What Charges Does the Sewer Bill Cover?

A sewer bill can seem complex, but understanding its purpose and calculation provides clarity for managing household finances. This article explains the typical components of a sewer bill, how charges are determined, and the responsibilities associated with sewer services.

Components of Your Sewer Bill

Your sewer bill typically includes several distinct charges that fund the complex process of wastewater management. A fundamental component is the fixed charge or base fee, which remains constant regardless of your water usage. This fee covers administrative overhead, customer service, and the basic maintenance of the sewer infrastructure, ensuring the system is ready to serve your property.

Variable charges, also known as usage-based fees or commodity charges, fluctuate with the amount of water consumed at your property. Since most of the water entering your home eventually leaves as wastewater, these charges are often tied directly to your water meter readings. This portion of the bill pays for the actual collection and treatment of the wastewater flowing from your drains and toilets.

Many sewer bills also include stormwater management fees, which address the costs associated with rainwater runoff. These fees help fund systems that collect and manage stormwater, preventing flooding and protecting local water bodies from pollution caused by runoff. Occasionally, you might encounter other surcharges such as capital improvement fees, which contribute to funding major upgrades or expansions of the sewer system, or environmental surcharges, supporting compliance with regulatory standards.

How Sewer Charges Are Calculated

The calculation of variable sewer charges primarily relies on your household’s water consumption. Most sewer utilities use the readings from your water meter as a proxy for the volume of wastewater discharged. The water utility typically shares this usage data with the sewer service provider, streamlining the billing process. For single-family residential customers, some utilities implement “winter averaging,” where the sewer bill is based on average water usage during colder months (e.g., November through April). This approach accounts for reduced outdoor water use, ensuring you are not charged for water that does not enter the sewer system, like water used for irrigation.

In situations where direct water meter data is unavailable or not the primary method, sewer charges might be based on estimated usage. These estimates can derive from factors like average household size or historical consumption patterns. This method ensures that properties without metered water service still contribute to the cost of sewer services. Many utilities employ tiered rate structures, where the cost per unit of water, and consequently wastewater, increases as consumption rises. This progressive billing encourages water conservation by making higher usage more expensive.

Understanding Sewer Service Responsibilities

Sewer bills fund the entire wastewater management process, from collection through a network of pipes to treatment at specialized facilities. This ensures contaminants are removed before discharge back into the environment.

Stormwater management, often a separate fee on the sewer bill, addresses the collection and control of rainwater runoff. This service helps prevent urban flooding and minimizes pollution in natural waterways, with infrastructure like drains and retention ponds maintained through these fees. A clear division of responsibility exists between public and private sewer infrastructure. Utility providers are typically responsible for maintaining the public sewer lines, which are large main pipes usually located under streets.

Homeowners, conversely, are generally responsible for the private sewer lateral, the pipe connecting their home’s plumbing system to the public main line. This responsibility often extends to the entire length of the lateral, even the portion that may lie outside the property boundary or beneath a public right-of-way. Sewer services can be provided by various entities, including municipal departments, regional sanitation authorities, or even private companies. The specific provider influences the billing structure, customer service, and regulatory oversight of your sewer service.

Common Sewer Bill Terminology

Understanding common terms on your sewer bill can provide clarity.

• Wastewater or sewerage is liquid waste carried away from homes through plumbing.
• The base charge or service charge is a fixed monthly fee for system maintenance.
• The volume charge or usage charge is tied to the amount of wastewater generated, based on metered water consumption.
• A stormwater fee is a distinct charge for managing rainwater runoff.
• Units of measurement for water and wastewater usage include Cubic Feet (CF), Gallons (GAL), or Hundred Cubic Feet (HCF), with one HCF (or CCF) equaling 748 gallons.
• The sewer lateral is the private pipe connecting a home’s plumbing to the public sewer main line.
• A treatment plant is the facility where collected wastewater is processed to remove contaminants.