Massachusetts Water & Sewer Rate Surveys: Overview

How we gathered our data.
The Massachusetts water and sewer rate data was collected from the following sources:

• written survey responses
• our extensive database of rate information for our existing clients
• the 2008 Annual Water & Sewer Retail Rate Survey published by The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Advisory Board
• telephone surveys
• City and Town websites

Approximately 79% of communities in Massachusetts have public water supply. About 61% of the communities use groundwater as their primary water source, with the remaining 39% relying on surface water sources.

To allow for a comparative rate analysis, we have calculated the “typical” yearly homeowner’s cost assuming consumption of 120 hundred cubic feet (90,000 gallons) of water per year:

• The typical annual water costs range from a low of $113 per household to a high of over $1,962. The 2009 average is $426 per household, representing an increase of 16.8% over 2006 averages.
• The typical annual sewer costs range from a low of $168 per household to a high of $1,632. The 2009 average is $584 per household, representing a 19.4% increase over the 2006 average.

Our interactive maps allow you to query the rate data by a number of parameters such as annual cost, population, town and even search for features such as seasonal rates and early payment discounts.

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