Rates
The EAWSD Board of Directors establishes the water rates assessed to EAWSD customers.  The rates charged to EAWSD customers must cover not only the costs of pumping and distributing our water, but also costs of assuring the quality and supply, the debt load incurred during purchase of the system, and funds for investment in system maintenance and improvement. New commodity rates and monthly base fees (Phase I) were approved by the Public Regulation Commission and implemented in September, 2009, with increasing rate tiers for higher monthly usage (6 tiers for residential; 4 tiers for commercial). Phase II rates, intended to cover debt service on several capital improvement projects, were also approved, but have not yet been implemented.

The District fee schedule is designed to encourage good water conservation practices:  commodity rates (i.e., charges for water usage) are lower for customers who consume less water, while customers with higher consumption rates are subject to higher per gallon costs.  

For the current District rate schedule, Click here  

Late Charge/Penalties
Any water utility service account that is not paid by the due date, in accordance with the District's rules and tariffs in force, shall incur an additional late penalty charge in the amount of five dollars ($5.00) or ten percent (10%) of the total invoice amount, whichever is greater. The late penalty fee is subject to, and will be increased by, applicable governmental gross receipts tax. Any late payment penalty will be billed on the customer's next regular invoice, and will be due and payable twenty-one (21) days after the date of that invoice.

Property Tax
The County of Santa Fe assesses a property tax mill levy on all taxable property in the District in order to obtain revenue for administration of the District, and for operation and maintenance repair and replacement of District infrastructure.

The mill levy assessed for calendar year 2010 is 3.360 mils ($3.36 per $1000 of assessed value).

Rates for Out-of-District Customers
In March, 2009, the rate structure for water service was changed, as approved by the New Mexico Public Regulation  Commission.  EAWSD customers who are "Out-of-District"  (and  therefore pay no property taxes for the Water District) are now  charged a higher monthly base service fee.  This helps to level out their contribution to that of tax-paying residents.

Leak Policy
EAWSD recognizes that there are sometimes cases of large leaks on the customer side of the meter and has developed a policy to provide limited relief in such cases. To read the policy, click here.  Please note that EAWSD is not allowed to cancel charges owing to the anti-donation clause in the New Mexico state constitution.