Sewer and Stormwater Rate Study

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Littleton’s sewer and stormwater systems protect public health, homes, businesses, and the South Platte River. Utility rate increases are necessary to ensure the city can maintain, repair, and reinvest in this critical infrastructure before failures occur.

Large, rusty, broken stormwater pipes lie on dry ground near a cracked sidewalk and a chain-link fence.What's hiding beneath our streets? Pipes like these serve our community for decades — until they can’t. The Sewer and Stormwater Rate Study will ensure that rates and fees match the needs of upgrading crucial infrastructure, and help the city meet future repairs proactively.

Rate Study Final Report Set to Go Before City Council

The City of Littleton is nearing completion of its 2026 Sewer and Stormwater Rate Study, which examines the utility system’s current and future financial needs and evaluates potential changes to customer rates. The Rate Study Final Report is scheduled to be presented to Littleton City Council on Tuesday, October 6.

Applicable customers are encouraged to take the Billing Frequency Poll through Monday, October 5.

Thank you to those who attended the Rate Study Open House and Informational Webinar. If you missed either event, you can:

Background: The proposed rate structure is intended to provide more stable, sustainable funding for operating, maintaining and improving Littleton’s sewer and stormwater systems. The study also considers how costs are distributed among different types of customers.

Under the proposal presented at the Open House and Webinar, an average single-family customer inside Littleton could see an increase of approximately $12 per month on their utility bill. A typical four-unit multifamily customer could see an increase of approximately $17 per month.

City staff and its consultant, Raftelis, have presented information to city council three times in 2026, with another presentation scheduled for October 6. If approved as part of the budget adoption process later this year, the new rates would take effect sometime in early 2027.

The city’s Sewer and Stormwater Rate Study, which began last year, is evaluating the appropriate rates for residential, multifamily, and commercial customers. Currently, Littleton customers receive one annual utility bill with separate charges for sewer and stormwater services. These utilities manage the wastewater that flows from homes and businesses, as well as the rainwater and runoff that drain from streets, roofs, and driveways.

Utility rates fund the operation, maintenance, and replacement of Littleton’s sewer and stormwater infrastructure. The rate study calculates the actual cost of providing these essential services by evaluating infrastructure needs, day-to-day operations, future capital improvements, and the demands different types of customers place on the system. This approach helps ensure rates are equitable, support necessary investments, and provide long-term financial sustainability.

Like many communities across the country, Littleton faces significant infrastructure needs. Over the next 10 years, the city expects to invest more than $256 million to rehabilitate and replace aging sewer infrastructure, and approximately $72.4 million in stormwater improvements. These investments will help protect public health, reduce flooding risks, meet regulatory requirements, and ensure reliable utility service for years to come.

The city recognizes that any rate increase may be a concern for customers. Under the proposed rate structure, however, some customers may be able to lower their sewer bills by reducing the amount of wastewater they send to the system. Water conservation measures — such as installing low-flow toilets and showerheads, running full loads of laundry, and reducing overall indoor water use — could help some households save money while also reducing demand on the system. Stormwater rates are increasing for all customers.

Timeline

New rates are expected to take effect sometime in early 2027. Find more information about upcoming engagement opportunities and council meetings on this page.

More Information

To date, the city has hosted multiple engagement opportunities to update customers on new rates, their impacts, and how they will support long-term reliability in Littleton.

Learning From the Past

The changes you will see on your sewer and stormwater bills in 2027 are driven by real needs. Littleton’s sewer and stormwater systems are aging and need repair or replacement in many cases. Without proactive maintenance and upgrades, our pipes will continue to collapse, and we risk sinkholes and unsafe waterways.

Littleton residents may remember when heavy rains pushed the stormwater system to its limit in 2023. Our overstressed stormwater system led to major sinkholes along Jackass Hill Road, Mineral Avenue, and South Broadway. Upgrading the system will help ensure we prevent these types of disruptions in the future.

Littleton’s sewer and stormwater systems protect public health, homes, businesses, and the South Platte River. Utility rate increases are necessary to ensure the city can maintain, repair, and reinvest in this critical infrastructure before failures occur.

