This week, the Fall River City Council voted to keep water and sewer rates at their current levels while approving the department’s FY2026 budget.
The rate for water usage will remain at $4.36 per one hundred cubic feet (ccf), while the rate for sewer usage will remain at $8.11 per one hundred cubic feet. The $200 per year stormwater fee will not increase, and the base meter fee (based on size) will also stay the same as a year ago.
The city was seeking an increase to $4.41 per ccf for water usage and $8.43 per ccf for sewer usage.
During the discussion at a meeting of the council’s Committee on Ordinances and Legislation, Department of Public Utilities Administrator Paul Ferland said the loss of large commercial water and sewer users over the years has shifted the burden of increases to the homeowner. He said the city has agreements with surrounding communities to pay for water usage, but with an ample supply, it is looking to sell to other cities and towns.
Since the council did not approve the rate increases, it voted to cut $832,000 from the sewer budget and $527,000 from the water budget to reflect revenue from the 2025 rates. City Councilor Cliff Ponte proposed the cuts, arguing the money can be made up through savings within the city’s operating budget.
