The City of Wabasha Utilities Commission oversees the operation of the Municipal Water System and Municipal Sanitary Wastewater System. The water system has a pumping capacity of 1400 gallons per minute, with a storage capacity of 790,000 gallons. Wabasha’s sanitary system consists of one activated sludge wastewater treatment system located southwest of town with a collection system and three final lift stations to pump wastewater to the site. The treatment plant currently has a capacity of 604,000 gallons per day.

To learn more about the 2023 Street Reconstruction Project, please click here. 

Notice of Public Funding – Wabasha

The City of Wabasha has a long-term capital plan for its water and sewer facilities. To read the plan click below :

Water and Sewer Facility Analysis

Utilities Contact: Pat Mueller, WWTP Operator
Email: utilities@wabasha.org
Phone: (651) 565-3818

Utility Billing Information and Rates

City of Wabasha water and sewer services are billed on a monthly basis and bills are due by the 15th of the month.

**Effective 1-1-2024,  Water & Sewer Rates increased by 4%

  • Sewer Rate: $12.41 per 1000 gallons
    • Minimum usage per month is 2,000 gallons

Residential Water Rates
minimum 1000 gallons  (all rates per month):

Base Rate: $7.43
1000-6,000 gallons $2.96 per 1,000 gallons
7000 – 12,000 gallons $3.73 per 1,000 gallons
13,000 – 24,000 gallons $4.65 per 1,000 gallons
25,000-40,000 gallons $5.84 per 1,000 gallons
41,000 – and above $6.99 per 1,000 gallons

Business/Industrial/Commercial Water Rates
minimum 1000 gallons (all rates per month):

Base Rate: $7.43
0-30,000 gallons $3.81 per 1,000 gallons
31,000-60,000 gallons $4.74 per 1,000 gallons
61,000 and above $5.96 per 1,000 gallons

Per Ordinance, residential sewer rates are set with the April bill (March billing cycle) and based on the average of your first three months water usage of the year and that rate is carried thru the December of the current year. When purchasing a new residence or moving into a new residential property during the year policy is that your sewer rate is set based on the first full month of usage until your rate can be set per ordinance.

Snowbirds – If service is shut off by the city for the winter months only – there will be a $50.00 reconnect fee and payment of the street light fee for each month you were gone when it is turned back on and someone must be present when water is turned back on.

Snowbirds may also choose to not have your water turned off during the winter months but you must come into City Hall and sign a waiver form. You will not be billed the monthly minimum, however you will have to pay a $50.00 fee and the street light fee for the months you were gone when water is back in use.

Also, if service is shut-off due to non-payment, there is a $50.00 reconnect fee. The reconnect fee and outstanding bill amount are payable before service can be reconnected.

Utility Billing FAQs

  • Paper check – sent by whatever means you choose, including US Postal Service to: City of Wabasha; PO Box 268; Wabasha MN 55981
  • Drop box – conveniently located outside City Hall, and outside the Post Office at the corner of Main and Pembroke.
  • Cash – accepted in person at City Hall, we do not recommend sending cash through the mail or in the drop boxes.
  • Credit or Debit card – follow the link on the home page of our website or call City Hall (651) 565-4568. There is a processing charge for this service.
  • Automatic Debit – sign up for automatic debit out of your checking or savings account. Your payment will be withdrawn from the account you specify on the 15th of the month or the next business day.  There is no charge for this service.

For customers classified as residential sewer charges are based upon water usage during the winter months. To calculate sewer use for residential customers, the City reads your water meter during the January, February and March to determine a quarterly average. This is beneficial for our residential customers because water use is substantially less in the winter.

If a residential customer moves into a residence after the period at which sewer rates are established, the sewer rate is based upon their first full month of usage.  After that the sewer rate is established as stated above.

All other customers’ sewer rates are charged based on actual water usage each month.

You may start service or stop service by calling City Hall at (651) 565-4568. City Staff will take a meter reading on the day you request and you will be sent a final bill prorated based on the date the meter was read.

No, the City does not turn off the water when someone moves out, City staff will obtain a meter reading and send you out a final bill.  The account will be transferred to the new owner or landlord.

Call City Hall at (651) 565-4568

A water bill is considered a lien against the property. Your real estate agent and/or title company should have contacted the City for any outstanding bills and can inform you of any outstanding water/sewer bills during the purchasing process, or you can call us at (651) 565-4568 for that information. If these remedies do not work, by city ordinance the bill must be paid by current homeowner.

Water bills are based on how much water is used. Watering the lawn or garden will increase usage, as will the addition of occupants in the home. Leaks can also lead to an increase your water bill. If your bill is higher than usual or you have any questions about your bill, call us at (651) 565-4568

It’s possible your water meter’s remote data device may have stopped transmitting. If your billing statement reads “e” next to the water consumption reading, you should contact us at (651) 565-4568 to determine the cause of the estimate.

Call Utility Billing during business hours, Monday – Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Friday 9:00 am to 11:am at (651) 565-4568, or send a request by email anytime to deputyclerk@wabasha.org . In your email please describe why you want to be contacted and provide your account number, your address, email and phone number where you can be reached during business hours.