WATER AND WASTEWATER RETAIL RATE ADJUSTMENT REPORT

Board of County Commissioners · 2026-07-21 · report

Miami-Dade County is proposing a 6% water and wastewater retail rate adjustment for the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD), effective October 1, 2026. This adjustment is necessary to fund infrastructure improvements required by a Consent Decree with the United States and the State of Florida, the Ocean Outfall Legislation Program, Advanced Metering Infrastructure implementation, and other critical regulatory requirements. The proposed increase is projected to generate approximately $65.6 million in annual revenue, supporting approximately $435 million in bond financing for capital projects. Without this adjustment, critical projects and Professional Service Agreements (PSAs) with contractors like Jacobs Engineering, AECOM, and Hazen and Sawyer would be cancelled, potentially leading to penalties, claims, and increased future costs. The report details numerous specific projects and PSAs that would be affected, including the Ocean Outfall Program, Consent Decree Program, and various water and wastewater design and upgrade projects across the county. The adjustment is presented as necessary for regulatory compliance, system reliability, and financial stability, with rates expected to remain below national affordability standards.