Surprise AZ Utilities: Who Provides Water, What It Costs and How to Set It Up
Updated October 2026. Rates below are the City of Surprise's adopted rates for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Always confirm your own address with the city before you move.
If you just bought or rented a home in Surprise, the first surprise is often that the City of Surprise is not everyone's water company. Depending on the street, your water may come from the city, from EPCOR, or from a small private water company, while trash and sewer can still come from the city. This guide explains who serves what, what a typical city bill looks like this year, and how to set everything up in the first week.
Quick answer
- Look up your address first. The city's Service / Utility Finder tells you which providers serve a specific Surprise address.
- Water: the city serves a little over half of Surprise. EPCOR (its Agua Fria district) serves about a third, including many homes north of Bell Road, west of Loop 303, and Coyote Lakes. A few small providers serve the rest.
- A typical City of Surprise bill (water, sewer and one trash can, using 6,000 gallons) works out to about $106 a month in 2026-27, before taxes or extra fees.
- Start service through the city's Start / Stop Utilities page, and with EPCOR at 1-800-383-0834 if EPCOR is your water provider.
Who provides water in Surprise?
According to the city's own Integrated Water Master Plan, there are 13 water service providers inside Surprise's planning area, including the city itself. The main ones homebuyers run into:
| Provider | Where it shows up |
|---|---|
| City of Surprise | Most customers in the central and southern parts of the city, plus most newer growth areas the city plans to serve |
| EPCOR Water (Agua Fria district) | About one-third of Surprise, including many homes north of Bell Road, west of Loop 303, and Coyote Lakes |
| City of El Mirage | The roughly one-square-mile Surprise Original Townsite |
| Saguaro View and Saguaro Acres | Smaller numbers of homes in their own areas |
| Others (Beardsley, Circle City and more) | Mostly the far northern, rural parts of the planning area; the city has been acquiring Circle City Water Company |
Two homes a mile apart can have different water companies, so don't assume from the ZIP code. Use the city's address finder or ask for the seller's last water bill.
Sources: City of Surprise Integrated Water Master Plan, Water Resources Update and Daily Independent, "Surprise tightening up its water budget".
What does a City of Surprise utility bill cost in 2026-27?
The city adopted a five-year rate plan that steps up every July. These are the residential rates in effect from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, from the city's published Utility Rates schedule:
| Charge | 2026-27 rate |
|---|---|
| Water base charge, standard 5/8" or 3/4" home meter | $31.77 a month |
| Water base charge, 1" meter | $41.31 a month |
| Water used, first 10,000 gallons | $2.61 per 1,000 gallons |
| Water used, 10,001 to 20,000 gallons | $5.16 per 1,000 gallons |
| Water used, 20,001 to 30,000 gallons | $6.00 per 1,000 gallons |
| Water used, over 30,000 gallons | $7.19 per 1,000 gallons |
| Sewer (wastewater), single-family home | $28.69 a month |
| Trash and recycling, per can | $30.11 a month |
Example: a home on a standard meter that uses 6,000 gallons in a month would pay about $31.77 + $15.66 (water used) + $28.69 (sewer) + $30.11 (trash) = $106.23. A home that uses 15,000 gallons in a summer month would pay about $31.77 + $26.10 + $25.80 + $28.69 + $30.11 = $142.47, because every gallon over 10,000 is billed at the higher tier. That's why pool and lawn watering show up fast on Surprise bills.
Customers in the former Circle City Water Company area pay a separate, lower base charge that is phasing up each year ($19.86 a month on a standard meter in 2026-27).
The same schedule shows the rates rising again on July 1, 2027 (for example, the standard water base charge goes to $33.36 and trash to $31.62).
Ways to save on the city bill
- Annual prepay: the city offers a single annual advance payment with a 5% discount on trash ($343.25 for the year per can) and sewer ($327.07 for a single-family home) for 2026-27.
- Watch the 10,000-gallon line. The price per gallon nearly doubles above it. Desert landscaping and a drip timer check after you move in help most.
What it costs to start service
From the same city fee schedule:
- Establishing city service is $21 per service, so $63 if the city provides your water, sewer and trash.
- If your water comes from another provider (like EPCOR), the city's establish-service fee is $42 ($21 each for the city services you do get).
- After-hours setup with the city is $78.75. A new trash can delivery is $52.50.
EPCOR sets its own fees, so ask when you call. If EPCOR is your water company, also read EPCOR's page on the City of Surprise wastewater bill so you know how sewer shows up for your home.
How to set up utilities when you move to Surprise
- Check your address in the city's Service / Utility Finder.
- City services: start them on the city's Start / Stop Utilities page. Rates and billing questions are on the Utility Billing & Rates page.
- EPCOR water: call 1-800-383-0834 (Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or use EPCOR's start water service page. Have your name, the new address, a phone number and your start date ready. For a brand-new build, EPCOR asks you to call rather than use the online form.
- Electric and gas: these are not city services. Your closing documents or the seller's last bills show which companies serve the home, and the address finder can help.
- Trash day: check the city's collection schedule and the Trash & Recycling page for bulk pickup rules.
For the rest of your first month (MVD, schools, HOA registration), see our First 30 Days in Surprise checklist and the full Moving to Surprise guide. If you're still comparing costs, our Surprise property taxes page covers the other big monthly line.
Frequently asked questions
Who is my water company in Surprise, AZ?
It depends on the address. The City of Surprise serves a little over half the city and EPCOR serves about a third, with a few smaller providers in specific areas. Enter the address in the city's Service / Utility Finder or check the seller's last water bill.
How much is the average water bill in Surprise, AZ?
On the City of Surprise system in 2026-27, a home on a standard meter using 6,000 gallons pays about $47 for water alone ($31.77 base plus $15.66 for the water used). With sewer and one trash can, the full city bill is about $106 a month at that usage.
How much is trash pickup in Surprise, AZ?
The city charges $30.11 a month per trash can from July 2026 through June 2027, or $343.25 for the year if you use the annual prepay option.
Does EPCOR or the city handle trash and sewer?
EPCOR provides water in its areas, but sewer and trash are separate services that the city can still provide. The city's fee schedule has a lower setup fee for homes whose water comes from another provider, and EPCOR has a page about the City of Surprise wastewater bill for its customers. Check your address in the city's Service / Utility Finder to see exactly which services the city provides at your home.
How do I start water service in Surprise?
For city water, use the City of Surprise Start / Stop Utilities page; the setup fee is $21 per service. For EPCOR water, call 1-800-383-0834 or use EPCOR's online start-service form (call instead for new construction).
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rates change every July; confirm current rates and your providers with the City of Surprise or EPCOR. Questions about buying in Surprise? Jesus Sanchez, REALTOR®, Real Broker AZ, LLC, 3707 E Southern Ave #1074, Mesa, AZ 85206, 480-531-5584.