On December 10, 2024, the Board of Commissioners approved about a 2.5% increase in water rates and a 3.5% increase in wastewater (i.e. sewer) rates that will take effect April 1, 2025.  The Board also adopted annual 3.5 percent increases in water and wastewater charges for 2026 through 2029 to be effective January 1st of each year.

A rate adjustment is needed in 2025 and following years due to increases in operational costs and to fund planned water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure replacements and upgrades.

• Operating costs, such as chemicals, electricity, biosolids disposal, and wholesale water, continue to rise.
• Our cost to purchase wholesale water from the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority will increase 4 percent in 2025 and is scheduled to increase 5 percent each year from 2026 through 2029.
• Water, wastewater, and stormwater construction costs have increased significantly the past several years with estimates for some projects more than doubling since 2019.
• Several large wastewater treatment plant upgrade and expansion projects are needed over the next six years to keep the plants operating properly to meet the stringent permitted effluent limits established for reclaimed water by the State of Georgia.

At this time, the average residential customer in Cobb County utilizes 5,000 gallons of water per month and is charged $67.30 for water, sewer, and stormwater, including the monthly base fee. For this consumption, the rate increase adjustment will result in a monthly increase of $1.90, which is a 2.8 percent increase in the total monthly bill.

(For our customers in the city limits of Acworth, Austell, Kennesaw, Powders Springs, Marietta, and Smyrna, the monthly increase for 5,000 gallons of water will be $1.80, because we do not provide stormwater services within these cities.)

Even with the proposed rate increases, Cobb’s rates will remain among the lowest in the Metro Atlanta area. 

Even with the proposed rate increases, Cobb’s rates will remain among the lowest in the Metro Atlanta area.  In fact, with Cobb’s 5-year plan, its 2029 rates are still lower than Clayton's, Dekalb's, Gwinnett's, Paulding's, and Atlanta's 2025 rates.  Cobb is not the only utility raising its rates.  Douglas County Water & Sewer Authority raised rates December 2024.  Clayton County Water Authority, Fulton County, and Gwinnett County are increasing rates January 1, 2025, and Dekalb County is considering a 6-8% increase for 2025.

This chart provides a comparison of Cobb's 2025 monthly cost of 5,000 gallons of water and sewer with other similar utilities.  

The only fees in the table that include charges for stormwater services are Cobb’s Unincorporated/Mableton rate and Atlanta’s rate.  Cobb’s In-City rate, which does not include stormwater services, is a better comparison to the other utilities in the table.  Cobb’s 2025 rates will not be effective until April 1, 2025.

View this fact sheet that explains Cobb’s water, wastewater, and stormwater services.