro Vancouver's rate increases.
* Each year, we adjust utility rates to reflect rising costs. Most of these increases come from Metro Vancouver, not us.
## Most of your bill is for Metro Vancouver services
### Water utility charges
*Based on average consumption for a single family home*
### Sewer utility charges
*Based on average consumption for a single family home*
### 75% to 86% of your utility charges are for Metro Vancouver
Our water and sewer utility rates are inclusive of significant costs from Metro Vancouver's water rates and sewer levy. Based on average consumption for a single family home, 75% of the water bill and 86% of the sewer bill is from Metro Vancouver costs charged to the City of Surrey.
View Metro Vancouver budgets and financial plans.
### The remainder is for City services and infrastructure
This includes:
* Routine maintenance
* Infrastructure replacement
* Meter readings
* Customer service
View the *2026 Five-Year (2026-2030) Financial Plan - Self-Funded Utilities* to learn about the 2026 utility bill breakdown.
SEE DETAILS
## Annual water & sewer rates
Annual flat rates for single-family dwelling
| | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Account type** | **2026** | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** | **2022** |
| Water | $1195 | $1139 | $1082 | $1045 | $1015 |
| Sewer | $1661 | $1638 | $1223 | $1043 | $950 |
| **Total** | **$2856** | **$2777** | **$2305** | **$2088** | **$1965** |
Annual flat rates for secondary suite
Secondary suite annual utility rates are charged in addition to the single family dwelling rate for water and sewer.
| | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Account type** | **2026** | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** | **2022** |
| Water | $454.00 | $435 | $415 | $403 | $392 |
| Sewer | $821.71 | $810 | $666 | $601 | $580 |
| **Total** | **$1275.71** | **$1245** | **$1081** | **$1004** | **$972** |
Annual flat rates for multi-family residential (strata)
| | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Account type** | **2026** | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** | **2022** |
| Water | $454 | $435 | $415 | $403 | $392 |
| Sewer | $571 | $563 | $420 | $359 | $327 |
| **Total** | **$1025** | **$998** | **$835** | **$762** | **$719** |
## Metered water & sewer rates
* Metered utility bills for water and sewer services are mailed every 4 months.
* This bill includes a fixed charge based on the size of the water meter known as a base charge and a variable component representing actual consumption.
* Unpaid balances after the due date are subject to a 5% penalty.
Metered utility rates for residential & commercial properties
| | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Account type** | **2026** | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** | **2022** |
| Water | $1.4116 | $1.3407 | $1.2704 | $1.2239 | $1.1863 |
| Sewer \* | $2.3593 | $2.3274 | $1.7777 | $1.5520 | $1.4482 |
\*Sewer volume is based on 88% of the total amount of water supplied by the City to the Property.
Water meter base charge
#### Rate per year
| | | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Size in mm** | **Size in inches** | **2026** | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** | **2022** |
| 16 to 25 mm (16 to 19mm 2024 & prior) | 3/4" | $96 | $90 | $75 | $72 | $66 |
| 25 mm (2024 & prior) | 1" | N/A | N/A | $90 | $87 | $81 |
| 38 mm | 1.5" | $117 | $111 | $111 | $111 | $102 |
| 50 mm | 2" | $147 | $147 | $147 | $147 | $135 |
| 75 mm | 3" | $291 | $291 | $291 | $291 | $267 |
| 100 mm | 4" | $336 | $336 | $336 | $336 | $309 |
| 150 mm | 6" | $639 | $639 | $639 | $639 | $585 |
| 200 mm | 8" | $747 | $747 | $747 | $747 | $684 |
| 250 mm | 10" | $747 | $747 | $747 | $747 | $684 |
\*Billing periods are every four months (tri-annually). The water meter base rate is divided equally between the three bills.
### How we calculate metered utility charges
#### Water
To calculate your water charge we take your water consumption in cubic metres and multiply it by the water rate.
*consumption x water rate = water charge*
#### Sewer
Metered Sewer charges on your utility account are billed at a percentage of the water measured through the water meter. Actual sewer usage is calculated as being 88% of the volume of water that is consumed by metered water customers.
*water consumption x 88 x sewer rate = sewer charge*
#### Meter base
Your base charge pays for meter readings, administration, routine maintenance and replacement of the meter at the end of its life cycle. This fee varies, depending on the size of the meter.
*annual meter base charge / 3 = meter base charge*
### Temporary construction service
Used for developers who are temporarily connecting to the City's Water Service for construction water use. These accounts will be billed $5500, on a pro-rated rate based on the installation of the domestic water meter.
## Annual waste collection rates
Waste collection service charges are from January 1 to December 31 for the calendar year. The amount is based on a flat rate, collected with property taxes, due July 2 each year.
Annual waste collection rates
| | | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Type of dwelling** | **Type of collection** | **2026** | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** | **2022** |
| Single family dwelling/duplex/multiplex | Garbage/recycling/organics | $344.08 | $340 | $337 | $333.59 | $315.90 |
| Secondary suite | Garbage/recycling/organics | $172.04 | $170 | $168 | $166.26 | $157.44 |
| Multiple suites (as of 2025) | Garbage/recycling/organics | $340 | $340 | | | |
| Townhouse | Garbage/recycling/organics (using City services) | $344.08 | $340 | $337 | $333.59 | $315.90 |
| Apartment/townhouse | Recycling/organics | $46.55 | $46 | $46 | $45.64 | $43.22 |
| Apartment/townhouse | Recycling | $35.42 | $35 | $35 | $34.77 | $32.93 |
## Drainage parcel tax
Drainage parcel tax charges are from January 1 to December 31 for the calendar year. The amount is based on a flat rate, depending on the property type, collected with property taxes, due July 2 each year.
Drainage parcel tax
| | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Class** | **2026** | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** | **2022** |
| **Class 1, 8, or 9 drainage** | $250.71 | $247 | $246 | $242.47 | $235.64 |
| **Class 2, 4, 5, or 6 drainage** | $613.06 | $604 | $601 | $591.89 | $575.21 |
## Secondary suite charges
A secondary suite is defined as a dwelling unit (self-contained living quarters including cooking equipment and a bathroom), located within a detached house, semi-detached house, or duplex lot.
If there is no secondary suite at your property, call the secondary suite clerk at 604-591-4516 to arrange for an inspection of your home to confirm the secondary suite has been removed. Failure to do so will indicate to us that you have a secondary suite and your property will be assessed the additional utility levy for the current tax year.
All properties paying for secondary suite garbage charge will be permitted to upsize to a 360L garbage cart. Garbage charges will be included on the annual property tax notice.
If you exceed your garbage cart limit, purchase garbage stickers for $5.67 from various City locations.
Learn more secondary suite program information, including fees, regulations and contacts.