Water & Sewer Utility Bill Information

Please mail your water bill payment to:
Department 181601
City of Sterling Heights - Water
P.O. Box 55000
Detroit, MI 48255-1816

For Water & Sewer bill questions, please call 586-446-2320 and have your current meter reading ready for consumption questions.

Lowest Water and Sewer Rate Increase in Ten Years 

Effective July 1, 2018, a net 3.9% increase will be passed on to Water & Sewer customers.  This is the lowest increase in ten years.
 
Sterling Heights purchases its water and sewage services from the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) and the Macomb County Public Works office.  ​

For 2018/19 the City will pass on:

  • A 5.6% decrease in water rates from the GLWA primarily due to a renegotiation of contract terms that was approved by the City Council on December 19, 2017.
  • A 3.4% increase in Macomb County sewer charges and debt service.  
  • A 4.9% increase in City costs to fund water main repairs, meter replacements, sewer preventative maintenance and cleanings and to provide for an increase to the water & sewer fund balance which has been depleted by $17 million in the past five years.
The average Sterling Heights residential customer will pay $77 per month for water & sewer services, only a $3/month increase over last year.

According to a 2016 Black & Veatch rate survey, the average monthly water & sewer bill for the City of Sterling Heights is 29% below the average rates and 23% below the median rates of the 50 largest cities in the United States.

Sterling Heights Water and Sewer Billing Facts

  • Thanks to the cooperation of residents and businesses in following outdoor watering restrictions, the City was able to renegotiate contract terms with the GLWA in December 2017, resulting in a savings on the cost of water purchased. 
  • A 25% discount, up to $26, is applied to all summer water consumption.  Most cities do not offer a summer consumption discount.
  • New users of the system pay for all water and sewer line additions.  Therefore, Sterling Heights’ rates do not contain any amount for expansion of the system.
  • Nearly 90% of the water and sewer system is complete and paid for.  As a result, there is no outstanding water or sewer debt.
  • Nearly 80% of the city’s water and sewer budget is for payments to the GLWA and Macomb County Public Works for water and sewer services.

Great Lakes Water Authority Assisting Low Income Residents with WRAP Program


Community Action Alliance will deliver WRAP through our Empowerment Pathway Model - a custom designed service plan to help residential customers in the Great Lakes Water Authority regions to access bill assistance, water conservation measures, and navigate resources and WRAP-around supports on a pathway towards self-sufficiency.

Learn more about WRAP
WRAP logo