[thevillages2013]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

This sewer rate thing is a timely thread, I was reviewing our utilities bills this morning. I can’t speak for sewer rates south of 466, but where we live north of 466 the sewer rates are designed to totally screw part time residents and subsidize full timers. Our sewer rates last November and December were $45.81 each month, broken down between $17.91 base rate and $27.90 use rate. Since we weren’t there for a single day either month, and our water was turned off, the only water used was for irrigation. The irrigation water is soaked up by our lawn and garden plants and doesn’t go into the sewer. Therefore, we were charged $45.81 each month for not putting a drop of water in the sewer. During January, February, and March, when we were at our home and used lots of water besides irrigation, our sewer base rate remained the same but our sewer use rate actually went down each month from when we weren’t there and our water was turned off. I have no problem with paying a base rate when not there, but being charged more when we are not there for not putting a drop of water in the sewer than when we are there using lots of water makes absolutely no sense. I will be making some phone calls tomorrow morning, hopefully I won’t be talking to deaf ears.

This has nothing to do with part time vs full time residents. In your location the irrigation water and potable water are not separated so therefore you pay sewer on irrigation water usage. Has to do more with how dry those months are than anything else.