Are Water and Sewer the Same Bill?

When you get your monthly utility bills, you’ll likely see separate charges for water and sewer services. But what’s the difference, and why are they billed individually? Understanding the breakdown can help you track your household’s usage and potentially lower costs.

The Difference Between Water and Sewer

Water and sewer services are related but involve different infrastructure and expenses for utilities:

• Water – This covers the supply of fresh water to your home. It includes costs for water treatment, pumping stations, pipes and water meters.

• Sewer – This charge is for wastewater drainage and treatment. It pays for sewer mains, pipelines, treatment plants and disposal.

Your usage impacts the water bill while sewer charges are generally fixed. But both charges appear together on your monthly utility statement.

Why Water and Sewer are Billed Separately

There are a few key reasons utilities itemize water and sewer on your bill:

• To show billing rates accurately for each service.

• To calculate sewer costs based on your water usage.

• For transparency on what fees cover which utility expenses.

• To allow customers to track their individual water usage.

Separating the two makes it easier for utilities to recover their operating costs and for customers to understand charges.

How Water and Sewer Bills Are Calculated

Water

• Based on metered water usage in gallons or cubic feet

• Rate is per unit consumed

Sewer

• Tied to water usage since wastewater correlates to water used

• Rate calculated as a percentage (80-150%) of water rate

• Covers sewer infrastructure maintenance and operations

Comparing Costs of Water vs. Sewer

You’ll often find your sewer rates are higher than water rates. Here are some reasons why:

• Extensive sewage infrastructure is more expensive to operate than water delivery.

• Sewage treatment has large operational costs for energy, chemicals, and solid waste disposal.

• Federal regulations require advanced treatment technologies that cost more.

• Sewer systems require significant construction and maintenance due to corrosion from waste material.

Higher sewage bills help offset the considerable costs involved in properly removing and treating wastewater.

Savings Tips for Water and Sewer Bills

Small changes in your home can help cut both your water and sewer costs:

• Fix any leaky faucets – saves gallons of water monthly.

• Install low-flow aerators and showerheads.

• Run full loads in dishwasher and washing machine.

• Take shorter showers instead of baths.

• Turn off water when brushing teeth or shaving.

• Water lawn and garden efficiently.

• Check for toilet leaks with dye tablets.

• Upgrade to high-efficiency toilets.

Monitoring your water usage helps lower sewer bills too since they are connected. And you reduce strain on water infrastructure and the environment.

Understanding Combined Water/Sewer Bills

Some municipalities combine water and sewer into one total charge rather than breaking it down. This simplifies billing but reduces transparency on usage and costs.

If you receive a combined bill, look for:

• The total gallon or cubic feet usage.

• Details on rate tiers tied to usage amounts.

• Fixed daily service charges.

• Any additional fees itemized out, like sewer maintenance.

If you aren’t givenUsage and cost details, request them from your utility provider. This