City of St. Louis Water Division
Niraj S. Patel, Water Commissioner
Niraj S. Patel, Water Commissioner
The Board of Alderman of the City of St. Louis is the party responsible for setting the rates for the City of St. Louis Water Division. This
legislative body, consisting of alderman at large from each of the city's 14 wards, must vote to adjust rates whenever necessary.
In 2023, it was found, determined, and declared by the Board of Alderman of the City of St. Louis that increases in certain water rates were necessary to
provide revenues sufficient for the maintenance and operation of the City's waterworks and water facilities.
City Ordinance #71683 was passed by the Board of Alderman and approved by the Mayor on June 26th, 2023. This ordinance established an increase in water rates that was necessary
to provide sufficient funds to operate the city's waterworks and water facilities.
SECTION FOUR. Flat Rates.
(a)Flat rate for domestic use.
1. For the use of water for domestic family residence, flat or apartment purposes, for periods of three months in advance:
FIRST YEAR
| Room charge, each | $4.51 | |
| Water closet, each | $17.66 | |
| Baths, each | $14.82 | |
| Shower, separate from bath, each | $14.82 |
SECOND AND THIRD YEARS
| Room charge, each | $5.41 | |
| Water closet, each | $21.19 | |
| Baths, each | $17.78 | |
| Shower, separate from bath, each | $17.78 |
2. Sprinkling charge of $0.30 per front foot shall be assessed each three month billing period for lawn sprinkling and other outside uses beginning with the Implementation Date of this ordinance.
Sprinkling charge of $0.36 per front foot shall be assessed each three-month billing period for lawn sprinkling and other outside uses for the Second and Third Years.
(b)Temporary use of flat rate.
In those cases where users are not eligible for flat rates as enumerated in Section 23.16.060, Revised Code, and where existing water service is unmetered as of the effective date of this ordinance, it shall be the duty of the
Water Commissioner, as soon as possible, to cause the installation or setting of the required meter. In the interim, bills shall be rendered to these customers on the basis of the appropriate flat rates imposed by this
ordinance.
(c)Swimming pool charge.
1. A flat water rate shall be applied where a swimming pool, pond or other pool is found on the premises having a capacity of more than one hundred (100) cubic feet and less than two thousand (2,000) cubic feet which are not
metered under Section 23.16.060, Revised Code. Said flat rate shall be payable for periods of three (3) months in advance as follows:
| Swimming pool, pond or other pool having a capacity of more than 100 but less than 501 cubic feet-- | $33.34 | |
| Swimming pool, pond or other pool having a capacity of 501 but less than 1,001 cubic feet-- | $46.66 | |
| Swimming pool, pond or other pool having a capacity of 1,001 but less than 1,501 cubic feet-- | $60.02 | |
| Swimming pool, pond or other pool having a capacity of 1,501 but less than 2,000 cubic feet-- | $73.34 |
| Meter Size | ||
| 5/8" | $28.61 | |
| 3/4" | $33.34 | |
| 1" | $42.26 | |
| 1 1/2" | $61.12 | |
| 2" | $88.82 | |
| 3" | $172.21 | |
| 4" | $305.46 | |
| 6" | $583.19 | |
| 8" | $888.64 | |
| 10" | $1,221.90 |
| Meter Size | ||
| 5/8" | $34.33 | |
| 3/4" | $40.01 | |
| 1" | $50.71 | |
| 1 1/2" | $73.34 | |
| 2" | $106.58 | |
| 3" | $206.65 | |
| 4" | $366.55 | |
| 6" | $699.83 | |
| 8" | $1,066.37 | |
| 10" | $1,466.28 |
(e) Should water be furnished through two (2) or more meters or through a single meter with two (2) or more metering elements, the quantity charge shall be based on
the combined total of all water used as indicated by all registers.
SECTION SIX. Special Rates in Hospital or Charitable Institutions.
(a) The quantity charge for the use of water by any hospital or charitable institution in the City which shall make written application to the Water Commissioner,
signed by its president, secretary or managing officer, asking for a special charity rate, and stating that free service is furnished to not less than ten (10) percent of its patients, members
or inmates, and giving special details of the management as are necessary to show the philanthropic nature of the institution shall, if approved by the Water Commissioner, be
assessed for the water used in the institution at a special rate of $1.12 per 100 cubic feet for the First Year, $1.34 per 100 cubic feet for the Second and Third Years.
(b) In addition to the quantity charge, there shall be assessed each billing period a readiness-to-serve charge for each meter in accordance with the schedule set forth in Section Five of this ordinance.
SECTION SEVEN. School Rates.
(a) The quantity charge for the use of water by any public, parochial, inter-parochial schools, public libraries, and art museum of the Art Museum subdistrict of the
Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District of the City of St. Louis and the County of St. Louis shall be assessed for the water used in the institution at a special rate of $1.25
per 100 cubic feet for the First Year, $1.50 per 100 cubic feet for the Second and Third Years.
(b) In addition to the quantity charge, there shall be assessed each billing period a readiness-to-serve charge for each meter in accordance with the schedule set forth in Section Five of this ordinance.
SECTION EIGHT. Zoological Parks.
(a) The quantity charge for the use of water by zoological parks of the Zoological subdistrict of the Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District of the City
of St. Louis and the County of St. Louis shall be assessed for the water used in the institution at a special rate of $1.12 per 100 cubic feet for the First Year, $1.34 per 100
cubic feet for the Second and Third Years.
