St. Louis City Water Affordability

In 2023, the City of St. Louis passed an ordinance in less than four weeks increasing water rates by 44%. That ordinance also included an annual rate increase equal to the CPI-U beginning January 2026. This steep rise and the failure of the city to have a formal rate review process pushed Consumers Council of Missouri to scrutinize this situation. In June 2024, the Missouri Foundation for Health gave CCM a three-year grant to investigate issues related to St Louis City water affordability.

We believe every St. Louis City resident deserves equitable and affordable access to water. Water is not optional. It is essential for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and maintaining health and hygiene. We also believe that St Louis City should have a transparent substantive water rate review process in place prior to enacting any water rate increases. A low-income customer assistance program is essential to enable those who struggle with water bills to maintain access to affordable service.

Water affordability is a critical factor in public health and household stability. When residents cannot afford their water bills, the impact spreads across the entire community. It affects sanitation, safety, and both physical and mental well-being.

Everyone needs clean, affordable water. We are committed to making that a reality in St. Louis.

Water Affordability in the City of Saint Louis

In June 2024, Consumers Council of Missouri launched a three-year initiative (2024–2027) funded by Missouri Foundation for Health to assess water affordability in the City of St. Louis. Unlike many cities across the country, St. Louis does not use individual water meters for most households. Instead, residents are billed a flat rate based on the physical attributes of their homes, such as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and the frontage of their lot. This approach often results in water bills that do not reflect actual usage. It also impacts sewer bills, since the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) applies the same flat-rate formula to determine sewer charges in the absence of metered water use....

EventsWater Affordability

Consumers Council Participates in Communities First STL Meeting in Hyde Park about Water Affordability

Consumers Council of Missouri was proud to participate in a meaningful and well-attended Communities First STL meeting in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Communities First serves as one of our advisory groups and plays an important role in guiding our community engagement and advocacy work across St. Louis. The meeting was facilitated by Antonio Weston, Community Engagement Coordinator and Social Media Lead for Consumers Council of Missouri. Spencer Gould, Special Assistant to the...

November 20, 2025

UtilitiesWater Affordability

St. Louis City Water Utility Assistance Program

The City of St. Louis, in partnership with the Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly and United Way, will begin the Water Utility Assistance Program for St. Louis residents with delinquent water accounts. In 2020, the City instituted a moratorium on water shutoffs to protect residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. That moratorium will be lifted on September 1, 2025. This new assistance program is intended to help residents catch up on past-due water charges and avoid disconnection....

August 15, 2025

EventsWater Affordability

Rising Rate$: What’s Happening with Our Water?

Come join Consumers Council to learn more about how city water rates are set, what you’re paying for, and what’s being done to keep water service safe, reliable, and affordable for all. This is your chance to ask questions, share concerns, and be part of the solution. Refreshments will be served. For more information, and to register for this free event, please visit this EventBrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rising-rate-whats-happening-with-our-water-tickets-1371508993319

June 19, 2025

UtilitiesWater Affordability

St. Louis City Residents Face a Significant Degree of Vulnerability to High Water and Sewer Bills

A substantial percentage of the total population of St. Louis is living in Census Tracts with unaffordable bills. These Census Tracts include households with characteristics that increase their risk when water and sewer bills are too high.

May 6, 2025

Press ReleasesWater Affordability

The Intersection of High Water Bills and Low Incomes in St. Louis Neighborhoods

A report by Roger Colton, commissioned by Consumers Council of Missouri, finds that St. Louis City households have a significant degree of vulnerability to high water and sewer bills.

March 31, 2025

Load More Articles

St. Louis City Water Affordability