The residential sewer commodity charge is based on what we call the "winter quarter average" or your water consumption during the winter months. The sewer charge on your bill covers (see image below on where to find it) the cost to treat the water and waste that enters the sewer system from your home. The sewer system is an open unmetered connection and cannot be metered. Because of this, we use your winter time water consumption to determine how much water is used indoors, and therefore the amount of water that enters the sewer system. 

For billing cycles 1, 2, 3, and 4.

• Begins with with your December meter read.
• Ends with your February meter read.
• Consumption is reflected on your February bill.
• New commodity charge go into effect on the April bill.
• Charge will remain in effect for one full year.

For billing cycles 5, 6, 7, and 8.

• Begins with your November meter read.
• Ends with your January meter read.
• Consumption is reflected on the January bill.
• New commodity charge goes into effect on the March bill.
• Charges will remain in effect for one full year.

To lower your consumption:

• Stop irrigating during the winter.
• Cover your irrigation control vales to prevent cracks and leakage caused by the winter weather.
• Install insulating wrap around pipes to guard against freeze, to prevent cracking.