Usage charge
This is based on your meter reading. When we do not have an actual reading, we estimate your usage.
We measure water in cubic feet. A cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons. One “ccf” is 100 cubic feet.
The average household uses five ccf per month, which equals 3,740 gallons of water. This costs customers approximately one cent per gallon of water used for both drinking and sewer.
Sewer charge
This covers:
- Billing and collections of water and wastewater services
- Metering
- Pollution prevention services
Repairs and other charges
These can include:
- HELP loans
- Any costs involved in shutting off or restoring our services to your property
- Meter replacements
- Other miscellaneous charges
Stormwater charge
This charge is based on the property’s size and how much impervious (or hard) surface is on the property.
Residential properties pay a flat stormwater fee based on the average size of all residential properties in the city. Non-residential properties pay a stormwater fee based on the individual property’s characteristics.
To protect our waterways, stormwater must be managed. Costs for system maintenance are paid for by the stormwater charge.
If you have any questions about your stormwater charge visit www.phila.gov/water/wu/stormwater, or call (215) 685-6300.
Information can also be found on the back of your water bill.