1. Understanding Your Water Bill
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2. What is a Water Bill?
A water bill is the charge for the drinking water used by your family where you live.
A water bill comes from either the City Government or the local water utility.
The water bill tells the amount of water used in the previous two months and the cost for the service.
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3. Who Sends My Water Bill? It depends on where you live.
In some locations it comes from the City Government where you live.
For example: If you live in Issaquah or Redmond, your bill would be from the City of Issaquah or the City of Redmond.
If you live in Seattle the water bill comes from Seattle Public Utilities.
If you live in Snohomish County the bill comes from the Snohomish Public Utility Department.
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4. What information is Included in the Water Bill?
The amount of water used. It is usually expressed in cubic feet (7.48 gallons) or 100 cubic feet (748 gallons).
The period the water bill covers: usually 60 days.
The cost of the water used over a given period.
Billing information: how much money is owed, to whom, and when the money is due.
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5. What information is Included in the Water Bill?
Additional charges that may appear on the water bill:
Wastewater charge – for the treatment of black water or sewer water
Storm water charge– for the maintenance of the storm water system
A fixed charge: Also known as a base rate. The amount owed by all water users for a set volume of water.
A volume charge: The amount owed for water used over the fixed rate or base rate.
For example: Your water supplier has a fixed rate or a base rate of 50 CCF for $78. All users pay this rate, even if you use less than 50 CCF of water. If you exceed the 50 CCF during that billing period, additional charges will be incurred.
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6. Understanding How to Read Your Meter
Reading Your Water Meter is Easy from the Miami Dade Sewer & Water District… Video How To Read Your Water Meter from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission … Video
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7. Let’s Take a Look at Some Sample Water Bills
Sample bills from: City of Bellevue City of Issaquah City of Kirkland City of Redmond Sammamish Plateau Water & Sewer District Skyway Water and Sewer District City of Tukwila Get the pdf of your sample water bill to study in detail
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8. Student Water Conservation Audit
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9. Student Water Conservation Audit – Calculating Water Use When a Water Bill is Not Available
Average use by person = 60 gallons per person per day
Number of people that live with you = How many people live where you live?
Math! 60 gallons per person per day x the number of people that live with you. For example if 5 people live with you, multiply 60 x 5 = 300 gallons used on average every day where you live.
Use the Conservation Calculator Tool (see next slide)
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10. Student Water Conservation Audit – Calculating Water Use When a Water Bill is Not Available
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11. KNOWING THE UNITS IS IMPORTANT!
Converting to Gallons
Units commonly found on a water bill:
Cubic Feet = CF = 7.48 gallons
Centum Cubic Feet (100 cubic feet)= CCF = 748 gallons
Math equations – converting to gallons… for example
If your water bill reads 100 CF used = 100 x 7.48 = 748 gallons
If your water bill reads 100 CCF used = 100 x 748 = 74,800 gallons
KNOWING THE UNITS IS IMPORTANT!
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