Potable Water Rates and Charges

The City of Newport Beach (City) has established water rates and charges to those customers receiving potable drinking water from the City. A City customer’s water bill (which is a component of the municipal services statement sent to City water customer’s monthly or bi-monthly) is calculated by the sum of a fixed service charge, which is based on the customer’s meter size, and the water usage charge, which is calculated based on the amount of water used (HCF) by the customer. Additionally, there are charges for additional living units served by one water meter and a charge for each hotel, hospital, or convalescent home bedroom. For many customers the City sends bills bi-monthly or every other month. If you receive a bill bi-monthly, you would multiply your water meter size service charge by two for a two-month period.

City water customers’ bills cover the following costs and services:

• Annual operation and maintenance of the water system including well and pump station operations, water treatment and testing, and water system employee salaries.
• City water purchase costs.
• The City purchases water from the Municipal Water District of Orange County and from the Orange County Water District.
• Capital improvement projects to repair and replace facilities and equipment to improve the water system safety, efficiency and reliability.
• Adequate funding to maintain City Council reserve policies.

City water customers’ bills may contain the following charges:

Water Usage Charge (Variable): Shown on the bill as “Water Use HCF”, this charge is geared primarily towards recovering the costs associated with City water purchases, treatment, and distribution costs. This charge is based on the amount of water used and is calculated by multiplying the number of hundred cubic feet units (HCF) of water used by the unit rate per HCF. One HCF equals 748 gallons.

Water Service Charge (Fixed):  This charge is designed to recover the costs of reading, maintaining, and replacing the meters and the costs of capital improvements. The revenues derived from the capital component are to be used for repairs and improvements to the water system identified in the water master plan. The charge is based on the customer’s water meter size.  Most single-family residential properties have a 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch meter.

For Current Water Rates (effective January 1, 2024) please click below on Resolution:

Resolution No. 2023-74 - Water Rates

Other Water Agencies

Customers that live in the City of Newport but receive water service from another agency such as the Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) or Mesa Water (MESA) are charged fees by those agencies. To view their rates please visit:

IRWD - http://www.irwd.com/rates-charges

MESA - https://www.mesawater.org/customer-service/rates-and-fees.

Proposition 218

In November 1996, California voters approved Proposition 218.  As a result, California agencies must comply with its requirements in setting utility rates.  One provision requires that a noticed public hearing on utility rates be held and that rates not be increased if a majority of affected utility customers protest the increased rates in writing. The City conducted a public hearing on November 10, 2009 pertaining to water rates and whereby in the absence of a majority protest, City Council approved the rates.

Questions?

Contact Us: Please call 949-644-3011 or e-mail utilitieshelp@newportbeachca.gov for questions regarding water rates.