Maple Ridge, BC, January 6, 2026 — Residents and businesses in Maple Ridge with metered water services will see changes to water and sewer rates for usage from January 1, 2026 onward. The City of Maple Ridge is updating its water and sewer fees following a comprehensive review to improve transparency, equity, and consistency, while better aligning with Metro Vancouver’s regional fee structure.
These updates are designed to better reflect actual use of the water and sewer system and encourage water conservation. While individual bills may increase or decrease depending on usage and account type, the overall changes are revenue neutral for the City, meaning the City is not collecting more revenue.
What the Changes Mean to Metered Customers
Seasonal metered water rates will be implemented to reflect demand fluctuations throughout the year. Customers will be charged:
- Lower rates from January to April and October to December
- Higher rates from May to September, when water use is typically highest
This approach better reflects seasonal usage patterns and encourages water conservation during peak summer months.
- Reduced base fees and a greater emphasis on metered water use, giving customers who conserve or use less water more control over their bills.
- Alignment with regional rates and practices of comparable municipalities and Metro Vancouver.
- Updated water meter fees to reflect current costs of meter purchase, installation, and inspection.
- Estimated-cost billing for certain engineering and water utility services, ensuring users who directly benefit from specialized services pay for the costs. The City will continue to encourage a transition to metered water use to support conservation and long-term sustainability.
Bulk Water Fill Stations
Commercial users of the City’s Bulk Water Fill Stations will continue to be charged based on usage, with these fees now clearly included in the updated water services schedule. Residential users will continue to access bulk water at no charge for now, although the City will explore future options to address misuse and ensure fairness.
How This Affects Sewer Charges
Residential Properties
- Residential sewer billing remains largely unchanged.
- A small annual increase will continue, consistent with past years.
- In 2026, a one-time adjustment will move the former Sewer Parcel Tax into the sewer rate, simplifying billing.
Businesses or Non-Residential Properties
- Sewer charges will now be based more directly on metered water use.
- A new, simpler consumption-based sewer rate replaces the previous complex fee structure.
- The sewer flat fee will no longer appear on your tax notice.
What to Expect on Your 2026 Quarterly Metered Utility Bill
- Seasonal water rates applied to consumption within each season.
- A lower fixed water base rate compared to prior years.
- For non-residential metered accounts, sewer charges calculated from metered water use. The sewer flat fee will be removed from the tax notice.
Learn More
Residents and businesses are encouraged to review the updated fee schedules and consider how water use choices may affect future bills.
For more information, visit MapleRidge.ca/Utilities.
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Media Contact
Pardeep Purewal, Senior Manager Corporate Communications and Public Engagement
T 604 466 4319 C 778 955 4249
E media@MapleRidge.ca