Brentwood Utility Bills Reflect New Water, Sewer and Garbage Rates
Brentwood’s current water, sewer and garbage rate schedule took effect July 1, 2026. Residents may see the updated charges on bills issued during August, depending on their monthly billing cycle.
The city says all listed fees are effective July 1. The effect on an individual household will vary because water charges depend on usage and meter size, sewer charges are listed separately from the sewer lateral maintenance fee, and garbage charges depend on cart size.
Water charges include a base fee and usage tiers
For the common 5/8-inch and 3/4-inch residential meters, the monthly water base fee is $32.45. The city lists a $47.51 monthly base fee for a 1-inch meter.
Brentwood measures residential water use monthly, with one unit equal to 1,000 gallons. The current usage schedule is:
- $3.67 per unit for 1 to 5 units
- $7.60 per unit for 6 to 14 units
- $9.60 per unit for 15 to 20 units
- $9.71 per unit for 21 units and above
The base fee and usage charge are separate parts of the water bill. The city also lists a possible drought surcharge of $0.51 per unit if the City Council declares a required 10% water-use reduction. That surcharge is conditional and should not be treated as a charge that applies in every billing period.
Sewer and lateral maintenance are separate line items
The current residential schedule lists sewer usage charges from $20.72 to a maximum of $74.90, depending on the applicable charge.
A separate sewer lateral maintenance fee is listed at $4.34. Residents reviewing a bill should keep that fee separate from the sewer usage charge.
Garbage cost depends on the brown cart size
Monthly residential garbage charges are based on the size of the selected brown household trash cart. The city lists these options:
- 32-gallon cart: $37.98
- 64-gallon cart: $52.31
- 96-gallon cart: $68.94
Recycling and organic-waste carts have separate size options, while garbage service is provided weekly and recycling and organic waste are collected on alternating weeks. The city says new customers also pay a one-time, nonrefundable $51.84 application fee on the first utility bill.
When Brentwood bills are mailed
Brentwood sends monthly utility bills in four cycles. Bills are mailed approximately on the 26th, 19th, 12th or 5th day of the month, depending on the property’s cycle. The city provides a cycle map so customers can identify the schedule for their property.
Because billing dates differ, not every household will see the new schedule on the same August date. Residents should compare the bill’s service period and line items with the city’s current rate table.
What earlier rate decisions mean
The July 2026 charges follow the adopted 2023 water, wastewater and solid-waste rate studies. The city’s water and wastewater study describes a five-year rate schedule intended to support operating costs, capital needs and reserve funding.
Those studies are historical policy context. The current billing page, which says the fees are effective July 1, 2026, is the controlling source for the charges now listed.
In July 2025, the City Council separately approved a reduction in one planned fiscal-year 2025/26 water increase, lowering that planned increase from 6.5% to 4%. That earlier action should not be substituted for the current July 1, 2026 rate schedule.
How residents can review a bill
Residents should check their water usage, meter size, sewer line items and brown garbage-cart size against the city’s current rates. An exact monthly total cannot be calculated without account-specific service details.
Questions about a particular account can be directed to Brentwood Utility Billing at (925) 516-5415. Questions about garbage service can be directed to Solid Waste at (925) 516-6090.
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