(b) In addition to the quantity charge, there shall be assessed each billing period a readiness-to-serve charge for each meter in accordance with the schedule set forth in Section Five of this ordinance.
SECTION NINE. Water Turn-on Service Charge.
A service charge equal to $40.00 shall be collected in advance for turning on water to new flat rate and meter accounts, subject to the Inflation Adjustment.
SECTION TEN. Shutoff for Delinquency.
The Collector of Revenue shall furnish the Water Commissioner a written list each day of all water bills paid the previous day. The Water Commissioner
shall shut off the water from all premises for the nonpayment of delinquent bills. Water shall not again be furnished thereto until all outstanding obligations for water supplied to
such premises shall have been paid in full and a charge of $50.00 has been paid in advance for turning on such water, subject to the Inflation Adjustment.
SECTION ELEVEN. Fire Protection Connections.
(a) All new and existing installations for private sprinkler type protection shall
be provided with a suitable control valve just inside the building or property line.
Connections serving automatic sprinkler equipment must be equipped with an approved
type of water flow alarm service of any of local and central station alarms, local alarms and
watchman with watch service, or approved outdoor local alarms where there is no
watchman on the premises. Water through these connections shall be used to extinguish
fires only and the use of water for any other purpose is expressly prohibited. No meter shall
be required on connections used to supply private fire protection systems with sprinkler
equipment only. Where new and existing connections for private fire protection supply
standpipe and hose rack systems or private fire hydrants are or have been installed, a
detector check valve with bypass meter and vault shall be installed at the expense of the
applicant and if it is found that water is being used for purposes other than the
extinguishment of fires or testing, the Water Commissioner shall install a fire service meter
and vault at the expense of the owner or occupant. Prior to installation the Water
Commissioner shall require a deposit for the estimated cost of all fire service meter and
vault installations within ten (10) days of notification or the water shall be shut off from
the water main and the Insurance Services Office of Missouri and the Fire Marshal notified
of this action. A service charge of Two Hundred Eighty-Eight Dollars ($288.00), subject
to the Inflation Adjustment, shall be assessed against each connection made with the mains
of the Water Division for all new and existing private fire protection connections used to
supply sprinkler equipment only and against all new and existing private fire protection
connections regulated by detector check valves with bypass meters. Should water in excess
of that required for the emergency extinguishment of fires be used through any private fire
protection system regulated by a detector check valve with bypass meter then such water
use shall be assessed a quantity charge, but not the readiness-to-serve charge, at the rates
set forth in Section Six of this ordinance. Private fire protection connections regulated by
fire service meters shall be assessed the regular meter rates as set forth in Section Six of
this ordinance. For any private fire protection connection regulated either by a detector
check valve with bypass meter or by a fire meter an adjustment will be made for water used
for the emergency extinguishment of fire where such use is claimed and certified to the
Water Commissioner by the occupant or owner. In cases where these bills are not paid
within thirty (30) days, the Water Commissioner shall cause the connection to be shut off
and notify the Insurance Services Office of Missouri and the Fire Marshal of this action.
(b) Sprinkler protection shall be considered a piping system with nationally
recognized testing laboratory approved sprinkler heads attached. Stand-pipe and hose racks
systems shall be considered any arrangements of piping whereby hoses for fighting fires
can be attached to the pipes and used either by the occupant or owner or the Fire
Department. A fire hydrant shall be considered any water connection with an outlet at least
two and one-half (2 1/2) inches inside diameter and provided with the same size threads
used by the St. Louis Fire Department. Two (2) inch or smaller fire protection connections
shall be used only when approved by the Fire Marshal and by the Water Commissioner and
no water for purposes other than fire extinguishment shall be taken from such connections.
(c) Limited service sprinklers attached to domestic service lines shall conform
to the following minimum requirements. One (1) sprinkler head per fire area when supplied
from a one (1) inch domestic service. Two (2) sprinkler heads per fire area when supplied
from a one-and-one-half (1 1/2) inch domestic service. Four (4) sprinkler heads per fire
area when supplied from a two (2) inch domestic service. A fire area shall be a confined
area which may contain hazardous substances. Limited service sprinklers in any one (1)
building shall be limited to a maximum of twenty (20) sprinklers. No sprinkler supply lines
shall be attached to the domestic service before the domestic water meter.
SECTION TWELVE.
The Water Division shall submit an annual update to the Clerk of
the Board of Aldermen no later than May 1 of each calendar year and shall present the
report at a meeting of the Board of Aldermen's Public Infrastructure and
Utilities Committee (or such other committee to which, pursuant to the rules of the Board
of Aldermen, bills affecting matters that are the subject of this Ordinance are assigned)
during that month of May. The Water Division’s update shall include a list of projects with
their current status and progress. It shall include any other related documents as may be
requested by the Public Infrastructure and Utilities Committee. The report shall be posted
on the Water Division's website by May 1 of each calendar year.
SECTION THIRTEEN. Emergency.
This being an ordinance necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, it is hereby declared to be an emergency
ordinance under Article IV, Sections 19 and 20 of the Charter of the City of St. Louis, and it shall take effect and be in full force immediately upon its passage and approval by the
Mayor or its adoption over their veto.
NOTE: Basic information regarding water rates, as discussed in City Ordinance #71683, is included above. The full text can be downloaded here.
For more in-depth information on City Ordinance #68694, the full text of the ordinance can be found Here after it is digitized.
Official printed copies of St. Louis City Ordinances may be obtained from the Register's Office at St. Louis City Hall.
