Utility Information
Waste Services
The City contracts with LRS to provide waste and recycling services. Beginning April 1, 2025, LRS’ rate will be $19.91 per month. The agreement between LRS and the City of Des Plaines allows LRS to increase their rates between 2% and 3% annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Last year's CPI increase was 3.73%, so LRS will increase their rates by 3%, or $0.58 per month. Monthly costs remain lower than what was projected from other area providers during contract negotiations. LRS has a discount program for senior citizens. Fill out this form and send via email or mail, along with proof of age and eligibility in the form of a valid state-issued driver’s license or identification card or United States passport. Call 844-NEED-LRS (844-633-3577) with any questions.
More About Waste Services
Water and Sewer Services
The City of Des Plaines purchases Lake Michigan water from the City of Chicago and theNorthwest Water Commission (NWC) and distributes it through a network of water mains, storage facilities and pumping stations to about 18,000 customers. The City is committed to making it easy and convenient for you to pay your water bill and access real-time usage data.
More About Water Services
Residential Customers: The City charges for water, sanitary sewer, capital fees and fixed facility charges. Water meters are read every two months and are billed in two-month increments. The utility bill is generally due by the fifth day of the month, or the first business day after, if the fifth day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or a holiday.
Track Your Water Usage and Sign Up for Alerts
Visit the customer portal to sign up and customize your dashboard to monitor your water usage and get real-time alerts. This can quickly identify a leak or problem to minimize water usage costs. Here are some more benefits that come with the portal:
- Customizable user alerts can be sent via the portal, text and/or email.
- Monitor multiple meters from the portal: vacation homes, rental properties and irrigation meters.
- Rainfall and temperature data allows customers to see how their usage might be affected by weather conditions.
Check out this flyer to learn more about the water usage portal (also available in Español and Polski).
Industrial/Commercial Customers: Meters are read on a monthly basis due to large usage and are billed every month. Billing is calculated in hundreds of cubic feet - 100 cubic feet is equivalent to 748.1 gallons.
- The water rate is $6.401 per 100 cubic feet (effective January 1, 2026).
- The sanitary sewer fee is $1.18 per 100 cubic feet of water usage (effective January 1, 2026).
- The capital fees rate is $4.00 per 100 cubic feet of water usage. Capital fees are charged for the maintenance of the water and sewer system infrastructure (effective January 1, 2026).
- The fixed facility charge is a set rate which is determined by the flow capacity of the meter(s) being billed:
For utility billing Inquiries, call 847-391-5322.
Payment Options
Pay Online
Visit our E-Pay portal to view bill and make payments. First time users will need to create an account/user profile with their account number.
Pay in Person
Pay in person at Des Plaines City Hall, 1420 Miner Street. Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. by cash, check or credit card (picture ID required). Visa, Mastercard Discover and American Express accepted. There is also a 24/7 drop box at City Hall.
Pay by Phone
Customers can call the Finance Department directly at 847-391-5330 during the normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to make a payment via credit card.
For homes with inside water meters: Residents are strongly encouraged to call in their inside water meter readings on a yearly basis to avoid unusually high bills due to slow or stopped remotes.
Pay by Mail
Use the return envelope provided with your bill. Please be sure to include a copy of the payment stub in the envelope and mail to City of Des Plaines, P.O. Box 734160, Chicago, IL 60673-4160.
Varying Rate for Fixed Facility Charges
| Size |
Rate |
| < 1" Meter |
$4.30 per Month
|
| 1.5" Meter |
$18.43 per Month
|
| 2" Meter |
$24.57 per Month
|
| 3" Meter |
$61.43 per Month
|
| 4" Meter |
$122.86 per Month
|
| 6" Meter |
$245.71 per Month
|
≥ 8" Meter
|
$331.71 per Month
|
Operation and Maintenance Rates
| Effective Dates |
Rate Per 100 Cubic Feet of Water |
| Jan. 1, 2025 |
$2.75 |
Capital Improvement Fees
In recent years, declining usage and aging infrastructure have resulted in more water main breaks, a growing backlog of improvement projects and increased maintenance cost for our water and sewer systems. To help address this problem the City Council adopted new water rates and fees in September 2023. These rates and fees are reflected in the charts on this page.
| Effective Dates |
Rate Per 100 Cubic Feet of Water |
| Jan. 1, 2025-Dec. 31, 2025 |
$3.00 |
| Jan. 1, 2026-Dec. 31, 2026 |
$4.00 |
| Jan. 1, 2027-Dec. 31, 2027 |
$5.00 |
Other Utility Providers
| ComEd |
800-334-7661 |
| AT&T |
800-288-2020 |
| Comcast/Xfinity Cable |
800-934-6489 |
| DIRECTV |
888-489-3591 |
| Astound Broadband |
800-427-8686 |
| Northern Illinois Gas (NICOR) |
888-642-6748 |