With the age of the City's water system, a "generational" investment is required to comply with new state and federal mandates and to ensure the continued quality of the City's drinking water. Various government loans and potential bonding will be used to pay for the projects, but an increase in water rates will be required to cover this new debt. Based on a current regional water comparison, the City's water rates are well below comparable communities.

As the City had not increased water rates since 2011, a large part of the increase was necessary to catch up with inflation and the lack of increases. To accommodate the Department's 10-year plan, and to help residents and customers acclimate to the new rate schedule, the City is implementing a phased-in approach for the rate increases over three years. Water rates increased 33 percent on May 1, 2024, and will increase another 33 percent on May 1, 2025, and then a final 33 percent on May 1, 2026. Thereafter, the rates will increase by the CPI index for water, sewer, storm water, and solid waste (CPI-WST).

For more detailed information on the need for this systemwide upgrade, see the below video of the Council presentation provided on November 27, 2023. Click here to view a PDF of the presentation.

Water Rates - Effective May 1, 2025

The cost for use of City water shall be ascertained according to the amount of water used during the month for which the charge is made and shall be graduated as follows:

(City Code Ch. 27 Sec. 27) 7.48 Gallons = 1 cubic foot

Click here to view all utility fee information.

Impacts to Residents

To help low-income residents adjust to the increase, the City established a program wherein customers that meet the poverty guidelines will receive a 33 percent discount effective May 1, 2024. 

To find out if you qualify, click here to view the HHS Poverty Guidelines. 

View the Low Income Refuse and Water Fee Discount form or see the information below for more details.

In addition, the City has assembled a list of organizations providing financial aid related to Utility Assistance, which is included below. Click here to download a PDF of this information. The City Manager will explore other resources that provide assistance for water utilities and update the website to share said resources. Additional needs-based assistance programs may be presented and approved by the City Council in the future. 

Since the City also imposes a utility tax on water at a rate of 3.75 percent, the tax will be lowered over the next three years so that customers do not experience additional costs for water beyond the intended rate increases. As a result, the tax rate will lower to 2.75 percent effective May 1, 2024, then will go to 2.5 percent and 2.25 percent in the following two years.

Utility Payment Assistance - Resources

Payment Installment Agreements

To assist account holders with bringing past due accounts current, the City of Bloomington offers payment installment plans.  The agreement requirements include:

1. Account must be $300.00 past due or more and be active.  If the services have been disconnected, the full amount must be paid for reconnection.
2. Down Payment:  50% of the Total Due balance will be due at the time of agreement approval.  This will be based on the Total Due amount on the most recent Utility Bill received. 
3. Monthly Installment: Remainder due in 6 monthly installments.
4. Number of Plans:  1 Plan per year.
5. Failure to make the monthly installment payment, along with the monthly current bill, will result in the agreement being in default, a delinquency fee being applied, and immediate utility service disconnection. 
   The City encourages those interested to call (309) 434-2426, option 4 to discuss this option with a City staff member. 

Please have a copy of your most recent bill available prior to calling to assist City staff in accessing your account information. 

Low Income Refuse and Water Fee Discount

The City offers discounted rates for refuse collection and water service based on an individual’s income. The qualifying criteria for this discount is based on the federal poverty guidelines as provided in the Federal Register issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services each year. In order to receive the discount, an individual or household must provide proof of income that is below the federal poverty guidelines. Applicants must submit this form and proof of the last 30 days of income (see below), with social security number removed or redacted. Click here to view the Low Income Refuse and Water Fee Discount Application.

BLOOMINGTON CITY CODE (REFUSE FEES): Chapter 21, Section 301.8, Low-Income Refuse Fee Discount, states the following:

1. The City may offer a discounted rate for refuse collection based on an individual's income. The qualifying criteria for this discount shall be based on the federal poverty guidelines as provided in the Federal Register issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services each year.
2. Effective May 1, 2014, an owner and/or occupant of a dwelling unit for which refuse service is provided by the City, whose income level falls within the poverty guidelines, shall pay a fee in the amount of $16 per month, per single-family dwelling.
3. Effective and beginning May 1, 2019, the refuse fee outlined above shall increase annually on May 1 of each year, at a compounding rate of 3% over the rate from the previous year.

BLOOMINGTON CITY CODE (WATER FEES): Chapter 27, Section 27-501 M, Financial Assistance, states the following:

1. The City Manager, through Executive Order, shall develop a needs-based assistance program based on the federal poverty guidelines as provided in the Federal Register issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services each year. This program shall provide a 33% discount effective May 1, 2024.

Financial Assistance – Resources

The City has assembled a list of organizations providing financial aid related to Utility Assistance, which is included below. Click here to download a PDF of this information.

PATH Crisis Center

Crisis, Information, and Referral Workers can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year by calling United Way 2-1-1 or text your zip code to TXT211 (898211). If you are having trouble accessing 2-1-1, contact PATH at 888-865-9903.
Online Database: https://www.navigateresources.net/path/
https://www.pathcrisis.org/

City of Bloomington Township Office of General Assistance

607 S Gridley Street, Suite B Township Center, Bloomington IL 61701
309-434-2730
https://bloomingtoncitytownship.org/services/assistance/

Salvation Army Bloomington, IL Corps Community Center

611 W. Washington Street, Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 829-9476
https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/bloomington/

Central Illinois Friends, Inc. (For people living with HIV)

900 Franklin Avenue, Normal, IL 61761
309-671-2144
https://www.friendsofcentralillinois.org/

Veteran’s Assistance Commission McLean County (For veterans)

200 W Front Street, Suite 400D, Bloomington, IL 61701
309-888-5140
https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/98/Veterans-Assistance

Tazwood Community Services, Inc. (For natural gas, electric, and heat)

LIHEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program)
808 S. Eldorado Rd, Unit 100, Bloomington, IL 61704
(309) 533-7723
https://www.tazwoodcs.org/liheap

LifeLine Support (For landline phone, wireless phone, and broadband)

800-234-9473
https://www.lifelinesupport.org/