Water, Sewer & Garbage Rates

Effective January 1, 2025

For examples of how to calculate fees for different types of properties, visit the User Rates Calculation page.

WATERWORKS RATE AND REGULATION BYLAW 2006 NO. 7004

MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COLLECTION BYLAW 2011 NO. 7128

SEWER REGULATION AND CHARGE BYLAW 1982 NO. 2496

Single Family Residential (4 or less units)

Includes single family homes, homes with a suite or carriage house, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes

Single family residential properties are billed daily water rates that consist of a water base rate plus water consumption rates. The base rate is a service charge applied per water meter based on the meter's size. Consumption rates are tiered into 4 steps of 110 gallons each; rates get higher as water usage increases.

New for 2024: Tier thresholds increase according to the number of dwelling units at a property. For example, a 2-unit property is allowed twice the consumption in each step:
Step 1 covers 0-220 gpd
Step 2 covers 221-440 gpd
Step 3 covers 441-660 gpd and;
Step 4 covers 661 gpd and above.

Sewer and garbage fees are flat daily fees applied per dwelling unit.

WATER
WATER BASE RATE (per meter 25mm or less)	$1.05932 per day
CONSUMPTION RANGE (1 dwelling unit)*
Step 1: 0-110 average gallons per day (gpd) per unit	$0.00223 per gallon per day
Step 2: 111-220 gpd per unit	$0.00555 per gallon per day
Step 3: 221-330 gpd per unit	$0.00971 per gallon per day
Step 4: 331 gpd+ over per unit	$0.01710 per gallon per day

*Tier thresholds increase for each dwelling unit being charged for. Examples:
Two units Step 1: 0-220 gpd, Step 2: 221-440 gpd, Step 3: 441-660 gpd and Step 4: 661gpd and over
Three units Step 1: 0-330 gpd, Step 2: 331-660 gpd, Step 3: 661-990 gpd and Step 4: 991gpd and over
Four units Step 1: 0-440 gpd, Step 2: 441-880 gpd, Step 3: 881-1320 gpd and Step 4: 1321gpd and over

SEWER	GARBAGE
$0.46989 per day (per unit)	$0.660270 per day (per unit)
	Garbage Upsize Fee:
	$0.304110 flat fee per day

If your water meter size is 38mm or larger, your account will receive a meter service charge instead of a water base rate.

METER SERVICE CHARGE
38mm	$2.78074 per day
50mm	$3.57523 per day
75mm	$4.23732 per day
100mm	$5.29666 per day
150mm	$12.04989 per day
200mm	$15.62512 per day
250mm	$20.12726 per day

Multi-Family Residential (5+ residential units)

Includes apartment buildings, townhouses, and larger strata properties that share one city water meter

Water base rates are determined by the size of the water meter at the property. There is one rate per gallon for water consumption. Sewer fees are applied based on unit rates per day.

NOTE: The City does not provide pick up services for properties with 5 or more residential units. Please check out our Garbage & Recycle page for more details.

WATER
WATER BASE RATE	Flat fee per day
PER METER SIZE
19mm	$1.18648
25mm	$1.58901
38mm	$2.78074
50mm	$3.57523
75mm	$4.23732
100mm	$5.29666
150mm	$12.04989
200mm	$15.62512
250mm	$20.12726
WATER CONSUMPTION
Rate applied per gallon for water consumption	$0.00877 per gallon

SEWER
$0.46989 per day (per unit)

Commercial and Non-Residential

Includes office and industrial buildings, stores, schools, churches, hotels, and other non-residential properties.

Water base rates are determined by the size of the water meter at the property. There is one flat rate per gallon for water consumption. Sewer fees consist of a daily base rate per property plus a flat consumption rate applied per gallon of water consumption.

WATER
WATER BASE RATE	Flat fee per day
PER METER SIZE
19mm	$1.18648
25mm	$1.58901
38mm	$2.78074
50mm	$3.57523
75mm	$4.23732
100mm	$5.29666
150mm	$12.04989
200mm	$15.62512
250mm	$20.12726
WATER CONSUMPTION
Rate applied per gallon for water consumption	$0.00877 per gallon

SEWER
SEWER BASE RATE	$0.46989 per day (per property)
SEWER CONSUMPTION
Rate applied per gallon of water consumption	$0.00394 per gallon

Other Charges

FIRE LINES
FIRELINE BASE RATE	Flat fee per day
PER SERVICE SIZE:
SINGLE SERVICE UNDER 100mm	$1.04778 flat rate per day
SINGLE SERVICE 100mm OR LARGER	$1.76523 flat rate per day
*Combination meters are not charged separately for the fire line.

BULK WATER AND WATER HAULER RATES
SERVICE CHARGE	BASE CHARGE (per 1000 gallons)
BULK WATER	$11.94000
SOUTH WEST BULK WATER	$4.22000
WATER HAULER RATE	$19.73000

*"Bulk Water" means potable water provided via metered pipe connection to an authorized party for re-distribution, pursuant to a duly executed Agreement. Authorized parties may include Improvement Districts, First Nations, or other municipal customers, and does not include residential, commercial, industrial or industrial customers or water haulers.

For a pdf copy of these current billing rates plus additional rate sheets for previous years, please click the links below:

All measurements in Imperial gallons

Contact Us

User Rates

250-755-4525 ext. 2

user.rates@nanaimo.ca

Last updated: March 21, 2025

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