Guidance, Guides, & Manuals

There are many resources available to assist water and wastewater systems of all sizes in the process of designing a rate structure and understanding the relationship between pricing and conservation. Some of the resources listed below can be downloaded and used free of charge, while others must be purchased.

General

• AWWA, Principles of Water Rates, Fees, and Charges, 2000
• AWWA, Water Utility Capital Financing, 1998
• Water Conservation Plan Guidelines (Office of Water, EPA-832-D-98-001, 1998)

Small Systems

• Setting Small Drinking Water Systems Rates for a Sustainable Future (PDF, 366KB, 62 pages, about PDF)
• Midwest Assistance Program: North Dakota Small Community Water System's Handbook on Developing and Setting Water Rates
• Virginia Water Resource Research Center, "A Guide for Financing and Rate-Setting Options for Small Water Systems," Andrea L. Williams, November 1999

Urban Systems

• California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC), Designing, Evaluating, and Implementing Conservation Rate Structures, T. W. Chesnutt July 1997
• CUWCC, Setting Urban Water Rates for Efficiency and Conservation, David L. Mitchell, W. Michael Hanemann, Ph.D., September 1994

Wastewater Systems

• "Evaluating Municipal Wastewater User Charge Systems: What You Need to Know" (EPA, Office of Water, EPA 832-R-93-010, September 1993)
• A Water and Wastewater Manager's Guide for Staying Financially Healthy (EPA, Office of Water, EPA 420-09-89-004, July 1989)
• Building Support for Increasing User Fees (EPA, Office of Water, EPA 430/09-89-006, July 1989)

EPA Home | Privacy and Security Notice | Contact Us