Old washers and water usage cost.........

[robbinsandmyers]

Living here in CT they tax you on anything under the sun. Several years ago THE GREATER NEW HAVEN WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY instituted a sewer use tax for neighboring towns that have sewers that drain into New Haven. Now mind you the local water company known as The Regional Water Authority charges you for the clean water they provide. Now the city of New Haven also charges neighboring towns a fee to use their sewers that have been a network for almost 100 years. My town is next to New Haven and most people unless in the back woods of town have city water. On top of the RWA charge for the water itself there is a charge of $70.35 plus $15.00 administration fee for every 11,220 gallons of water you use that goes into their sewer system. After that there is a charge of $4.69 per every 748 gallons you use. This is how we get raped in CT. Like United Illuminating our power company. Several years ago they raised residential rates 50% and commercial rates 75% in one fell swoop and got away with it. Just before they bought the local natural gas company and got away with it. I thought govt was supposed to prevent monopolies?? I'm curious what other people around the country pay for water or sewer taxes. Esp people with large collections of washers they use.

 

[rp2813]

I just got my water bill for the period from 11/20/19 to 1/24/20.  I used 5 CCF (748 gallons per ccf).

 

The total due is $84.29, but that's skewed by some sort of one-time "2018 Tax Memorandum Account Refund" of $20.84, so without that the total would be more like $105.  Of that, the "service charge" makes up $79.79.  Quantity charges are (I'm rounding off the CCF decimal points) 3.15 CCF, $10.10, and 1.85 CCF (billed at a higher rate as of 1/1/20), $6.04. 

 

The rest is fees and surcharges:  Safe Drinking water:  $0.10, Rate Assistance Program: $2.89, PUC Surcharge 1.23%:  $1.21, City Utility Tax 5%:  $5.00.

 

The cost of the water itself is reasonable, but the "service charge" is ridiculous.  SJWC recently merged with a large water company based in Connecticut, which does not bode well.  Such mergers never do.

 

I think about the cost every time I do a full load in the Maytag 712, but on average that only happens a few times a month at most.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Yes Connecticut Water is who The Regional Water Authority is part of. It serves 56 towns in CT. Their charge for the water isnt bad. But New Havens sewer use tax is nuts. I bet unless you're a stock holder in CT most people dont know the merger with the San Jose water company.

 

[appnut]

About a year ago or so, I came across some very old water bills from when I moved here 34 years ago last month.  This is when I had the FilterFlo and always had the 2nd rinse turned on when washing towels, whites, and similar.  Plus, well, I used the Perm Press cycle for everything else.  My month consumption during winter months was over 4000 gallons a month and that is just me.  I was appalled.  I'm not sure how many years ago the city changed it's billing breakdown.  But for a number of years, I'd say sometime after 2000 & before 2004, they started charging a sewer usage fee--mind you I had a flat sewer fee in my MUD in Houston before and it wasn't anywhere near what I paid/pay.  Now my sewer rate/charge is based upon my water consumption averaged over the January-March billings--More like January 18-22 through March 18- If your monthly consumption is over 2,000 gallons a month, then I'm charged an added $6/month plus my monthly sewer charge is based on this winter consumption average for 12 months.  Currently my winter average consumption calculated Spring 2019 was 1845 gallons.  So my sewer rate is the minimum.  My consumption for November 18th through December 17th was 2000.  I breathed a sigh of relief given my partner was here for a week.  I had expected my January billing period (which is the beginning of the 3 month window) would be from December 17th through January 17th, but they pulled a fast one on me and didn't read my meter until January 21st.  My consumption 2350 gallons, I about had a stroke.  And got charged the added $6 as well as for using a couple of hundred gallons more.  during these 3 months I stockpile laundry and only do when absolutely necessary.  Now I've had to institute more extreme measures--a modified "Navy Shower as well as when yellow let it mellow, when brown, flush it down.  Friday January 24th I did 2 loads and Saturday the 25th I did 10 and Sunday the 26th I did 2.  Only 2 of those loads weren't a minimum of 80% full.  I'm stretching laundry until I expect my meter to be read on February 21st.  My sewer consumption average also influences what I pay for water consumption per 100 gallons, so the higher my winter consumption, the higher my overall water rates are.  I've already been reminding my partner, when he's here full-time, we may have to buy him more clothes because I won't do small loads like he's accustomed to.  My Duet handles 8-10 sets of  good-size towels in a load and I've told him get used to hanging up towels and letting them thoroughly dry and put in hamper long before they get washed.  And with the pets, there are blankets and throws on top of couch and chairs in great room as well as what they may lay on while on the floor.  We may have to get more so that they will have plenty to lay on even when a bunch are being washed.  

