Water and Sewer Tap Fees Around Covington, GA: Two Schedules Compared

City of Covington tap fees

The City publishes its current water and sewer tap rates by meter size. A 3/4-inch meter and service costs $2,225.00 for water and $3,600.00 for sewer. A 1-inch meter and service costs $3,850.00 for water and $6,520.00 for sewer. A 2-inch meter jumps to $12,150.00 and $19,700.00.

The City says all of these fees are paid at its Engineering Department, and that meters larger than 4 inches are calculated by the City Engineer based on a residential equivalent of 350 gallons per day. Fees subject to calculation follow Chapter 13.12 (water) and Chapter 13.16 (sewer) of the City's Municipal Code.

For most single-family homes, the 3/4-inch line is the one that applies, and you pay both the water and the sewer column before any private plumbing begins.

NCWSA meter and sewer fees

The Newton County Water & Sewerage Authority's fee sheet, revised May 21, 2025 and effective July 1, 2025, lists a 3/4-inch water meter fee of $2,951.00 and a residential sewer fee of $3,650.00. A 1-inch water meter is $3,082.00 and a 2-inch is $3,221.00.

The sheet adds two details that matter for planning. NCWSA does not make sewer taps, and it charges a sewer tap inspection fee of $75.00. Commercial sewer fees are calculated by its Engineering Division.

New customers moving into a house with an existing meter pay a non-refundable service establishment fee of $50.00 instead of a meter fee.

What the plumber's price covers

Utility fees pay for the meter, the tap and capacity in the system. The plumber's price covers the private side: trenching from the meter or sewer tap to the house, pipe and fittings, any cleanouts, the connection at the house and restoring the trench. Distance, rock, driveways and slope all change that price.

Ask for a quote that keeps utility fees and the plumber's own work on separate lines. If the plumber is passing through a utility fee, it should match the published schedule.

On NCWSA sewer, since the Authority does not make the tap, ask the plumber who will, and how the $75.00 inspection is scheduled.

Permits for a new connection

Inside Covington city limits, building work goes through the City's Planning and Development department. Its building permit application lists a residential plan review fee of $75.00, asks for the contractor's state and business licenses, and has a section for Georgia-licensed plumbing subcontractors.

Outside the city, Newton County's Development Services handles building permits for the unincorporated county and for Mansfield and Newborn, according to the county's building permits page as summarised in our recon pack. Confirm details with the county.

The permit guide covers both offices.

Which schedule applies to you

If your lot is inside Covington and on City water, the City's tap schedule applies. If it is served by NCWSA, the Authority's fee sheet applies. Oxford, Porterdale and Mansfield have their own water systems on federal records, and their fees are set locally.

The provider guide explains how to tell who serves a property. When in doubt, call the utility with the parcel address before buying a lot or signing a building contract.

Once connected, the regular rates apply. City rates are on the calculator page, and NCWSA's are on the NCWSA rate page.

Fire service and larger meters

The City's schedule also lists a fire service meter at $2,310.00, which matters for buildings with sprinkler systems. Meters of 3 and 4 inches carry much larger water and sewer tap fees, and anything over 4 inches is calculated by the City Engineer.

NCWSA lists a fire line at $3,780.00 for all meter sizes and says meters over 2 inches are calculated by its Engineering Division. For a house, these lines rarely come up, but they can for a home with a residential sprinkler system.

If your plans include a sprinkler system, ask the utility and the permit office about it before you size the service.

A planning checklist for a new connection

Confirm which utility serves the lot and whether water and sewer are both available. Get that utility's current fee schedule and identify the lines that apply to your meter size. Ask whether the tap is made by the utility or by your contractor, and how inspections are scheduled.

Then get the plumber's written quote for the private line, with the utility fees shown separately. Ask who applies for the building permit and whether it is included. Put the expected dates for the tap, the inspection and the meter set on one calendar.

Doing this before the foundation is poured avoids the most expensive surprise in residential plumbing: a service line that has to be rerouted after the fact.

Where the money goes

City tap fees are paid to the City's Engineering Department; NCWSA fees are paid to the Authority. Neither goes to your plumber. If a plumber's quote includes a utility fee, ask for the receipt so you can see it was paid to the right place and matches the schedule.

Sources for this page: City of Covington, GA: Water and Sewer Tap Fees; Newton County Water & Sewerage Authority: Water and Sewer Fees, effective July 1, 2025 (PDF); City of Covington, GA Planning & Development: Building Permit Application (rev. 12/26/25, PDF); Newton County, GA Development Services: Building Permits & Inspections (unincorporated Newton County, Mansfield, Newborn; via recon pack); U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Census 2020 incorporated places: Covington, GA; U.S. EPA SDWIS water system records, Covington, GA. Checked 2026-10-30.