HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – Water rates will increase by 5% in 2026 and 2027 while sewer rates will jump by 2.25% in 2026.

However, Public Utilities Director Mike Collins told City Council at this week’s meeting that water rates will increase by only 3.5% and sewer rates will increase by only 2% per year from 2028 through 2032.

“For the last two years, we have had 5% growth rate in our commodities sales, both water and sewer,” said Collins. “That’s a little bit unprecedented and unsustainable. We don’t predict that going forward. But that has had a huge effect, therefore we’ve been able to reduce our projections.”

Collins added that lowering the rates in the future does incur some risks, but he says he feels good about these recommendations.