Baltimore County water rates to increase by 5% in July, Baltimore City to see 3% increase

Baltimore County residents will pay almost 5% more than their current rates for water usage starting July 1, and city residents will see a 3% increase.

The city Board of Estimates approved Wednesday a request to raise county water rates by 4.9%. The new rate applies to residential and commercial customers who receive quarterly water bills from the city.

The new rate goes into effect July 1, under a three-year rate increase schedule the Board of Estimates passed in 2022.

Service charges on county-metered fire rates, for fire hydrants, would increase from $373.19 to $391.48, annually.

The city and county share the same drinking and waste water system that is operated and overseen by Baltimore City’s Department of Public Works, an arrangement that has at times led to tension between the two jurisdictions.

The new county water rate will average out to about an $18.72 annual increase for an average family of four, according to county spokesperson Erica Palmisano.