Water Department

Rates

Current Rates
These rates are for Water only. Sewer rates are based on the meter reading provided by the Water Department.

Please notice that a minimum bill is based on a 2,000 gallon usage. In other words, each resident with a 5/8 inch meter pays a minimum bill of $7.85 plus tax. Nearly all residents have this size of meter. The $7.85 includes the first 2,000 gallons of water. Any usage above the 2,000 gallons will be billed according to the charts below. Since most residents use less than 20,000 gallons, line “b” shows the common rate for most households for each of the next 18,000 gallons used.

Sec. 16-129. Rates established.

There are hereby established for the use of and the services rendered by the waterworks system of the city, the following rates and charges, based upon the use of water supplied by the water-works system:

(1) Metered usage per month: Rate per 1,000 gallons

a. First 2,000 gallons $ 4.425
b. Next 18,000 gallons 3.66
c. Next 80,000 gallons 2.71
d. Next 400,000 gallons 2.40
e. Over 500,000 gallons 1.73

(2) Minimum monthly charge: Each user shall pay a minimum charge in accordance with the following applicable size of meter installed, for which the user will be entitled to the quantity of water set out in the above schedule of rates:

Meter size in inches Rate

(3) Public fire protection: Fire hydrants, per hydrant, per annum $396.25

(4) Private fire protection and sprinkler connections:

a. Fire hydrants, per annum 470.60
b. 4-inch connections 214.85
c. 6-inch connection 470.60
d. 8-inch connection 838.95
e. 10-inch connection 1,309.60
f. 12-inch connection 1,882.50

(5) Temporary users: Water furnished to temporary users, such as contractors, etc., shall be charged on the basis of the metered gallonage rates set forth in this section as estimated and established by the superintendent. (Code 1975, § 27-154; Ord. No. 792, § 1, 11-5-91; Ord. No. 809, §1, 3-17-92; Ord. No. 1031, §1, 5-17-05)

Other Fees: Sec. 16-137. Charges for miscellaneous services.

The city hereby establishes service charges for miscellaneous services provided by the water department. All service calls requested by a property owner, renter or plumber or contractor shall be charged a minimum of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour for the following during normal hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and a minimum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per hour at all other times:

(1) Locating and/or cleaning of curb box;
(2) Locating of mains or sewers on private property;
(3) Water turn-offs and turn-ons;
(4) Investigating leaks, high usage, noisy meter, etc., complaint if it is found that it is other than the meter itself or a city utility responsibility;
(5) Removal or replacement of meters for bad accounts, repair work, vacations, summer lines, etc.;
(6) Resealing of meters that have been broken by owner’s neglect or contractors, etc.;
(7) Repair of remote heads or wiring caused by owner’s neglect;
(8) Pumping of meter pits to enable the reading of meters. (Code 1975, § 27-162)

How Rates Are Calculated
When the Water Department employee reads your meter, he compares your previous month’s reading to your current reading. He reads the meter and records the number, including the last number which would represent hundreds of gallons used. The billing system however, doesn’t bill the hundreds column but rather bills for thousands of gallons.

Here is an example:

Last month’s reading may be 1121.5.
This month’s reading may be 1123.9.

The employee would record the entire number, but would subtract 23-21 showing a 2,000 gallon usage. If the 1123.9 customer would have used another 100 gallons, the reading would have been 1124.0 which would have resulted in a 3,000 gallon usage.

Knowing this may help you understand why you sometimes see an inconsistent amount of usage. Some of the water you use in one month may be billed on the next month if it wasn’t enough to reach the next increment of 1,000.

A base bill will always be at least $7.45 plus tax. This amount includes the first 2,000 gallons of water used.

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