Sewer Service Charges

SEWER SERVICE CHARGES REWARD WATER CONSERVATION.

MWSD uses a fair and cost-effective way to calculate sewer charges that reflect the relative use of the sewer treatment plant by each user and financially rewards consumers for conserving water.

The sewer service charge, which appears in the annual property tax bill, is calculated once a year based on the customer’s previous year water usage and the customer category sewer rate.

SEWER CHARGE = (ANNUAL WATER USE in HCF) x (CUSTOMER CATEGORY SEWER RATE $/HCF)

Estimation of Sewer Use from Water Use (HCF per year)

For residential customers, the sewage usage amount attributed to each customer varies according to the customer’s average water usage during the wet months - November through March. Water use in these months gives the most accurate picture of household water that winds up in the sewer system, e.g. from sinks and toilets (as opposed to water used for irrigation that does not flow through the sewer system, which is typically used the most during the dry months). The average use in the wet water months is then extrapolated for the entire year.

How can I reduce my Sewer Service Charge?

Homeowners may reduce their water usage during the wet weather months of November through March prior to the fiscal year of the tax bills. For example, the property tax bills generally use the water use data from the period of November and December of the previous year and January through March of the current year. If you have noticed a significant increase in your water use you should check for leaking faucets, toilets, pipes or connections.

For businesses, the sewer usage amount is based on the water use for the entire year since irrigation tends to be more consistent.

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Five Year History of Sewer Charges