Explaining the Sewer Capacity Charge for King County
The sewage treatment capacity charge is a charge in addition to sewer service billed to those customers who connected to the sanitary sewage system on or after February 1, 1990.
WHY DO WE HAVE A CAPACITY CHARGE
To protect public health and the environment, King County’s wastewater treatment system must keep pace with growth in our region. That means building more pipes, pump stations, and treatment plants.
The capacity charge distributes the costs for this expanding infrastructure to customers with the newest sewer connections. In other words, the capacity charge helps make sure that “growth pays for growth.”
WHO MUST PAY?
All property owners in King County’s service area whose home or building was connected to the King County sewer system on or after February 1, 1990 pay the capacity charge. King County provides sewage treatment services to most cities and sewer agencies in King County, areas of south Snohomish County, and a small part of KING COUNTY WASTEWATER SERVICE AREA.
HOW MUCH IS THE CHARGE?
The 2021 capacity charge is $68.34 per residential customer equivalent (RCE) per month. To calculate a residential property’s monthly rate, use the formulas shown below:
