01How Fulton County prices residential water
Fulton County's water rates page says residential water is billed with an inclining block structure in the summer months, April 1 through October 31. Each home has a base, also called its winter average, calculated from usage between November 1 and March 31, and outdoor meter readings are combined with indoor use in that baseline. For new residences, the County sets the base consumption at 16,200 gallons.
During the April to October season, Tier 1 covers usage up to 130 percent of your base, Tier 2 covers 131 to 200 percent, and Tier 3 covers anything over 200 percent. The County says the structure is meant to encourage efficient outdoor use without raising the cost of base consumption, because summer irrigation drives demand peaks.
02The 2026 rates
On October 1, 2025, the Board of Commissioners approved a 5 percent increase to the water and sewer volumetric rate for each of the next two years, effective January 1, 2026 and January 1, 2027. The 2026 figures for a standard 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch meter are in the table below, quoted from the County's rate page. Larger meters carry higher service charges, which the County also publishes.
Two fixed service charges, one for water and one for sewer, appear on each bill whatever you use. The volume charges are the ones a leak affects. A gallon that falls in Tier 3 costs about twice as much for water as a gallon in Tier 1, and sewer volume is charged on top.
| Charge | 2026 rate | Applies | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water service charge | $11.25 per bill | Every bill | Fulton County Water Rates |
| Water Tier 1 | $4.74 per 1,000 gal | Up to 130% of winter base, Apr-Oct | Fulton County Water Rates |
| Water Tier 2 | $5.91 per 1,000 gal | 131% to 200% of base, Apr-Oct | Fulton County Water Rates |
| Water Tier 3 | $9.47 per 1,000 gal | Over 200% of base, Apr-Oct | Fulton County Water Rates |
| Sewer service charge | $11.25 per bill | Every bill | Fulton County Water Rates |
| Sewer volume charge | $8.98 per 1,000 gal | Metered volume | Fulton County Water Rates |
| Irrigation meter usage | $9.47 per 1,000 gal | Separate irrigation meter | Fulton County Water Rates |
03Why a summer leak hurts more
Because the tiers are based on your winter average, a leak that starts in summer can push a month's usage past 130 or 200 percent of your base. Every extra 1,000 gallons that lands in Tier 3 adds $9.47 in water charges at 2026 rates, plus the sewer volume charge. A leak that starts in winter has a second effect: it raises the November to March average that becomes next summer's base, so the leak should be fixed before the base is set.
Our leak cost calculator does this math. Enter the leak in gallons per day, your winter base and your usual monthly use, and it shows the added water and sewer charges at the County's 2026 rates for the April to October season.
Need a licensed plumber to look at it?
Free Quote Request04Leak or lifestyle?
Before calling a plumber, rule out the obvious: a new irrigation schedule, house guests, a pool top-up or a stuck toilet. Fulton County's conservation page says a sudden spike or a steady rise without explanation may mean a leak, and names the toilet as a common culprit. The County's leak checklist suggests comparing months: is this month much higher than last?
Then run the County's meter test, described in our leak detection guide. With no water in use, a moving leak indicator or a change in readings over one or two hours means water is flowing. Closing the house valve and testing again tells you whether the leak is inside or in the yard line.
05Irrigation and separate meters
If your home has an irrigation system, note that Fulton County publishes a separate irrigation meter rate of $9.47 per 1,000 gallons in 2026, with its own service charge. Irrigation systems connected to County water also fall under the County's backflow prevention program, which requires approved devices and annual testing; see backflow testing.
Georgia EPD's non-drought rule limits outdoor watering of established landscapes to between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. for anyone whose water comes from an EPD-permitted system. A controller that runs outside those hours, or a zone valve that does not close, can show up as both a rule problem and a bill problem. Our irrigation guide has more.
06Getting help with the bill
For billing questions, Fulton County lists Water and Sewer Billing at 404-612-6830. If a leak caused the spike and you have repaired it, the County may consider a credit for leaks classified as non-routine and not preventable by proper maintenance. You will need the plumber's repair bill or a materials receipt; see leak adjustment requests.
Roswell Water Utility customers are billed by the City of Roswell rather than the County; see which Roswell utility you have.