Sewage, How much do you pay?

**frugalnana** · 05-13-2006, 03:31 PM

This is the only bill I can't for the life of me figure out how to lower, but probably can't.

Our water bill is about $35 to $45 per month. That is because dh is a hazmat driver and he takes a shower every day. I also have to wash his clothes every two days, 12 shirts and 12 pants. That I know I can lower once the weather has cleared up and I start hanging outside more.

But my question is when we bought this house the sewage bill was $45 dollars each month, now it is $70 each month. I guess I'm a little naive on this one. How do they determine the cost of what to charge you? Or is it always a fixed price?

My house is all electric so it is always a little higher than someone elses might be and I can change that also.

**schellie69** · 05-20-2006, 09:19 PM

This post made me get out my water bill this is how mine is broke down
Water 32.11
State water fee .31
total water 32.42
waste water 34.07
poly cart (trash) 11.00
Total 77.49
my waste is almost always more then my water, i am not sure how to fix that part of my bill, i have put a brick in my toilet tank to use less per flush, i am not sure what else to do, to lower my waste water, anyone got any other ideas.

**banana** · 05-20-2006, 09:44 PM

This is how my bill is broken down: For 3 months usage

Water Residential Customer Charge - $21.21
Consumption Charge - $50.85

Total water charge -$71.99

Sewer Residential Customer Charge - $13.86
Consumption Charge - $23.51

Total Sewer Charge - $37.37

Recycle Charge -$7.50

Total bill: $116.86.

As you can see my sewer charges are less than my water charges. My sewer bill is based on my water consumption but is calculated at a lower rate.

**SewCrafty** · 05-20-2006, 11:20 PM

Sorry I can't help you, we don't have a water or sewer bill, we have a well and a septic tank.

Good luck getting those utilities down.

**frugalnana** · 05-21-2006, 05:22 PM

Thanks everyone. Just curious if there was a way to lower it.

**dwallyfam** · 05-21-2006, 06:07 PM

Usually your sewer bills is figured by the amount of water you use.

Here is KCMO they also calculate in the sewer bill how much storm water runoff your land/house creates. The more area of concrete, the more they charge.

Kellie

**Scattymum** · 05-22-2006, 01:38 AM

well and septic tank here too- as far as I know though if you are on the local council sewerage and water system you do not get charged for it..its only a matter of time before they do though I'm sure

Good luck with lowering everything

**crisp** · 05-22-2006, 03:12 AM

Having a septic tank can bring its own problems , the authorities here are coming round to check that everyones septic tank conforms to the regulations and if it does not it will have to be moved .That is all well and good but despite having a plan of where it should be we cant find it , this should make for an interesting conversation in french when the little man does arrive.

**ama** · 05-22-2006, 07:42 AM

I looked at my water bill and its always VERY low. That bucket in the shower to flush the toilet MUST do some good?? But my water bill is roughly $7 and the sewer is the same?? Not sure how that works though.

**zakity** · 05-25-2006, 08:12 PM

I would take the brick out of your toilet tank and put in a plastic water bottle (filled with water). I can't remember why the brick is bad, but I just remember that it is. It seems like pieces of the brick can come off or something.

**Michelle** · 05-26-2006, 06:36 AM

Can't help you with getting the cost down, but here I pay a water bill quarterly and a sewer bill annually. I pay approx. $500/yr for water and $300for sewer.

**Budgetmom** · 05-26-2006, 10:01 AM

Ours is directly connected to our water usage. It is precisely half of the amount they charge for water each month, so if water is $40, sewer is $20. That means the only way to get the sewer bill down is to reduce water consumption.