Why is my water bill so high in Seattle?
A practical, Seattle-specific checklist: how your bill is built, what usually drives spikes here, and the quickest ways to find your fix.
How Seattle Public Utilities bills work
Seattle's combined water-sewer bills run high for the volume used, and peak-season rates make summer gallons pricier than winter ones. Sewer charges track your water use, doubling the cost of every wasted gallon.
Rates and schedules change — always confirm current numbers on the official Seattle Public Utilities site.
The usual suspects in Seattle
- Running toilets and dripping fixtures — indoor leaks dominate in a city with modest irrigation.
- Old service lines and fixtures in Seattle's older housing stock.
- Summer garden watering hitting peak-season pricing.
Because sewer rides on water usage, fixing one leak saves you twice on the same bill.
Find your problem in minutes
- Got the bill handy? Upload it for a plain-English breakdown of where the money went.
- Suspect a leak? Run the 10-minute leak check before calling anyone.
- Just exploring? Estimate fixes with the savings calculators.
Rebates and programs
Utilities in and around Seattle periodically offer rebates for efficient toilets, smart irrigation controllers, and leak repair. Check our rebate finder and the Seattle Public Utilities site for what's active right now.