reading water and sewer bill

[taranwan.livejournal.com]

Hi, I've got some questions about the Somerville water and sewer bill, that I'm hoping someone can help me out.  Not the meter, but the bill. 

Specifically, I'm trying to find out:

What's the difference, if any, between what's labeled as "consumption" and "usage?"  Also, how do I read and use the usage tier chart?

Comments

[narya.livejournal.com]

The tier chart is probably trying to tell you that the first X units of usage are $x/unit, then the next Y units of usage are $y per unit, etc. I don't have one in front of me though.

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Maybe usage is how much water enters your household, and consumption is that minus how much exits your household? in other words, water that flows into your bathtub (for example) and then back into the sewers is used but not consumed, whereas water that goes into your teapot and turns into tea which you drink is both used and consumed.

But that is 100% guesswork with no factual basis whatsoever. Honestly, I would recommend calling the city and asking. If there isn't a phone number on the bill itself, you could call 311 and get transferred.

[tober.livejournal.com]

I am pretty sure that "consumption" is water and "usage" is sewer. For most residential users, the two are the same. Exceptions would be:
- You have a septic system (I'm unsure if anybody in Somerville still does - generally the law compels you to be on municipal sewer unless it's physically not possible), in which case you use water but not sewer.
- You have a separately metered account (not subject to sewerage fees) for irrigation and/or swimming pool filling. I am unsure whether this can legally be done in Somerville but in some jurisdictions it can.