BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Erie County Water Authority (ECWA) announced its Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the 2026 budget and infrastructure investment program.

The ECWA said the budget increases its commodity water rate by 42 cents per 1,000 gallons and adds $2.54 to the quarterly Infrastructure Investment Charge (IIC) for more than 163,000 small meter residential customers.

According to the ECWA, beginning January 1, 2026, residential customers will pay a rate of $5.57 per 1,000 gallons, an additional $23.52 per year based on median customer consumption of 56,000 gallons annually. The IIC will increase $10.20 for the year ($2.55 per quarter). The total combined increase will cost ECWA customers about $33.72, or 9.2 cents a day. Your Erie County Water Authority bill will

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