Large, rusty, broken stormwater pipes lie on dry ground near a cracked sidewalk and a chain-link fence.What's hiding beneath our streets? Pipes like these serve our community for decades — until they can’t. The Sewer and Stormwater Rate Study will ensure that rates and fees match the needs of upgrading crucial infrastructure, and help the city meet future repairs proactively.

Rate Study Final Report Set to Go Before City Council

The City of Littleton is nearing completion of its 2026 Sewer and Stormwater Rate Study, which examines the utility system’s current and future financial needs and evaluates potential changes to customer rates. The Rate Study Final Report is scheduled to be presented to Littleton City Council on Tuesday, October 6.

Applicable customers are encouraged to take the Billing Frequency Poll through Monday, October 5.

Thank you to those who attended the Rate Study Open House and Informational Webinar. If you missed either event, you can:

Background: The proposed rate structure is intended to provide more stable, sustainable funding for operating, maintaining and improving Littleton’s sewer and stormwater systems. The study also considers how costs are distributed among different types of customers.

Under the proposal presented at the Open House and Webinar, an average single-family customer inside Littleton could see an increase of approximately $12 per month on their utility bill. A typical four-unit multifamily customer could see an increase of approximately $17 per month.

City staff and its consultant, Raftelis, have presented information to city council three times in 2026, with another presentation scheduled for October 6. If approved as part of the budget adoption process later this year, the new rates would take effect sometime in early 2027.

The city’s Sewer and Stormwater Rate Study, which began last year, is evaluating the appropriate rates for residential, multifamily, and commercial customers. Currently, Littleton customers receive one annual utility bill with separate charges for sewer and stormwater services. These utilities manage the wastewater that flows from homes and businesses, as well as the rainwater and runoff that drain from streets, roofs, and driveways.

Utility rates fund the operation, maintenance, and replacement of Littleton’s sewer and stormwater infrastructure. The rate study calculates the actual cost of providing these essential services by evaluating infrastructure needs, day-to-day operations, future capital improvements, and the demands different types of customers place on the system. This approach helps ensure rates are equitable, support necessary investments, and provide long-term financial sustainability.

Like many communities across the country, Littleton faces significant infrastructure needs. Over the next 10 years, the city expects to invest more than $256 million to rehabilitate and replace aging sewer infrastructure, and approximately $72.4 million in stormwater improvements. These investments will help protect public health, reduce flooding risks, meet regulatory requirements, and ensure reliable utility service for years to come.

The city recognizes that any rate increase may be a concern for customers. Under the proposed rate structure, however, some customers may be able to lower their sewer bills by reducing the amount of wastewater they send to the system. Water conservation measures — such as installing low-flow toilets and showerheads, running full loads of laundry, and reducing overall indoor water use — could help some households save money while also reducing demand on the system. Stormwater rates are increasing for all customers.

Timeline

New rates are expected to take effect sometime in early 2027. Find more information about upcoming engagement opportunities and council meetings on this page.

More Information

To date, the city has hosted multiple engagement opportunities to update customers on new rates, their impacts, and how they will support long-term reliability in Littleton.

Learning From the Past

The changes you will see on your sewer and stormwater bills in 2027 are driven by real needs. Littleton’s sewer and stormwater systems are aging and need repair or replacement in many cases. Without proactive maintenance and upgrades, our pipes will continue to collapse, and we risk sinkholes and unsafe waterways.

Littleton residents may remember when heavy rains pushed the stormwater system to its limit in 2023. Our overstressed stormwater system led to major sinkholes along Jackass Hill Road, Mineral Avenue, and South Broadway. Upgrading the system will help ensure we prevent these types of disruptions in the future.

  • Billing Frequency Poll

    The City of Littleton is considering changing the frequency of billing as part of its ongoing Sewer and Stormwater Rate Study. Monthly billing is common utility industry practice because it provides customers with more frequent and predictable bills and helps distribute payments more evenly over the course of the year.

    This poll will close Monday, October 5.

    Quick Poll
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Page last updated: 18 Sep 2026, 09:17 AM