Changes To Water And Waste Rates Could Hit Williston

Williston residents could see changes to their water, sewer, and solid waste rates next year, with the city preparing to vote on a new utility rate schedule that would start Jan. 1st, 2026.

City officials said the rate plan will go before the City Commission on Tuesday, Dec. 9th, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The proposal comes out of a long-running utility study that began in 2020 for water and sewer and was updated this year to include landfill operations. Consultants AE2S and Burns & McDonnell reviewed everything from system upkeep to future infrastructure demands, and their findings shaped the recommended adjustments.

According to the city, the goal is to keep the utilities financially stable while dealing with rising costs in factors such as labor, fuel, materials, and the price of wholesale water purchased from WAWSA.

The study also pointed to a long list of upcoming needs, including replacing aging water lines, making improvements at treatment facilities, and preparing new landfill space as older cells near capacity.

The proposal also factors in state and federal regulations from the EPA and the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, as well as the city’s own debt requirements. Officials say the changes are meant to help the city rely less on outside subsidies and avoid taking on unnecessary debt, which they argue will keep long-term costs down for residents.

Even with the adjustments, the city says Williston’s utility rates remain among the more competitive in North Dakota.

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Summer rates—usually higher due to outdoor water use—will stay in place for June, July, and August of 2026.

Proposed Adjustments:

The full document from the city can be found HERE.

The city also plans to roll out a redesigned utility bill format in January.

The new layout is expected to give customers a cleaner, more straightforward look at their usage history, account details, and payment information.