Meter Rates effective 4/1/07 – Sewer Ordinance No. 729 (pdf)

Monthly Service Charge $ 1.55

Rate per one thousand gallons

Single Family $10.50

Multi-Family $10.50

Restaurant/Bakery $18.30

Commercial $14.40

Industrial $13.80

Winter Average/Sewer Cap

The City of Rohnert Park bills commerical sewer customers based on the amount of wastewater they generate. Sewer charges for commercial accounts and accounts that meter domestic and irrigation usage separately are billed according to actual consumption for the billing period. Sewer charges for residential utility accounts, including single-family residences and multi-family residences, are billed according to the winter average/sewer cap.

The winter average/sewer cap is the most equitable form of billing for our residential and multi-family customers. The City of Rohnert Park determines the winter average/sewer cap by averaging the meter reads from December, January, and February. These are typically wet months when it can be reasonably assumed that residents are using all water indoors, and therefore virtually all water is also being released into the sewer system as wastewater. 

For example, the winter average/sewer cap calculation:

December 2005 8,000 gallons

January 2006 9,000 gallons

February 2006 7,000 gallons

Total consumption: 8 + 9 + 7 = 24

Total number of days 2007 winter average/sewer cap = 96

Total consumption 24 / Total number of days 96 = .25

Number of days in a billing cycle = 60

Winter average/sewer cap = .25 x 60 = 15

Therefore, based on this winter average/sewer cap, the maximum the City would bill this resident for sewer usage would be 15,000 gallons.

The sewer portion of this resident’s utility bill would appear as follows:

Sewer Fixed: $  3.10

Sewer Usage: $ 157.50

The winter average/sewer cap is re-evaluated every year; the new winter average/sewer cap is applied to residents’ accounts starting each April. A decrease in usage during December, January and February will lower the winter average/sewer cap for the following year. If the water usage during a billing period is ever less than the winter average/sewer cap, the sewer charges will be based on consumption, not the winter average/sewer cap. New accounts are assigned a winter average/sewer rate according to the number of residents living at the property.

Typical Winter Average/Sewer Cap amounts:

The Rohnert Park Report – Sewer (Spring 2007 issue)