Explanation Of Sewer Usage Billing

Overview

The city is divided into three types of billing:

• Commercial Accounts - Retail stores; industrial users; and apartments and condominiums with more than three dwelling units are classified as commercial users.  Their actual water consumption may vary greatly during different times of the year.  This would be the case with seasonal businesses, industry production, or vacancies in apartments.  Therefore, commercial accounts sewer usage is based on the actual amount of water used during the quarter as read on the water meter, plus a sewer service fee.   The amount of the service fee depends on the water meter size in the building.
• Private Well Accounts - (sewer only) - If a residence is serviced by a private well, it is not metered by the Water & Sewer Department. The sewer bill for these homes is based on an average consumption cubic feet, per quarter, plus the sewer service fee, as noted in the current Rate Schedule.
• Residential Accounts - For residential homes, one to three family houses are billed at the same rate charge as commercial accounts except residential usage is based on the amount of water used during the winter that is discharged into the sanitary sewer. During the summer months water is used to water lawns, wash cars, and fill pools, it never enters the sewer system. By basing the billing usage on the winter quarter only, homeowners are not billed unnecessarily for water that did not enter the sewer system.

Each type is billed quarterly.  These services include reading meters, calculate bills based on the rates and policies established by the Board of Sewer Commission.

Usage Fees

Bills are calculated based on the usage rate and sewer service fee set by the Board of Sewer Commission as shown on the current Rate Schedule.