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Water Rates
Conserve Water to Help Control Rates
Conserving water means smaller water bills if you live in
an area serviced by a municipal water system. If
your home is connected to a septic system, water
conservation also can help prevent water pollution.
Overloading a septic system may cause nutrient and
bacterial contamination of the nearby lakes and streams.
A faucet dripping at the rate of one drop per second will
waste approximately 2,700 gallons ($17.73) per year, which
adds to the cost of water and sewer bills, or puts a
strain on your septic system.
A large percentage of water use is in the bathroom.
To help conserve water, install water-saving devices on
faucets and shower heads. Place plastic jugs filled
with sand or stones in your toilet tank to reduce the
amount of water used per flush. (Avoid using bricks,
which can flake and disrupt the operation of your toilet.)
Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, shaving, or
washing your hands and face. Take shorter showers.
When filling the tub, don’t let the water run down the
drain while waiting for it to get hot. Fix dripping
taps and leaking toilets.
To conserve water in the kitchen, don’t let water run for
washing or rinsing hands, dishes or food. Wash
only full loads of dishes in your dishwasher using
biodegradable (phosphate-free) detergents and soaps.
Don’t let the water run to get a cold drink.
Instead, keep a bottle or pitcher of water in the
refrigerator. Use your garbage disposal at the end
of cooking or cleanup or when it is full. Wash only
full loads of laundry.
Outside water conservation is easy. Don’t over
water your lawn. Ensure that your sprinklers
are not watering sidewalks, driveways or streets.
Water your lawn between the hours of 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM
when temperature and wind speed are the lowest to avoid
evaporation losses. Check your sprinklers, hoses and
spigots for leaks. Do not hose down your driveway or
sidewalk, use a broom instead. Do not leave running
hoses unattended. Collect water from the roof
gutters or have a rain barrel for lawn and plant watering.
Native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers,
shrubs and trees typically require less water. Avoid
over fertilizing your lawn and keep your lawn three inches
or higher.
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Water Rates
Effective July 1, 2011
| Rate Component |
Amount |
|
Detroit Water Charge |
$
22.45 |
|
Operation & Maintenance |
8.87 |
| Water Infrastructure Replacement |
2.30 |
|
TOTAL |
$ 33.62 |
Rates are per 1,000 cubic feet of water used.
Each year, the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department updates their
rates for the 125 communities that use their water and sewer
service including Farmington Hills.
Residents are billed four times each year for the actual amount
of water used, which is measured in lots of 1,000 cubic feet (mcf)
of water. A quarterly charge for water service will be made to
each premise connected to the system in the amount of $33.62 per
mcf of metered water with a minimum quarterly charge of $53.79
plus meter service charge. Customer quarterly bills for the
July, August and September 2011 billing cycles will be prorated
with use prior to July 1, 2011, billed at the 2010/2011 water
rate and use after July 1, 2011 billed at the 2011/2012 water
rate.
Similar to last year, this year’s rate change will help fund
major improvements in Detroit’s century old water system, which
is one of the largest in the world. The improvements are
designed to provide residents with safer drinking water and
cleaner rivers.
Questions regarding water and sewer issues can be directed to
the Operation & Maintenance Division of the Water Resources
Commissioner’s Office at 248-858-1110 or the City’s Department
of Public Services at (248) 871-2530.
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