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Old 08-26-2015, 08:41 PM
 
Location: Portland, OR
8,802 posts, read 8,902,028 times
Reputation: 4512

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First of all, let me just say that I am now completely on board with taking the water commission (whatever it's called) out of the city council's hands. It represents nothing more than an abuse for them and another way to tax us to death.

Secondly, has anyone had any luck arguing their bill with the city? Look, I watered my lawn and I am guilty as charged for water I used. Lesson learned. What I have issue with is the fact that my sewer volume quadrupled from 4 CCF to 15 CCF for almost the same number of days. Interesting I don't recall pooping 4 times more, taking 4 times more showers or using the kitchen sink 4 times more.

I know that the city uses estimates for its sewage, but tripling my sewer usage is a bit ridiculous under whatever model they're using the calculate it.

Anyone have any tips for arguing it down?
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Old 08-26-2015, 08:49 PM
 
Location: Syracuse, New York
3,121 posts, read 3,098,001 times
Reputation: 2312
Do what my father did with audits. Schedule your visit right before closing time on a Friday or the day before a holiday. His favorites were Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
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Old 08-26-2015, 08:56 PM
 
Location: Tucson, AZ
1,588 posts, read 2,533,069 times
Reputation: 4188
You may have thought at some point hmm I wonder why so many people let their lawns go yellow in a place where it rains so much.

Now you know.

Just pay and learn.... trust me on that. If you think your situation is bad at least the city isn't forcing you to replace a sewer line for 10k.
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Old 08-26-2015, 09:12 PM
 
Location: North Idaho
32,663 posts, read 48,079,532 times
Reputation: 78491
Sorry, no hope. Your sewer bill is based on the water bill. It doesn't matter that your lawn was not flushing the toilet.

Why? Because they can.
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Old 08-26-2015, 09:42 PM
 
Location: Portland, OR
8,802 posts, read 8,902,028 times
Reputation: 4512
Quote:
Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke View Post
Sorry, no hope. Your sewer bill is based on the water bill. It doesn't matter that your lawn was not flushing the toilet.

Why? Because they can.
So you're saying that my sewage usage quadrupled even though it didn't.
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Old 08-26-2015, 09:49 PM
 
418 posts, read 728,437 times
Reputation: 601
Hmm, in Milwaukie the summer sewage charge is based on winter water usage. Does Portland not do that? I guess I never really looked at my Portland water bills very closely.
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Old 08-26-2015, 09:53 PM
 
Location: Portland, OR
8,802 posts, read 8,902,028 times
Reputation: 4512
Quote:
Originally Posted by pdxmilw View Post
Hmm, in Milwaukie the summer sewage charge is based on winter water usage. Does Portland not do that? I guess I never really looked at my Portland water bills very closely.
They do. Which is why I'm curious why it isn't my winter water usage.
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Old 08-27-2015, 10:51 AM
 
892 posts, read 1,593,745 times
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I've always had my sewer bill calculated based on my current water use. Of course, my summer and winter water usage is pretty much the same so I wouldn't really be able to tell.

There's no way for the system to know whether you're flushing a lot more toilets or watering your lawn.
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Old 08-27-2015, 11:23 AM
 
Location: Just outside of Portland
4,828 posts, read 7,458,058 times
Reputation: 5117
My house in Woodstock (where my sister and niece live) also had a $395 water bill this quarter.

I know she has a small raised bed garden and a half dozen tomato plants in containers, but I didn't think she was using that much water.

Portland has always had *issues* with the whole water bill thing and when Sam Adams and Randy Leonard ran the town, they used the water bill as a little treasure chest to fund all kinds of things, and the water bills kept going up and up...that and the horribly expensive "Big Pipe" sewer overflow project.

Water is expensive in Portland. That's the way it is.
At least the water people are the easiest to deal with when trying to pay your bill.
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Old 08-27-2015, 11:55 AM
 
Location: Portland, OR
8,802 posts, read 8,902,028 times
Reputation: 4512
Quote:
Originally Posted by pdxMIKEpdx View Post
My house in Woodstock (where my sister and niece live) also had a $395 water bill this quarter.

I know she has a small raised bed garden and a half dozen tomato plants in containers, but I didn't think she was using that much water.

Portland has always had *issues* with the whole water bill thing and when Sam Adams and Randy Leonard ran the town, they used the water bill as a little treasure chest to fund all kinds of things, and the water bills kept going up and up...that and the horribly expensive "Big Pipe" sewer overflow project.

Water is expensive in Portland. That's the way it is.
At least the water people are the easiest to deal with when trying to pay your bill.
Yeh. I mean it is what it is. I'm not trying to fight the water potion. I'm trying to fight my sewage use that tripled. It's basically going to work out to a $90 difference, but here's to hoping.
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