Water Bill Weirdness

[phillycat]

Thanks! Checked it -- nope, no leak. However, it did spur me to remember the water guy was just here and installed one of those electronic readers....maybe that is the source for the new costs?

[billy ross]

Isn't it equally possible there is some kind of across the board billing error? It seems strange that people are seeing massive increases in their water bills all at once, NOT including the stormwater charge (mine is also $13), without any corresponding change in usage?

at the very least there should be a clear explanation of it. There is a big difference between a 6% increase and your bill doubling.

It's possible that they were making up for inaccurate estimates. That'll throw the bill around.

[billy ross]

my usage charges have been creeping up all summer, but that makes sense with the rate increase.

However, the sept bill FROM THE JULY BILL (which is supposed to be the one with the big rate increase)

the usage charges increased by 55%
the service charge increased by 67%
the stormwater charge increased by 105%.

My house did not double in size nor was anyone else using our water. even if it was increased usage that doesn't explain the doubling of the stormwater charge. anyone?

Look for an E on any of the old bills or the new bill, immediately after the reading of the ccf of water. That means the bill was estimated.

The stormwater fees are being implemented 25% at a time, starting in July 2010, for four years. Thus for the first year we only paid 25% of the terminal bill, and for this, the second, year we're paying 50% of the terminal bill, etc. It's to give people both an incentive to reduce their stormwater runoff and also the time to implement changes to ameliorate their properties' propensity to contribute stormwater to the public sewer system. Look for the regular increments to happen again in 2012 and 2013, at which point it'll flatline. You have the right to question their calculations, and if you were to depave or add water-collecting plants that would change the profile. I expect parking garages to have green exterior walls going forward, to slow down the rainwater.

[rocknroller]

Thanks! Checked it -- nope, no leak. However, it did spur me to remember the water guy was just here and installed one of those electronic readers....maybe that is the source for the new costs?

I have the same thing going on. Had the new reader installed, and this month's bill almost doubled. I called and had a meter reader come out on Fri. She seemed like a dope, and couldn't answer any of my questions.

[NE19149]

Look for an E on any of the old bills or the new bill, immediately after the reading of the ccf of water. That means the bill was estimated.

The stormwater fees are being implemented 25% at a time, starting in July 2010, for four years. Thus for the first year we only paid 25% of the terminal bill, and for this, the second, year we're paying 50% of the terminal bill, etc. It's to give people both an incentive to reduce their stormwater runoff and also the time to implement changes to ameliorate their properties' propensity to contribute stormwater to the public sewer system. Look for the regular increments to happen again in 2012 and 2013, at which point it'll flatline. You have the right to question their calculations, and if you were to depave or add water-collecting plants that would change the profile. I expect parking garages to have green exterior walls going forward, to slow down the rainwater.

What I don't understand is - how can a person like me "control" stormwater runoff?
My home was built with a single drain line to the main in the street. (a.k.a. the Lateral)
There is no seperate "stormwater" line.
So I have to pay more when it rains more?... an uncontrollable and natural situation?
Or, are there other solutions to homes like mine?
I need more clarification of all this - it seems too many "rules" and "laws" and "fees" are on the books making even breathing difficult anymore.

[helix]

Look for an E on any of the old bills or the new bill, immediately after the reading of the ccf of water. That means the bill was estimated.

The stormwater fees are being implemented 25% at a time, starting in July 2010, for four years. Thus for the first year we only paid 25% of the terminal bill, and for this, the second, year we're paying 50% of the terminal bill, etc. It's to give people both an incentive to reduce their stormwater runoff and also the time to implement changes to ameliorate their properties' propensity to contribute stormwater to the public sewer system. Look for the regular increments to happen again in 2012 and 2013, at which point it'll flatline. You have the right to question their calculations, and if you were to depave or add water-collecting plants that would change the profile. I expect parking garages to have green exterior walls going forward, to slow down the rainwater.

I specifically asked if having a rain barrel would factor in a lower bill and was told "no"

[phillycat]

wow, I win the idiot award. this is a bill for 2 months. no idea why they didn't send me a bill in July...unless it was because they were waiting to install the new reader. DUH.

Shows how you can not see what is right in front of you...thanks to everyone for the good advice, I learned a lot anyway.

That being said, I really wish, if they are so concerned about stormwater, they gave residential customers some guidelines on how they could reduce it and the associated costs. I even talked with a PWD guy at one of the flower shows where they were demonstrating a green roof and asked how we could look into getting one...he said vaguely he thought there was a guy somewhere in delaware who did them. Since all the houses in this city are generally the same construction you'd think there would be some standard guidelines that would work across the board.

[devilspocket]

The stormwater fees are being implemented 25% at a time, starting in July 2010, for four years. Thus for the first year we only paid 25% of the terminal bill, and for this, the second, year we're paying 50% of the terminal bill, etc. It's to give people both an incentive to reduce their stormwater runoff and also the time to implement changes to ameliorate their properties' propensity to contribute stormwater to the public sewer system. Look for the regular increments to happen again in 2012 and 2013, at which point it'll flatline. You have the right to question their calculations, and if you were to depave or add water-collecting plants that would change the profile. I expect parking garages to have green exterior walls going forward, to slow down the rainwater.

This is true for non-residential properties. Currently all residential properties are billed based on a formula:

For all the residential properties, PWD has developed a uniform monthly SWMS charge that includes a fixed GA charge and a fixed IA charge. PWD has established a GA rate and an IA rate per 500 square feet for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 and FY 2012 through the recently completed Rate Case process. Table 1 presents the GA and IA rates for the period FY 2011 through FY 2014. The GA and IA rates presented for FY 2013 andFY 2014 are subject to change.

Residential property charges are not currently being calculated on how much pervious vs impervious surface an individual property has, and there is no appeal process to question the Water Dept's rates.

Here's their online explanation:

8. What is the basis of my SWMS charge? Is my SWMS charge based on my water consumption?
SWMS charge is NOT based on your monthly water consumption. SWMS Charge is based on two parameters: the average Gross Area square footage and the average Impervious Area square footage for all residential properties. The average Gross Area for a residential property is 2,090 square feet. The average Impervious Area for a residential property is 1,060 square feet. Based on this average Gross Area and Impervious Area values, a uniform monthly charge has been defined for all residential properties. Please see Appendix A for additional details with examples, on SWMS charge calculations.

So, unless the AVERAGE ratio of pervious/impervious surfaces is re-calculated for the entire city, there is currently no way to reduce your stormwater charge and no individual incentive to reduce runoff.

Stormwater FAQ's

[Politburo]

That being said, I really wish, if they are so concerned about stormwater, they gave residential customers some guidelines on how they could reduce it and the associated costs. I even talked with a PWD guy at one of the flower shows where they were demonstrating a green roof and asked how we could look into getting one...he said vaguely he thought there was a guy somewhere in delaware who did them. Since all the houses in this city are generally the same construction you'd think there would be some standard guidelines that would work across the board.

Residents | Philadelphia Water Department

[billy ross]

I specifically asked if having a rain barrel would factor in a lower bill and was told "no"

The program is focusing on commercial properties at first. If your property were commercial adding rain barrels would make a difference in your bill.

[HomeBuyer]

Hi Folks,

I just got my first PWD water bill, bought the place in late August, and there's a $134 "Service Charge"...is this normal? Does it have anything to do with the initial account setup and all subsequent bills thereafter will be minimal? I'm reading that many of you are experiencing high spikes due to SWC but mine shows $9.44 and usage just over $20. My Neighbors who also bought their homes within last few months have also been hit with this "Service Charge". As per the bill explaination on the back, there will be a Monthly Service Charge.