 

[ozzie908]

Water rates

Its not mandatory to have a water meter yet and as long as we can go without the better, Not only do a do laundry for 3 people but I have dog beds etc and somedays all I seem to do is wash and hose and the yard so while we are charged a flat rate its cheaper than being on a meter due to high usage, We also have to pay for how much rain our roof collects and sends to the drain and we have to pay for sewer water to be cleaned etc so no matter how you go about it we have to pay to have water and to send it down the drain RIP OFF Britain wins again.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Thats why we left it lol

 

[twintubdexter]

Ralph,

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Although it's been about 19 years since I lived in San Jose, your water bill seems kind of high from what I remember. Our house on Dry Creek Road had a 1/4 acre lot, 3 lawns and a huge pool. I'm surprised at how high water costs are in othr areas/states too. Our water here comes from an aquifer under the desert which is occasionally refreshed from the Colorado River. </span>

 

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">The water company has been quite generous in the past, installing smart timers at a nominal cost. They paid me $1,500 a couple of years ago when I had my front lawns removed and replaced with desert landscaping. </span>

 

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">An interesting short story about the San Jose Water Company...2 years ago we sold a small ranch in San Martin that our uncle left us. My brothers and I were surprise beneficiaries 

in his estate. The SJ Water Company (through something similar to eminent domain) insisted on buying the section of the property that had a creek running through it leaving a section that would have no public access. We had to take them to court and force them to buy the entire property. They were vicious. </span>

 

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Here is my current water bill. I still have a back lawn for my dog. The water company lets you know if you're a "water pig". There is a better rating than "Efficient", "Excellent". I've received a couple of those. I have a 20 year-old Maytag Atlantis and do about 2 full loads of laundry a week, sometimes a little less. I assume if I ever get the Speed Queen from the garage into the laundry room it will probably use about the same amount of water. </span>

[this post was last edited: 2/16/2020-00:17]

 

[potatochips]

The water utility in Halifax charges your consumption based off a cubic meter, or 1000 litres, of water. Base charges on their own are about $80 per bill, and the bill is sent out quarterly. Domestic water in is 97 cents a cube, and then waste water is 1.74 a cube. The utility looks at your domestic water consumption to figure out your waste water, so if you use one cube of water its $2.71 to bring it in and send it out. One cube of water is about 264 gallons, or about .3 of a CCF. So 1 CCF costs about $2.74 in domestic and $4.92 in waste water totaling $7.66 per CCF to bring it in and send it out. Every quarter we pay about $200 for the missus and I. When I was using the A712 and other top loads, it cost us about $300 per quarter, but with the Neptunes it keeps it around $200.

 

[gansky1]

Our water & natural gas service bill just came -

Water use: 7.00 CCF = 5236 gal. x 1.5447 = $10.81

Service Charge: $19.94
Infrastructure Replacement $4.00

City of Omaha Sewer $60.78

Total water: 95.53 +tax

Gas Total : (1/16-2/13) With service charge & $3 infrastr. replc. $74.82

Mind, this is a winter bill - gas use is high 131 CCF = 133.137 therms with f/a heating, water heating and 2/3(approx.) of clothes drying.

The older parts of the city were ordered by EPA to replace all sewer lines to separate sanitary and storm lines about 10 years ago. While it adds to the monthly bill, (+~$17 for all customers) sanitary sewers and reliable, potable water are impossible to live without in the city and must be maintained.

All of Nebraska is served by 100% publicly owned, non-profit utility companies. When asked, the voters always choose to retain the public ownership systems with direct-elected supervisory boards. These boards help control the costs of everything down to the paper clips used in administration and the elected leadership are answerable to the shareholders every month when they open their bills.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Is that for the quarter? My gas bill is usually $40.00 per month except winter when I use the hot air furnace then its around $100-$120 per month. I'm a tenant so dont have to pay water bills. Needless to say I'm a washing fool.

