Columbia Water rates inside city limits—Residential/commercial multiple-family facilities ordinance (§ 27-122)
Chapter 27: Utilities · Article III. Water and Light System
In short: Inside city limits, residential and multiple-family customers pay $2.30 per 100 cubic feet up to winter average use, $6.33 up to double that, and $10.20 beyond that, plus a monthly meter charge ($14.32 to $642.05) and $2.00 per backflow device. Separate irrigation meters pay $10.20 per 100 cubic feet.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
(a) The rates to be charged for water furnished to residential customers, commercial multiple family facilities customers, and multiple commercial facilities served with one meter, within the city limits of the city are hereby fixed as follows:
(1) Rates per one hundred (100) cubic feet (1 ccf), inside city limits:
Water usage for residential customers, except commercial multiple-family facilities and multiple commercial facilities served through a single meter:
Usage of zero (0) to one hundred (100) percent of winter average consumption .....$2.30
Usage of over one hundred (100) percent to two hundred (200) percent of winter average consumption .....6.33
Usage exceeding two hundred (200) percent of winter average consumption .....10.20
Water usage for commercial multiple-family facilities, and multiple commercial facilities served through a single meter:
Usage of zero (0) to one hundred (100) percent of winter average consumption .....2.30
Usage of over one hundred (100) percent to two hundred (200) percent of winter average consumption .....6.33
Usage exceeding two hundred (200) percent of winter average consumption .....10.20
(2) Minimum charge per month, charged in addition to the volume charge in subsection (a)(1), based on meter size:
⅝ and ¾-inch .....14.32
1-inch .....27.46
1½-inch .....51.39
2-inch .....106.27
3-inch .....194.17
4-inch .....363.79
6-inch .....642.05
(3) Backflow prevention charge per month, charged in addition to the volume charge in subsection (a)(1), the minimum charge in subsection (a)(2), and the fire flow charge in subsection (a)(3), is charged when a customer is required to install a backflow prevention device as outlined in section 27-57. For each backflow device at a customer location .....$2.00
(b) For water service metered separately for lawn irrigation:
Rates per one hundred (100) cubic feet (1 ccf):
Water usage .....$10.20
(c) For water service metered separately for a community food garden: Customers shall be charged at rates provided in section 27-122(a), except that rates for summer water usage shall not exceed the established rate for usage of over one hundred (100) percent to two hundred (200) percent of winter average consumption.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 27-122
Text from Supplement 139 (September 3, 2026).
Last checked November 1, 2026. The city's official copy controls; this page is a reading copy, not legal advice.