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Maryland’s largest water utility will pour $770.3 million into capital projects, lift income-based assistance 20 percent, and raise the typical household bill by about $4.92 a month starting July 1.
The Prince George’s and Montgomery County Councils have unanimously approved WSSC Water’s $1.9 billion fiscal year 2027 operating and capital budget, clearing the way for a wave of infrastructure upgrades and an expanded affordability program at one of the largest water and wastewater utilities in the United States.
The bi-county utility, which serves roughly 1.9 million customers across suburban Maryland, will split the package between $1.2 billion for operations and $770.3 million for capital improvements when the new fiscal year begins July 1, 2026.
Aging pipes and treatment assets account for the largest share of capital spending. WSSC Water has earmarked $320.4 million to upgrade water and sewer infrastructure, $34 million to replace customer-owned lead service lines, and $16.3 million for clean energy projects intended to harden operations against extreme weather and support the utility’s climate goals. Another $12.8 million will advance the utility’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) smart meter rollout, which is expected to improve leak detection and give customers near-real-time consumption data.
The approved budget increases financial assistance for income-constrained customers by 20 percent, bringing total assistance funding to $10.6 million
“Today’s approval of WSSC Water’s $1.9 billion operating and capital budget reflects a shared commitment to protecting public health, strengthening our infrastructure and keeping water and sewer services affordable for the families and businesses we serve,” said Commission Chair Mark J. Smith.
Affordability featured prominently in the councils’ deliberations. The approved budget increases financial assistance for income-constrained customers by 20 percent, bringing total assistance funding to $10.6 million. WSSC Water said it also trimmed organizational spending by $27 million and tapped non-rate revenue sources in an effort to soften the impact on ratepayers.
Even so, customers will see higher bills. To balance the budget, the utility approved an average 5 percent revenue enhancement through a combination of volumetric and fixed fees. A typical three-person household using 48 gallons of water per person per day will pay about $14.75 more per quarter, or roughly $4.92 more a month.
General Manager and CEO Kishia L. Powell said the spending plan keeps affordability at the center while protecting investments needed to ensure system safety, resilience and reliability. The utility framed the package as a continuation of a multi-year push to modernize legacy assets, comply with federal lead and copper rule revisions, and prepare for the climate-related stresses already affecting Mid-Atlantic water systems.
