Sewage Charge on Water Bill
Posted by SleeplessInPlano@reddit | plano | View on Reddit | 19 comments
Hi everyone, I noticed that while my water bill was $34, the sewage charge was $116. From reading past threads it seems this is an average of three months indoor water use. For a four bedroom home with two kids could it really be that high?
I'm assuming the pool would fall under water and not the sewage charge correct?
H0lyH4ndGr3nade@reddit
I don't have my bill handy so I can't compare, but I explain the general theory. Plano calculates an average water use during the winter months, when a large majority of the water used would also end back up in the sewer since there should be little/no water used for big things like irrigation.
Here's a deep dive on the calculation: https://cus.plano.gov/WQA
SleeplessInPlano@reddit (OP)
Interesting, so its counted in water and sewage?
Significant-Host4386@reddit
Where does the water go to?
Cloudy_Automation@reddit
If you close your pool and ignore it during the winter, then you won't use water for the pool, and it won't be counted as sewage during the summer. If you keep topping it off, or empty and refill it during the winter, then that water over three will be assumed to be part of your summer sewage usage. Similar things happen if you irrigate your lawn during the winter, it counts towards sewage usage in the summer.
Diabetesh@reddit
My sewer from last year to this year is up 20% and I swear that has been the case every year since 2021. Like my bill used to be $75 and is now $135
Paulsur@reddit
"the sewage charge was $116." That is some expensive shit!
PseudonymIncognito@reddit
Did you fill your pool or water your lawn during the averaging months? If you did, they might well have been included in your assessment depending on when and how often you did it.
SleeplessInPlano@reddit (OP)
Wait so that would be in the sewer bill but not the water bill?
PseudonymIncognito@reddit
Your sewer bill will be the exact same for every month of the year depending on what was determined by the three-year rolling average of your winter quarter averaging. If you regularly water your lawn in the winter for some reason, you will be paying for that on your sewer bill for the next three years at a minimum.
TL;DR if you absolutely need to fill your pool between December and March, only do it within one month.
flilmawinstone@reddit
Pro answer!
This is why we are very conscious of trying not to water in winter months if avoidable. I have a neighbor that still waters once a week in the winter no matter what — sewer bill must be ridiculously high!
Cloudy_Automation@reddit
I do that, but the irrigation duration is significantly lower in the winter, and skips if there is substantial rain. Sewer is $56 per month. I also have a pool leak I've been working to get fixed.
H0lyH4ndGr3nade@reddit
They throw the highest use month out of the winter month usage average, so any 1 time water splurges like filling a pool shouldn't impact the calculation.
PseudonymIncognito@reddit
Unless you have more than one in different months.
Menelatency@reddit
Sewage is calculated off water usage. If you have a pool, they calculate your sewage/water rate per gallon off your average monthly usage from somewhere like Oct-Dec presuming you’re putting very little water in your pool during those months. That way you’re not overpaying due to summer evaporation losses and pool spillage from swimmers.
Menelatency@reddit
It’s all spelled out in the city’s website
shittyhawaiitips@reddit
lmao why is anyone dv'ing you
https://cus.plano.gov/WQA
it's pretty straightforward if you know how to read
RichAdults@reddit
Mine was also that high due to a leakage and pool. If you have proof of leakage you can neogiatw with city. April is when they recalced based off last oct-dec. source: i called the city about his weeks ago.
chezzer33@reddit
Stop eating Taco Bell
SleeplessInPlano@reddit (OP)
I already did eight years ago when a massive hair was in my burrito.