Sewer and Stormwater Rate Study

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.

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.

The City of Littleton is in the process of conducting a rate study to address rising costs and determine appropriate utility bills for sewer and stormwater — also known as wastewater and storm drainage. The frequency of billing is being considered as well; currently, residents make an annual one-time payment.

Understandably, this decision could frustrate some residential, multifamily, and commercial customers, but consider the importance of protecting our community for future generations:

• Even if raised, Littleton’s sewer and storm rates will remain among the lowest in the region.
• The city maintains 129 miles of sanitary sewer and 53 miles of storm drains.
• Many components are reaching the end of their service life.
• Preventative maintenance is far less costly than emergency repairs.
• Rates directly fund system reliability and infrastructure upgrades.

Timeline

The Rate Study Timeline displayed on this page is subject to change. New rates are expected to take effect in January 2027. An independent consultant, Raftelis, is conducting the study to ensure the rate structures used to calculate sewer and stormwater bills are accurate, financially sustainable, and fair. Tap fees, which are one-time fees paid when a new home or building connects to the system, will also be considered as part of the study.

More Information

Council presentation — March 10, 2026

Rate Study FAQs

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The city will host community meetings during the spring and summer of 2026 to update you 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.