Water bills for Springfield residents are about to spike again. What you need to know

A second year of water rate hikes will be felt by City Water, Light and Power customers this spring.

Like last year, water rates will go up 32% and will be reflected on bills arriving in April.

Last year’s increase, approved by the Springfield City Council by a 7-3 vote, was the first time bills had been hiked in 13 years.

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Here’s what to expect.

Why the rate increase?

A state-mandated replacement of lead water service lines in the city is one reason.

According to CWLP’s FY26 budget, $10.8 million will go to water main and lead service line replacements. Some service line replacement is grant funded through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency State Revolving Fund Program and remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars.

Since that rate increase was announced, the federal government passed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), a rule which requires all lead service line replacements to be completed over a 10-year period. That legislation is currently being challenged by the industry’s leading advocacy group, the American Water Works Association (AWWA).

The overall cost to the city for switching out lead lines with copper lines was estimated to be about $150 million.

Some of money from the rate increase also will go towards the utility’s Water Fund.

The increase in a nutshell

Like last year, the rate increase comes out to about 15 cents per day. As previously reported, for a household using on average five units (on 5/8-inch meters), or 3,740 gallons of water a month, the bill would go from $19.51 to $25.75.

 To figure out the new rate, multiply the total CWLP “Water Charges” line on your bill by 1.32.

Payment plans

Customers who get behind on bills can request a payment plan, said CWLP spokeswoman Amber Sabin. A customer also can set up a level payment plan to pay the same amount each month.

Those requests can be made through Customer Service by calling 217-789-2030.

CWLP’s Energy Services Office can help customers reduce their water usage and assist with finding and fixing water leaks.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.