MDC Proposes Higher Water and Sewer Rates

The Metropolitan District Commission's proposed 2027 budget would raise water and sewer charges for customers in its eight member towns.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Utilities

Isometric editorial illustration of a cast-iron water pipe elbow and brass valve on a grey concrete base against a pale sky. — The Metropolitan District Commission has proposed a 2027 budget that would raise water and sewer rates for customers in its eight member towns, adding about $114 a year to a typical bill. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support the proposed water and sewer rate increases for 2027?

The Metropolitan District Commission has proposed a 2027 budget that raises water and sewer rates, and the budget is under review and has not been approved. The proposed increases could add about $114 a year to a typical residential combined water and sewer bill.

Why it matters

Customer charges fund water operations, while member towns help cover sewer service through tax assessments, so both households and municipal budgets are affected. The increase is tied partly to upgrades under the Clean Water Project, which aims to reduce sewage overflows into local waterways.

The proposed water rate increase is about 4%, and the sewer budget increase is just under 6%, with nearly half of the sewer increase tied to operating the new South Hartford storage tunnel and pump station. Windsor's separate sewer assessment would rise by more than $538,000, though final figures depend on the budget's approval.

The players

Metropolitan District Commission

The regional utility provider serving Hartford and surrounding towns, responsible for water and sewer operations under its proposed budget.

The details

The district's budget is divided into water operations and sewer operations, and each member town's sewer share is based on its tax collections compared with those of the other seven towns. The sewer budget includes the Clean Water Project, and the proposal is scheduled for a public hearing in Hartford.

Public hearing on the proposed budget is set for 5:30 p.m. in Hartford in November 2026.
Proposed higher water and sewer bills would take effect in 2027.

Industry Context

The sewer increase funds the Clean Water Project, which is aimed at reducing sewage overflows into local waterways in line with the overflow-reduction goals of the federal Clean Water Act. The rate increase therefore extends a long-running effort to upgrade aging sewer infrastructure.

A typical residential combined water and sewer bill could rise about $114 a year if the proposal is adopted. Residents in the eight member towns would see the change reflected in their 2027 utility bills.

The takeaway

Households in the district should watch the November public hearing and the final budget vote, since the proposed increase would take effect in 2027 if approved.

What happens next

The public hearing on the proposed 2027 budget is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Hartford in November 2026, after which the commission will consider the budget.