Livingston Utility Bills Spike: Sewer Rate Up 50%, Water Rate Rises 30%

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Livingston is seeing its first water and sewer rate hike in four years, and some local residents may be seeing big increases on their utility bills.

The Livingston Township Council adopted two ordinances that approved the increases in April.

Water and sewer charges appear on a combined quarterly bill, with customers divided into three billing cycles, town officials noted:

• Livingston’s water rate is about $142 (based on the average household’s 25 units of usage, 18,700 gallons, ¾ inch meter). This represents a roughly 30 percent increase.
• Livingston’s sewer rate is about $127 (based on 25 units of usage, ~18,700 gallons, ¾ inch meter). This represents a roughly 50 percent increase.

“These increases reflect years of absorbed costs, unavoidable regulatory mandates and overdue capital work,” Livingston Township Manager Barry Lewis said.

One significant driver of costs is the state-mandated remediation of PFAS (“forever chemicals”) in drinking water, Livingston officials said:

“These requirements carry large and unavoidable expenses, but Livingston has been well ahead of the curve compared to other towns in New Jersey. The township has proactively installed advanced treatment systems to ensure water safety and has also taken an aggressive legal approach against polluters. To date, Livingston has been highly successful in securing legal settlements and reimbursements, significantly offsetting costs that would otherwise fall directly on residents.”

Water utility debt service rose from $1.44 million in 2020 to $2.6 million in 2025, driven largely by PFAS infrastructure, officials said.

“By acting early on PFAS and holding polluters accountable, we are protecting both our water supply and our residents’ wallets,” Lewis said.

• See Related: Livingston Plans Water Upgrades; Feds Lower ‘Forever Chemical’ Limits

Meanwhile, unrelated sewer system upgrades have caused debt service to rise from $760,000 in 2020 to $1.73 million in 2025, officials said.

• See Related: Livingston’s Wastewater Crew Is Tiny – But Shoulders A Heavy Burden

Lewis said the town’s water and sewer rates remain competitive in the region. According to town officials, nearby prices include:

Water Rates:

• Florham Park – $77.45
• Wayne – $90.42
• Madison – $91
• Fairfield – $96.38
• Parsippany – $96.38
• West Caldwell – $150.54
• SMCMUA – $179.64
• Verona – $200.50
• Caldwell – $212
• NJ American Water (Essex & Union) – $280.28

Sewer Rates:

• Maplewood – $75.25
• South Orange – $81.25
• Wayne – $110
• West Orange – $125
• Madison – $130
• Verona – $165
• Caldwell – $165.25
• Parsippany – $166.21
• Florham Park – $176
• West Caldwell – $222.35
• Hanover – $238
• Fairfield – $238.60
• NJ American Water (Long Hill) – $421.12

To avoid future steep adjustments, the township is implementing annual CPI-linked increases to spread costs more evenly, officials said.

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