My monthly water bill (also garbage and sewer) averages about $65 per month. I find this excessive considering I live alone; I do run my washer a good bit but hardly ever my dishwasher, and shower once a day but that’s the main use of water. A few years ago it was about $25 per month. However, it’s on par with what my neighbors pay.
So out of curiosity, how much is your water bill? I’m just wanting to compare. (If abnormally low or high household size might be relevant as well.)
$136.10 per quarter, for a one person household. No dishwasher, and only drip-line watering in the garden several days a week.
Fluctuates between $20-$30/month.
Do a leak check on your toilets. Dye tablets are usually free at the hardware store.
Nothing. We have a well, which we share with our neighbor/landlord in a duplex. He pays for the electricity for the well, we pay the electricity for the water softener, which is minimal. We have a septic tank, so there is no sewer charge. Garbage is included in the rent.
Water is $55 for 2 months. If I water my lawn and garden like hell in the summer it will go up to $58. If I save water it will never go under $55. Has to do with a stair step billing system and once you go over it is X more per gallons used. I don’t attempt to understand the billing system, I just know that I can use whatever and the bill will be predictable as a clock. Small town water system fed by spring water wells in the rain forest. Better than bottled water. Delicious.
No sewer, we have a septic tank. No mandatory garbage service included. Just the water.
$25 - $30, family of five; that’s water & recycling. This property is on a septic tank so we don’t pay sewer fees.
Look on the bill and see what else you’re paying for. Sewer probably, but recycling also perhaps?
Our bill is normally fairly low (about $50 in the summer, $30 in winter, due to sprinkler system). However, last month it was $85 and I was shocked - but it caused me to go look around the house and, sure enough, one of the sprinklers had broken and water was trickling constantly - not enough for me to notice at first, but suddenly noticed the ground was wet all around when it shouldn’t have been.
Immediately fixed it and assume the water bill will lower this month.
BTW, our sewer and water are separate bills -so don’t know if that makes a difference in your calculations.
I’ve never paid a water bill all the places I’ve lived.
$75 a month including garbage and sewer. Family of four- frequent bathers, clothes and dish washers. Rare landscape watering.
We’re on a well, so other than the electricity to run the pump, $0.
Well water FTW!
Don’t have a meter and am in the UK, just so you get an international take.
For the bill period running from 1st April '09 to 31st March '10, my total is £230.61 (about $375, according to Google), which I pay over eight months at coming on for £29 ($47) per month.
You just pay a flat rate around this part of the Metrowest Boston area. It is about $50 every six months which is one of the few things that is cheap around here.
UK water meter I pay £25 per month water and sewerage for a 2 - bed house with two occupants.
Wow cheap utility bills here when you really think about it - my sewer bill is $125 a quarter and the garbage bill (I haul my own recycling) is about $85 a quarter. Water is on a well.
Our sewer bill is vastly under priced given that our system is in need of some major upgrades. It sucks because our township has been unable to find any grants or low interest loans to buffer the cost. Millions of dollars of upgrades are needed and they expect 700 users to foot the entire bill. Consultants have said our rates should increase by 50%!
Water/sewer/recycling runs approximately $120 every quarter. Two person household, TheKid would take 10 showers a day if allowed. Very minimal lawn watering in the summer.
Trash is separate, $70 quarterly for the smallest bin. Expensive, IMO, but I was lucky enough to have yard waste grandfathered in from the old company WM bought.
Basic bill is $40 per month which includes garbage collection, sewer, and five units of water. I don’t remember the breakdown in costs, although the sewage treatment is the largest chunk. I keep meaning to put in a deduct meter so that I don’t pay for sewage when I water my lawn, but it hardly seems worth it. The bill shoots up to $100 once in a while during peak watering season.
(I’m referring to my home in Michigan, by the way, where water is limitless but the distribution network is the only real holdup.)
Usually in the $50-60 range provided I have not done any major lawn watering. That includes water, sewer, and garbage.
I wonder if metering our sewage usage would make sense. Right now every household from 1 br cottage to a 5 br/4 bath with water softener pays the same rate.
Start at a flat rate then add on for every extra flush". I guess we’d see conservation and low flow fixtures right quick.
But how does one meter the outgoing?
Water/sewer about $25-30 a month. Our garbage is separate, $55 per quarter.