Services
Consumption Based Wastewater Billing
A small portion of your utility bill for wastewater is based on your home's average water consumption during the preceding winter months of October-April. This is called the winter water average.
Under this format, every customer will pay at least $71.68 per billing period (for two months of service), plus the winter water average usage at 70¢ per unit. Each unit of water is equivalent to 748 gallons. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, customers will pay at least $76.56, plus the winter water average usage at 75¢ per unit.
- This excludes water used during the summer months for outdoor and recreational purposes that does not go into the City's wastewater system.
- Once your average winter water use is established, your wastewater charge will be set for the year. This is recalculated each July, based on the previous winter's water use.
Use less, pay less – use more, pay more
Many customers will see little change in their bills. However, homes that use less water could see a slight decrease. Homes that use more will pay more.
Lower your utility bill
Customers may help reduce their bill for wastewater by using less water each year during the winter months of October-April.
- Run the dishwasher and washing machine with full loads only.
- Repair leaky toilets and faucets.
- Install water-saving shower heads and faucet aerators.
Annually, water usage between October-April will be reviewed to determine a winter water average. This average will be used for the following fiscal year, July 1 to June 30.
Lower your consumption by conserving water
You could lower your household water consumption by 30% by installing high-efficiency:
- Garden hose nozzles
- Showerheads
- Faucet aerators
- Toilets
Learn more about water conservation tips.
Background
Council approved this billing method for wastewater to each home in Gresham on Oct. 20, 2015.
Frequently asked questions
This method of billing is a way to improve equity.
- Under this method, households that use more water will pay more.
- The new method also provides opportunities for households that use very little water to pay less.
- Most large utilities have a modern wastewater rate structure with a water use component.
- The City Council now supports a rate structure that is partially based on how much water each household uses during the winter months of October through April.
The City measures and averages water use during the months of October through April.
This is a reasonable way to determine the average amount of wastewater generated from each household because it excludes water used during the summer months for outdoor and recreational purposes that does not go into the wastewater system.
No. Under this method, every customer will pay at least $71.68 per billing period (for two months of service), plus an additional 70¢ for every unit of water used.
Each unit of water is equivalent to 748 gallons. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, customers will pay at least $76.56 per billing period (for two months of service) plus the winter water average usage at 75¢ per unit.
No. Once your average winter water use is established, your wastewater charge is set for the year. This will be recalculated each July.
Yes, your wastewater charge will be recalculated every year in July based on the previous winter water use.
Yes, most Oregon wastewater utilities use this method of billing.
Example utilities include: Portland, Clean Water Services, Salem, Eugene, Oak Lodge Sanitary District, Lake Oswego and Wilsonville.
No, this method is designed to generate approximately the same revenue to operate, maintain and improve the wastewater system as the previous method did.
Rockwood Water provides the City of Gresham with water use information.