Rates Effective 11/15/2007
Reminder to All Lincoln Water/Wastewater System Users
The water and sewer service lines are the responsibility of the owner from the water/sewer main connection to your building.
Save time and money by receiving your water and wastewater bill by e-mail. There's no standing in line, no stamps, no convenience fee, and you can pay at your convenience, 24 hours a day. By enrolling for eBill/ePay, you are agreeing to receive notification of your water and wastewater bill via e-mail (no paper bill will be sent) and to pay your bill online using a VISA or MasterCard. In return, the usual $2 online convenience fee will be waived.
To begin eBill/ePay, simply enroll in MyInterLinc, register your water account(s), and make payments.
Now Available!
Water/Sewer
eBilling
Visit our website at lincoln.ne.gov
keyword: epay
Review and pay your bill online.
To enroll, go to the City Web site, lincoln.ne.gov. (keyword: ePay), Click on "Water/Wastewater Bills" then follow the instructions under "Enrollment/Logging into eBilling".
Once you are enrolled in MyInterLinc, you may pay online immediately. eBilling will begin with the next billing cycle.
Rate Survey (Local)
| Monthly Water Charges for Cities in Nebraska | Residential with 5/8 Inch Meter 500 cf (3,740 gal.) |
|---|---|
| Beatrice, NE | 11.20 |
| Bennett, NE | 36.59 |
| Hickman, NE | 12.25 |
| Lincoln, NE | 8.60 |
| Nebraska City, NE | 15.86 |
| Rural Water District #1 | 33.00 |
| Seward, NE | 22.60 |
| Waverly, NE | 14.51 |
| York, NE | 18.24 |
| Monthly Wastewater Charges for Cities in Nebraska | Residential with 5/8 Inch Meter 500 cf (3,740 gal.) |
|---|---|
| Data updated 8/28/2007 | |
| Beatrice, NE | 11.39 |
| Bennett, NE | 16.85 |
| Hickman, NE | 27.00 |
| Lincoln, NE | 9.19 |
| Nebraska City, NE | 19.22 |
| Rural Water District #1 | N/A |
| Seward, NE | 15.86 |
| Waverly, NE | 16.73 |
| York, NE | 14.16 |
Rate Survey (Regional)
| Monthly Water Charges for U.S. Cities* | Residential with 5/8 Inch Meter 500 cf (3,740 gal.) |
|---|---|
| Data updated 8/28/2007 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 9.90 |
| Des Moines, IA | 11.27 |
| Lincoln, NE | 8.60 |
| Omaha, NE | 8.75 |
| Springfield, MO | 14.55 |
| Wichita, KS | 7.49 |
| Monthly Wastewater Charges for U.S. Cities* | Residential with 5/8 Inch Meter 500 cf (3,740 gal.) |
|---|---|
| Data updated 8/28/2007 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 8.55 |
| Lincoln, NE | 9.19 |
| Missouri River Wastewater Treatment Plant - Omaha, NE** | 10.79 |
| Springfield, MO | 12.59 |
| Wichita, KS | 8.27 |
*It is difficult to compare user fees from city to city because of uniqueness of rate structures. For example when comparing Omaha's and Lincoln Water and Wastewater rates, keep in mind part of Omaha's taxes pay for fire protection costs. They have a much higher development connection fee to the system and the "receiving bodies" of Omaha's wastewater have less stringent treatment requirements. Omaha has a broader base of customers to spread costs over.
**Omaha wastewater was not part of the survey.
Data taken from National Rate Survey Compiled by American Water Works Association Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. in 2006
Water & Wastewater Rates
City of Lincoln, Public Works and Utilities
Residential Water Rates
Residential water bills are determined by an increasing block structure. Under this pricing formula, the more water you use, the higher the price is per unit of water. Traditionally, residential water use has been a major cause of fluctuations between low winter and high summer use. The price structure's intent is to encourage the wise use of water.
Water is sold by the unit. One unit equals 100 cubic feet or 748 gallons. Each water bill indicates how many units of water you purchased in a billing period. Lincoln's rate structure has three price "blocks." While water rates are based on use in a one-month period, most residential customers are billed bi-monthly. To make computing your bill easier, the chart shows price blocks on a monthly and bi-monthly basis.
| Price Blocks | $1.13/unit | $1.59/unit | $2.48/unit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
For example, to compute a bi-monthly use of 49 units:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monthly | 1-8 units | next 15 units | all additional units | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bi-monthly | 1-16 units | next 30 units | all additional units | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-Residential Water Rates
A majority of non-residential or business customers use a steady amount of water year round. As a result, the Lincoln Water System can more readily predict their water use and provide for those needs. In addition, non-residential customers provide an economic base which is important to the development of our City. For these reasons a non-residential rate schedule was developed.
There are currently two levels of non-residential users. Customers who used less than 12 million cubic feet the previous calendar year will pay:
| Price Blocks | $1.13/unit | $1.59/unit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | 1-80 units | all additional units |
| Bi-monthly | 1-160 units | all additional units |
Non-residential customers who used more than 12 million cubic feet the previous calendar year are billed according to the high user schedule. On a calendar year basis, a "base usage" of each high user customer is determined. The base usage is an average of the water usage of each high user customer for the previous three calendar years. The following rates would apply:
- $1.07 per unit for water usage less than base to 5% above base
- $1.11 per unit for water usage 5% to 15% above base
- $1.15 per unit for water usage 15% to 25% above base
- $1.20 per unit for all water usage more than 25% above base
Water Service Charge
The water service charge on your bill covers the cost of accounting, billing, collecting money, meter services, etc. It also represents "an ability to serve" charge. This means that water will be supplied through public water lines large enough to meet the demands of each customer and the needs of a City-wide fire protection system.
Most single-family residential customers pay a $2.95 monthly service charge or $5.90 on a bi-monthly bill. The size and number of water meters will indicate what the service charge will be.
Residential multi-dwelling customers (two or more living units) will pay a $1.81 monthly service charge per dwelling unit per month. The size and number of meters or the number of dwelling units will determine the service charge.
Wastewater Fee
Unlike your water bill, the wastewater fee for residential customers will not change every billing period. Under this rate system, you pay for only the water sent into the wastewater lines.
To predict how much water you use for domestic purposes, the fee is based on your winter water usage. Water you use for summertime air conditioning, gardening, lawn watering and other outdoor uses is not included.
The wastewater rate is based on a flat fee of $1.575 per unit and is the same for all customers. So, if you use 20 units of water during a winter billing period, then your sewer use fee would be $1.575 times 20, or $31.50. This fee remains the same even in the summer months when water use normally increases.
Wastewater fees for non-residential users are determined by each month's water use. In addition, some industries pay a surcharge for high-strength waste.
Wastewater Service Charge
Like the Water System, the Wastewater System must charge for services like accounting, sewer maintenance, etc. For single-family residential customers, the size and number of meters determine the amount of these charges. Most customers will be charged $1.31 per month or $2.62 for a bi-monthly billing period.
Residential multi-dwelling customers will pay a $0.78 monthly service charge per unit. The size and number of meters or the number of dwelling units will determine the size of the service charge.
Water & Wastewater Systems
The Lincoln Water and Wastewater Systems are utilities and do not receive City General Fund tax dollars. The income derived from rates pays for the maintenance and other costs involved in operating the two utility systems. In addition, a portion of this income is invested in Lincoln's future through water and wastewater system improvements.
Acrobat (PDF) Version of Water/Wastewater Rates Brochure (222 K) 
