Starting January 1, 2026, Greeley water customers are paying more for water. The city approved rate increases averaging $10.23 per month across water, wastewater, and stormwater services. For homeowners, that number is a concrete reason to look at the home plumbing in Greeley, CO and ask whether a slow leak or inefficient fixture has been quietly adding to the bill. A professional look at your plumbing repair needs can find issues that show up as wasted water long before anything actually breaks.
Quick Answer: Greeley, CO Home Plumbing and the 2026 Rate Increase
The City of Greeley approved average monthly increases of $3.20 for water, $2.00 for sewer, and $5.03 for stormwater, effective January 1, 2026. Unrepaired leaks waste thousands of gallons per year. With water rates up, wasted water can cost more on the usage portion of the bill, while stormwater charges are separate from household water use. A plumbing inspection and any needed repairs can help reduce wasted water, especially on the consumption-based portion of the bill.
What the City of Greeley Approved for 2026 Rates
Per the City of Greeley, the 2026 rate adjustments cover three separate services:
- Water: +$3.20 per month on average
- Wastewater (sewer): +$2.00 per month on average
- Stormwater: +$5.03 per month on average
City officials designed the increases to support infrastructure. Major storms in May 2024 caused $3.4 million in damage to homes, businesses, and public facilities. A severe storm in July 2025 overwhelmed drainage systems at key Greeley intersections. The rate increases support infrastructure, maintenance, and stormwater upgrades, including work meant to improve drainage and reduce flood risks.
Greeley does offer financial assistance for qualifying households: the LIFT rebate ($100 per eligible person per year) and the Utility Program, which provides a one-time $150 credit toward water utility bills. Details are on the City of Greeley website.
What Most Coverage Misses About Plumbing and Water Bills in Greeley, CO
Rate increase coverage focuses on the utility side. It rarely covers what’s happening inside your home.
A faucet that drips once per second wastes more than 3,000 gallons per year, according to the EPA’s WaterSense program. A running toilet can waste 200 gallons per day. Under Greeley’s 2026 water rates, those numbers can add up to real dollars on the usage portion of the bill. The water rate increase makes wasted water more expensive. A leak that felt like a low-priority nuisance last year costs more to ignore this year.
Common sources of residential water waste include worn faucet washers and gaskets, toilet flapper valves that no longer seal properly, leaking valves, and in-ground irrigation systems damaged by freezing or frost. Some of these may not announce themselves as an obvious problem. Many of them are slow bleeds that rarely feel urgent until the bill arrives.
What Greeley Homeowners Should Do With Their Plumbing Now
A few targeted steps address most of what drives unintended water waste:
- Schedule a plumbing inspection. A licensed plumber can help catch slow leaks before they compound on your bill. Depending on the symptoms, that may include pressure testing or a camera inspection for lines that aren’t visible.
- Audit your water heater. Older tanks can run less efficiently and may develop slow leaks around fittings or the pressure relief valve. A water heater inspection can check for efficiency concerns, visible leaks, and safety issues in the same visit.
- Check outdoor irrigation. Outdoor irrigation leaks can be hard to spot during the watering season, so spring and summer are practical times to check the system. A line damaged over winter may have been leaking since the ground thawed.
A plumber can usually inspect the main plumbing areas in a single visit and flag what needs attention versus what can wait. The goal isn’t to upsell everything. It’s to find the issues that may actually be costing you water.
Final Thoughts on Greeley CO Home Plumbing After the Rate Increase
Utility increases are designed to fund infrastructure, not to prompt home maintenance. But the timing is worth using. With water rates going up, a small leak that felt manageable last year may cost more every month you leave it.
Origin Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical serves Greeley, Evans, Windsor, Loveland, and the surrounding Northern Colorado communities. If you want a professional to look at your plumbing in Greeley, CO and find what’s costing you, give us a call or book online.