On January 14, 2026, Niraj S. Patel, Director of the Department of Public Utilities and Water Commissioner, appeared before the St. Louis City Public Infrastructure and Utility Committee and described the City’s water system finances as “increasingly precarious.” His remarks signal that a water rate increase may be forthcoming.
However, there is no formal, transparent process in place, either within the Water Division or at the Board of Aldermen, to determine whether a rate increase is justified. This is despite repeated meetings Consumers Council has held with the City and the fact that no Class Cost of Service Study has been completed since 1958. Consumers Council values ongoing dialogue with City officials, but time is running out. Before any water rate increase is approved, there must be clear procedural safeguards, data-driven analysis, and meaningful opportunities for public input.
Take Action: If you live in the City of St. Louis, contact your alderperson today. Tell them you expect transparency and public participation before any water rate increase is considered. St. Louis residents cannot afford a repeat of 2023, when water rates increased 44% in less than four weeks, from the introduction of the board bill to the enactment of the rate increase ordinance.
