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September 5, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sewer Utility proposes five-year rate plan for 2026-2030
Cost-of-service based approach ensures rates are equitable across customer classes
 PORT ORCHARD, Wash. – Kitsap County Public Works Sewer Utility is proposing a new five-year rate plan beginning January 2026. Washington State law, RCW 36.94.140 requires sewer rates to be set to produce revenues sufficient to cover the costs of maintenance and operations, bond obligations, repayment of loans, and other costs necessary to properly run the county’s sewer systems.
The Sewer Utility is solely funded through fees from sewer ratepayers. The Utility does not receive any funds from County tax revenue and cannot provide any financial assistance to other public works divisions or county departments. Annual applications are made for grants and low interest loans to help extend funds and maintain reserves.
The revenue requirement forecast shows the need for overall rate revenue to increase by 8% per year for the five years from 2026-2030. However, the hauled waste from septage, FOG (fats, oils, and grease), and WAS (waste-activated sludge) has been deeply subsidized in the past by connected sewer customers.
"Our goal is to protect public health and the environment while providing cost-effective service for our customers. We serve over 12,000 households connected to sewer, but we also provide the only septage receiving facility in Kitsap County for over 58,000 septic systems," said Sewer Utility Division Manager, Nick Martin. "In the past years, we have only increased rates for connected sewer customers. The new rate plan increases fees for liquid hauled waste disposal to make the rates fair for all our customers."
Increasing hauled waste rates to eliminate that subsidy allows the County to increase rates for connected customers over the next five years by 6% per year instead of 8% per year.
The proposed five-year rate plan for 2026-2030 provides a cost-of-service based approach ensuring sewer rates are as fair and equitable as possible across all customer classes. This model aligns revenue generation with actual system use and service impacts, helping to responsibly fund operations while preparing the utility for future capital investments.
A public meeting on the plan will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at the Kitsap County Commissioners Chambers at 619 Division Street in Port Orchard. A Zoom meeting option is available. (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86388366500
Meeting ID: 863 8836 6500)
The Sewer Utility will present a rate adoption resolution to the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners by October, which will enable the Utility to continue delivering on the capital plan that supports reliable and sustainable sewer service countywide.
More information and public comment form is available at kcowa.us/sewer.
A senior/low-income discount is given to customers that meet the Assessor's criteria for the Senior/Disable Exemption on property taxes. The current discount on sewer accounts is 25%.
About the Sewer Utility Division
Kitsap County Public Works – Sewer Utility Division operates four wastewater treatment plants and maintains 64 pump stations, 170 miles of gravity pipe, 48 miles of force mains and 3,775 manholes in Kitsap County. The Kitsap County sewer system has four basins, each with a treatment plant and a corresponding collection system: Central Kitsap, Manchester, Suquamish, and Kingston. The Sewer Utility processes over 4 million gallons of wastewater per day from over 12,000 customers.
For more information about Kitsap County Public Works services and divisions, visit www.kitsap.gov/pw.
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