 

[twintubdexter]

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I noticed that many of you pay for sewer charges on your water bill and they account for a large portion of the amount due. My sewer fees are a part of my property tax bill (along with trash collection fees) which explains one reason my bill seems low. They getcha one way or another.</span>

 

[appnut]

Joe, I pay my water bill monthly.  Included is also my $18.45 garbage pick up fee.  My sewer charge is $13.00 and that increased to $16 effective this past October.  When I use 2000 or less gallons a month, my water consumption bill is $16.  For middle of August to middle of September 2019 I used 24,200 gallons all for yard watering.  That month my water charge for that usage was $81.04 (then you add the $6 drainage fee for >2,000 gallons.  My basic monthly bill with no outside watering is $44.97 with all components and sales tax,  Effective middle of October, for every 1,000 gallons I used over 2,000 gallons the charge went from $3.20 to $3.70.  And effective middle of October, my wastewater (sewer) increased from $4.50 to $5.50 for every 1000 above the minimum 2000 gallons.  

 

[wayupnorth]

I have a plentiful water supply and septic so my cost is essentially zero. So I really dont care how much water my Maytag uses. But my high property taxes do include trash pickup, winter road plowing and road maintenance, but nearly 90% of my taxes pay for the school.

 

[DADoES]

 
I have no direct water or sewer bill ... offset via repairs and maintenance on the well/pump and septic system, and electricity to operate.

Had only a capacitor replacement on the well/pump in 15 yrs thus far.

Septic has had prit-much everything replaced, some parts more than once.  And the county (or state?) requires either an inspection contract with a qualified servicer ($350/yr with the original installer, incl chlorine tablets) or the homeowner can pay to attend training for DIY.

Per the city util bills at work, sewer portion is more $$ than water.  There's also a small Transportation Usage Fee (TUF, LOL) to help support city road repair.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Here's my bill from the last full month I was home, a water "unit" is a CCF which equals 750 gallons, so we used 3,750 gallons for the month. We usually use between 5 and 7 CCFs. Our bill is for water, sewer, storm water and trash pickup. Really my water bill itself considering all the vintage washers and dishwashers isn't bad at all.

 

[mattl]

I haven't studied my bill, I'd just get angry.  There was an article on my news feed that my county has kept the water rates the same this year as last.  They broke it down to $.01 gal we are paying.  It's some of the highest in the nation and we are surrounded by water.   I get billed quarterly and it averages about $240.  I only use my Duets and do laundry 2x times a month and then only 4 or 5 loads.  Got a new KA DW that sips water, but one thing that does bother me is 2 of the 4 toilets are 5 gal flush, and I use them the most.  Guessing they add $35+ to my quarterly bills.  One is on my replacement list the other is yellow and not going anywhere as I hate mismatched bathroom fixtures.

 

You have no idea how tempted I am to drill a well.  I live in an area with natural springs.  Many years ago my dad and a neighbor hand drilled a well in the neighbor's yard to water the lawn.

 

[dartman]

The water bill here in Portland is billed every 3 months and includes the sewer and super fund charges. When we got our first full bill it was 306 bucks. We were using a old school DD whirlpool that was using around 50 gallons a load. As soon as I got a decent refund from the mortgage deduction I bought a HE washer that is 4.3 cf and uses 8 gallons average per load. It saved about 200cf per bill and almost 50 per 3 months bill. They have since raised the rates and they also do the cheat where they don't read the meter and just guess. Last month we paid 309 so possibly next month it will be down again. If we disconnect the down spouts they will give a discount but pretty sure mine are on a french drain but kinda bard to prove it. I don't want to disconnect and saturate the yard or let water sit close to the foundation.

 

[arbilab]

No matter how bad you have it, somebody has it worse.  Y'all see #4, where UK charges for how much rain runs off your roof?

 

The good news is, I'm in subsidized housing.  Water, drainage, and even hot water, is 'free'.  The bad news is, I'm in subsidized housing.  Not only are the accomodations on the fringe of 'developing country', washing machines are forbidden.  Chute, the floor probably isn't strong enough for anything bigger than my Panda TT, which I had to skulk in and keep hidden.

 

[frigilux]

While our water is still cheap, sewer charges have jumped substantially and a “storm-drain” charge was added a couple of years ago.

Since retiring In early June, I use about 800 gallons more water per month than while working. Laundry and dishwasher usage hasn’t changed, so it must come down to all the extra toilet flushes. I also tend to take a few more short second showers if I have a gig or am going out with friends.