Our Rates
If you are our utility billing customer, you'll find a summary of our sanitary sewer and Surface Water Management charges below. You may also download our complete Rates & Charges Resolution & Order (PDF, 294KB) that are set annually by our Board of Directors.
It identifies:
- When and how Clean Water Services charges are applied
- Sanitary sewer and Surface Water Management service charges
- Sanitary sewer and Surface Water Management connection charges
- Industrial metering and strength charges
- Review and inspection fees
- and other miscellaneous administrative fees
Sewer & Surface Water Management charges for FY 2011-12
The Clean Water Services' Board of Directors approved the Fiscal Year 2011-12 budget Tuesday, June 7 that will increase sewer rates by 4.5 percent and the Surface Water Management (SWM) fee by $.50/month for urban Washington County customers effective July 1, 2011. The combined average monthly residential bill would increase from $39.21 to $41.25 or about $2.04 per month for the average customer. These increases are necessary to replace and upgrade aging infrastructure; comply with highly prescriptive state and federal permit conditions; and fund the operations and maintenance of the public drainage system. On May 6, Clean Water Services' Budget Committee recommended the proposed budget to the Board for adoption.
For more information you can read the following:
Your bill is for sewer and/or Surface Water Management provided to you by Clean Water Services for a two-month period.
Your sewer charge has two parts. The base rate, effective July 1, 2011 is $47.04 per dwelling unit, which is approximately two-thirds of the charge. Single family residences are generally considered one dwelling unit.
The usage charge is based on average winter water consumption November through April, which is reviewed and updated each July. Winter water consumption is a good indicator of the wastewater your household produces and discharges into the sewer system for treatment. Beginning July 1, 2011, the usage rate per ccf is $1.56*. New customers will be billed $24.96, based on our average of 16 ccf*.
The Surface Water Management fee is $10.50 bi-monthly per service unit. Single family residences are generally counted as one service unit. Commercial properties are billed based on a measurement of impervious surface area.
Sample average two-month bill for a single family home
| Charge |
Amount |
| Sewer Base Charge |
$47.04 |
| Sewer Usage Charge |
$24.96 |
| Surface Water Charge |
$10.50 |
| Total Charge |
$82.50 |
Still have questions?
Sewer and surface water charges can be complicated, so don't hesitate to call Customer Service at (503) 681-4400 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
*Definition of CCF
CCF is an abbreviation for "hundred cubic feet." CCF is used as a measurement of water usage, and to calculate your bill. There are 748 gallons in one ccf.