Average Twin Cities metro household pays 35% less than national average
.jpg.aspx?lang=en-US&width=350&height=233 "The total capital assets of the regional water resource recovery system are estimated in value at $9 billion.")
The Met Council’s overall wholesale charge to cities and townships for collecting and treating wastewater will go up 5.8% in 2026, following Met Council action on July 23. The sewer availability charge to developers and businesses for new connections or increased volumes to the regional wastewater system will remain the same for the 11th consecutive year.
The increase in the municipal wastewater charge is needed largely to cover inflationary costs of labor and construction, and to support technology needs such as cybersecurity. Rate increases (or decreases) for individual cities will vary based on the amount of flow they contributed to the regional system in 2024.
Nationally, the Met Council continues to have very competitive wastewater treatment rates. According to a survey from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, a household in the Twin Cities region pays an average of $392 annually for sewer service, compared with $604 annually in peer regions. Those costs also include local sewer service charges.
Met Council engages customers as it sets rates
During its annual rate-setting process, the Met Council engaged with more than 135 industrial and municipal customers in a series of workshops and forums.
“Our goal is to be transparent about how and why we set the rates each year,” said Matt Gsellmeier, budget manager in the Met Council’s Environmental Services division. “The workshops are a great way to talk about our services, learn from our customers, and answer their questions.”
The Met Council collects wastewater through more than 600 miles of regional pipes and operates nine water resource recovery facilities where the wastewater is cleaned and returned to the environment. User fees pay for the costs of building, maintaining, and operating the regional wastewater system.
Excellent bond ratings ensure lower interest rates on debt
The largest expense of the system is debt service, which finances construction and rehabilitation costs. In 2026, the Met Council will carry about $1.3 billion in debt for the system, which is currently valued at about $9 billion.
The Met Council’s long-time triple-A credit rating helps keep interest costs lower. Despite the current era of higher interest rates, the Met Council was able to secure a 3.8% rate on a $75 million bond sale in 2025, Gsellmeier said.
Watch a presentation about the wastewater rates and charges (starts at 2:49).