Rates and FAQs
| Water Rates | Recycled Water Rates | WasteWater Rates |
|---|---|---|
FAQs
Windsor staff operates our utilities with a focus on three operational pillars: efficiency, sustainability, and accountability.
- Smart Operations: By using modern technology and data-driven practices, our team optimizes daily operations to be both cost-effective and environmentally responsible. This includes reusing our own byproducts, producing our own clean energy, eliminating costly outside contractors and using sustainable practices, wherever possible.
- Sustainable Investment: We prioritize long-term investments in infrastructure to maintain and improve our water and wastewater systems, ensuring they remain reliable and resilient for current and future generations.
- Transparency and Accountability: We are committed to operating with 100% open books, making all financial and operational decisions transparent to the public. This approach fosters trust with our community, who can see exactly how funds are allocated and how services are delivered.
The water and wastewater (sewer) systems serving Windsor were formed as special districts in 1976. They are managed and operated by Town of Windsor Public Works staff and the Town manager, attorney and other professionals spend a portion of their time on legal, administrative and management activities. The water and wastewater (sewer) systems serving Windsor were formed as special districts in 1976. They are managed and operated by Town of Windsor Public Works staff and the Town manager, attorney and other professionals spend a portion of their time on legal, administrative and management activities.
A California Special District is a local government entity that provides specific public services to a defined geographic area. Special districts are created by residents to provide services that cities and counties may not be able to provide such as water service, lighting and landscaping, flood control, parks, fire protection, etc. They are entirely separate from cities and counties and governed by a publicly elected board of directors. The Windsor Town Council serves as the Windsor Water District Board.
The Town has 54 full-time staff members in the Public Works Department, some who conduct engineering, environmental compliance, treatment plant operations, maintenance, administrative and many other activities for Windsor’s water and wastewater utilities. Others work on road projects and other public works activities not specific to water and wastewater service.
ABOUT WINDSOR WATER & WASTEWATER FINANCES
Windsor Town staff proposes a $12.06 combined water and wastewater monthly increase for an average residential customer during year 1, the 2025/26 fiscal year. Staff also proposes four following adjustments from the 2026/27-2030/31 fiscal years. See table here.
In 2024, Windsor developed the Water and Wastewater (water reclamation) Financial Plans & Rate Update Study, and after conducting rate engagement and Town Council presentations and approvals, new rates went into effect in July 2025 and will increase annually through July 2029. No new rate increases can go into effect until the Town conducts a formal Prop 218 rate increase process including a mailed public notification and a public hearing. The following rates are in effect:
July 2025-July 2029 Water Rate Table
We have outlined what the charges are on the attached bill. If you have any further questions, please call 707-838-1004 so we can explain the charges. It’s important that you understand what your rates help fund.
No. In the State of California, it is illegal to co-mingle money from customer water and wastewater rates with the general fund. In California, water utility finances are required to be kept in separate funds called enterprise funds and both water and wastewater funds must be in entirely separate funds.
None. It is illegal in the State of CA for public agencies, including special districts, to make a profit.
No. While most of the financial activities are completed by Windsor staff, some essential tasks are conducted by outside firms to ensure third party expertise, oversight and analysis. This includes audits, rate studies, financial plans, etc. Town of Windsor staff conducts billing, customer service and other related tasks.
As we were considering a rate proposal in 2020, we committed to conducting large and small infrastructure projects with the new rate funding paid by customers. And, we met our commitment. See the list of water and wastewater projects undertaken since 2020.