Springfield Environmental Services will present proposed sewer rate increases for fiscal year 2027 at the upcoming City Council meeting on March 9. The planned adjustments aim to cover rising costs associated with wastewater management and to ensure ongoing compliance with the federal Clean Water Act.
The proposal was previously discussed during a City Council Lunch Workshop in November 2025. Since then, Environmental Services has engaged in public outreach efforts to inform residents, businesses, and wholesale partners about the suggested changes. If approved by the council, the new rates would take effect on July 1.
Springfield operates its wastewater system under a court-approved consent judgment with Missouri that requires significant investment in reducing sanitary sewer overflows and maintaining treatment plant performance. This agreement obligates the city to follow a long-term Overflow Control Plan involving hundreds of millions of dollars in improvements to remain compliant with federal regulations.
According to a 2025 Benchmark Survey comparing regional wastewater charges, Springfield continues to offer some of the lowest rates in Missouri and the Midwest. A typical single-family residence pays monthly wastewater bills that are 23% lower than similar cities in Missouri. Commercial customers pay 44% less and industrial users pay 30% less than their counterparts elsewhere.
“The City realizes the impact that sewer rates have on our citizens and business community, and we strive to keep rates as low as possible. We also realize the need to efficiently operate and maintain this critical piece of community infrastructure and meet our environmental regulatory obligations under the Clean Water Act. Based on the community’s Integrated Planning efforts, we will continue to focus our citizen’s money on activities that maximize the benefit to our ratepayers while protecting our vital water resources,” according to city officials.
The proposed recommendations include updates for residential, wholesale, industrial surcharge rates, and hauled waste fees.
A cost-of-service study conducted by NewGen Strategies & Solutions recommended a system-wide sewer rate increase of 4% for FY27. For most residential customers, this would mean an increase of about $1.65 per month.
There are also new industrial surcharges proposed for ammonia and total phosphorus, reflecting updated treatment costs and increased regulatory requirements for these pollutants. These surcharges apply only to larger industrial users discharging higher concentrations of such waste.
“The new surcharges are similar to those used in other communities,” explained Kemper. “These speak directly to the regulatory requirements we are working to meet and ensure that the customers who generate these specific types of waste are paying their share of the cost to manage it.”
Hauled waste rates—fees charged for wastewater brought from outside Springfield’s service area—are also being revised due to increased volumes from sources like landfill leachate or sludge from other municipal plants. Historically a small portion of operations, hauled waste now requires an updated fee structure better aligned with actual treatment costs.
“Hauled waste has historically been a small part of our treatment process, but a dramatic increase in hauled volumes has prompted us to update our detailed rate analysis to better align these charges with the actual cost of service,” says Kemper.
The city proposes phasing in revised hauled waste fees over three years based on different treatment needs by type.
Springfield emphasizes ethical governance focused on community benefits (official website). The city is managed under a council-manager government structure adopted in 1953; policy direction is set by its nine-member City Council (official website).
For more details about current sewer rates or services visit springfieldmo.gov/sewer.
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