Winter Averaging
If you notice a change in your sewer charge on your bill this month, it's because May is the first month we begin a new cycle of winter averaging. Winter averaging is a billing method developed to give you the best possible break on sewer billing costs.
If you are eligible, this method takes the water consumption used in the winter quarter as the basis for billing sewer charges throughout the year. You will not be paying additional sewer charges for warm weather purposes such as watering lawns, washing cars, landscaping, gardening, or filling pools. Water meter reads from February, March, and April are averaged.
The average of these three reads is used to bill sewer charges through the following April. The new winter average amount will be billed with the May bill each year. If the actual water usage is less than the winter average usage, then the actual usage will be billed. If the winter average usage is lower than the actual usage, then winter average usage will be billed.
Eligible customers are automatically put on winter averaging. The eligibility requirements are:
- The residence must be an owner-occupied, single-family dwelling. Rental units are not eligible for winter averaging.
- At least one of the three monthly reads must be an actual read (if the estimates are due to a meter reporting problem). An account with a zero read in any of the 3 months will not be eligible for winter averaging.
- A customer must have a winter average usage above 150 cf during the February, March, and April calculation period to be eligible for winter averaging.
- Residents with a second sprinkling meter are not eligible for winter averaging.
- A new customer must have an entire month?s usage in February, March, and April in order to be eligible for winter averaging.
- New construction residential customers may be eligible for a class average winter average of 6,000 gallons (800 Cubic Feet) due to irrigation of new lawns during the summer months.
Most eligible customers are put on winter averaging automatically. If you ask to be removed from this billing method, you will be billed based on 100% of the water consumed each quarter.
It may be beneficial for you to decline the winter average option if you have high winter water consumption or low usage in warmer weather. You will remain on this 100% billing unless you submit a written request asking to be placed back on the winter average billing.
Rate Study
The District has been delivering reliable water service since 1994, thanks to hundreds of miles of pipe and dedicated people working around the clock. As The District has expanded over the past two decades, we have gradually absorbed a variety of rate structures and funding models to avoid disruptions in customer service or billing. Over time, this has resulted in a confusing mix of billing processes for our customers.
The District is now conducting a rate study to modernize and simplify the rate structure and to ensure we keep rates fair, equitable and tied to the demand customers place on our water system.
We are reviewing our cost to provide water service per customer class (residential, multi-family, industrial, etc.) to assess whether the revenue coming from those customer classes aligns with the costs to serve them. As we continue to work on the study, we will provide more information online, through social media, and in our upcoming newsletters.
Pool Filling Tips
The average homeowner uses about 6,000 gallons of water per month. The average pool is somewhere between 15,000- and 30,000 gallons. That means your water bill could more than double when you fill or replace the water in your pool from a hose. Winter averaging may be already in place, so filling should not impact your sewer bill.
Before you fill, we recommend you check your hose and spigot for leaks, as this could add costs. There are options, such as hiring a professional water hauler. If you have questions about how filling your pool will impact your bill, contact us.
Announcements
District Board of Trustees Meetings is held on the second and fourth Thursday of every month at 7:30 a.m. Board meetings are open to the public.
- The district offices will l be closed Monday, May 27 to observe memorial day.
Construction Corner
Current Projects
Lake Township-Waterline & Sewer Installation
Through September, watch for shoulder restrictions and construction traffic along Tracy Road from SR 795 to Keller Road for a sewer installation. Project complete: September. Project investment: $520,000.
Northwood/Rossford-Lead Service Line Replacement
Through June, crews will be replacing lead service lines throughout western Northwood. Additionally, lane restrictions are possible in Rossford for restoration. Project investment: $900,000.
Perrysburg Township-Sanitary Sewer Repair
Through May, intermittent lane restrictions are possible throughout Perrysburg Township for sewer repair. Project investment is $998,000.
Rossford-Sewer Replacement
Through June, watch for shoulder restrictions and construction crews on roads north of Eagle Point Road for sewer lining. Project complete: June. Project investment: $767,000.