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code talkers Reducing Water and Sewer Costs By Larry Spielvogel, P.E. I n some areas, water and sewer costs are increasing at a faster rate than energy costs. This article will address some often unnoticed means to reduce those costs without any reductions in water consumption. Get Involved Water and sewer costs are influenced by the supply and treatment costs, as well as increasingly stringent government requirements. Water is often provided by regulated utilities or municipal utilities. Scant attention is paid to how their rates and charges are set, with more attention paid to electric and gas rates. Especially with municipal water suppliers, the rates are set by appointed, usually political officials. Their main focus tends to be on rates and charges for residential customers, who elect the municipal officials, who in turn appoint 48 | july/august 2013 | Facilities Manager the water officials. The majority of sewer utilities are municipal, and have similar structures. Thus, it is common to find that water and sewer rates and charges for non-residential customers (since they do not vote) are higher than comparable residential rates. Some municipalities base sewer charges for non-residential buildings on the number and types of fixtures that discharge into the sewer system. The assumptions often used are based on older style fixtures that have higher water and sewer consumption than modern fixtures, while residential sewer rates are often based on water consumption. Therefore, it can be important to get involved in the water and sewer ratemaking process. Support and participation by other non-residential user groups can help offset the costs and show broad concern. The Main Division of Aqua Pennsylvania is a state regulated water supplier that serves hundreds of thousands of customers in many suburbs of Philadelphia. Their current charges for residential water use are: • "Water consumed will be charged for at the following rates: For water consumed up to 2,000 gallons per month $9.071 per thousand gallons." For commercial and public customers: • "Water consumed will be charged for at the following rates: For water consumed up to 10,000 gallons per month $10.00 per thousand gallons." Residential rates for over 2,000 gallons per month are inclining block charges (higher charges for higher use), while non-residential rates for over 10,000 gallons per month are declining block charges (lower charges for higher use). Thus, for small non-residential customers the water rates are higher than residential, while the opposite is true for larger non-residential customers. Billing Differences The Aqua monthly water meter charges, regardless of how sewer and stormwater are billed, are: Size Charge 5⁄8" .................................................$16.00 ¾"..................................................27.50 1" ..................................................46.70 1½"................................................89.90 2"..................................................127.90 3"..................................................257.00 4"..................................................418.00 6"..................................................862.00 8"................................................ 1,508.00 10".............................................. 2,229.00 In the City of Philadelphia (often across the street from Aqua), the water consumption charges are the same for all customers with the same consumption, and they are declining block, so the larger users pay less per gallon. Until recently, and for many years, Philadelphia included their cost of dealing with stormwater in the sewer meter charges.