The price Philadelphians pay for water increased beginning Monday, according to the water department. 

The typical customer's water bill will be about $89.42, a 9.4% increase from the prior rate, an announcement from the Philadelphia Water Department said. That "typical" bill represents monthly water usage of 3,220 gallons, or 430 cubic feet. 

Over the course of a year, that hike will cost residents more than $90.

Bills will increase by another 5.5% on Sept. 1, 2026. At that time, the typical bill will rise to $94.31, the department said. 

The Philadelphia Water, Sewer and Storm Water Rate Board, an independent city board, sets water prices. In July, the board shared the new rates for the next two years. The board heard public comment at four hearings before the change, according to the city website.

The Philadelphia Water Department said it needs additional revenue to maintain existing service, ensure all residents have access to high-quality water and services, invest in critical infrastructure, and replenish limited financial reserves that "have reached critical levels due to COVID-19 impacts and other costs."

The Water Department initially requested an even steeper hike, according to the announcement. 

The board approved lower rates and also authorized enough funds for the water department to provide safe and reliable service, the department said in the news release. 

Anyone who needs help paying a water bill can apply for assistance online or call 215-685-6300.

Residents say higher bills are "ridiculous"

Some residents say the higher bills are "ridiculous."

"Everything is going up in Philly," Kourtney Lennon, who lives in North Philadelphia, said. "And you're not getting an increase in pay."

Another North Philadelphia resident, Deshawn Jones II, expressed similar concerns. 

"I feel like it's unfair to the citizens of Philadelphia. I don't feel like it's an increase we asked that we asked for," he said.

Community Legal Services attorney Rob Ballenger said the hike may not seem large to some, but it hits hard in a city where many people earn low wages.

"Unfortunately, you can be a working adult in Philadelphia and need bill payment assistance just to keep your water on. That is a very real scenario," Ballenger said.

Philadelphia remains tied to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, unchanged since 2009. Advocates say that makes rising utility costs harder for families to absorb, even as the city's overall poverty rate has reached a 25-year low, according to Pew Research Center. More than 300,000 residents still live below the poverty line.

Ballenger said his team is pushing for long-term solutions, including securing additional funding to lower rates, but he added that progress will take time. In the meantime, he encourages residents struggling to keep up to apply for the city's income-based water assistance program.

"It can't hurt," Ballenger said.