SAWS bill doubled? (San Antonio, Anton: how much, neighborhoods, calculated)

[AP2011]

My SAWS bill is usually around $40 a month. Last months was about $80 and this month is $73. What in the world? I have been hand watering a bit more as because I got some new grass, but double the cost?

Seems the major culprits are:
Domestic Water Service Charge
Water Supply Fee

Anyone else see a spike on their bill to this extent?

[blizzrd]

Got a leak somewhere?

[TexasRedneck]

ummmmm......how many gallons used vs. what you usually use?

[Mililani Gal]

Yup...I noticed a big jump too. We've been watering more now that it's been drier but I've had to double my monthly water budget to plan for the bill. Remember rates went up, but I think because a lot of the fees calculated as a % of the Domestic Water Service Charge when you use more, you pay more for everything else.

[AP2011]

Well in April, our consumption was 5,900 and then in May it says it was 16,400. Again, I was definitely doing extra hand watering because of the new grass, I just didn't realize it would spike that much higher. Interestingly enough on your bill it tells you your neighborhoods average and it all went up as well, so it seems like a global price hike. I need to talk to my neighbors and see if theirs has gone up as well.

[TexasRedneck]

When you figure that the national average is 50 gallons per person per day (for inside use), that's a good guideline. Bear in mind that 20 years ago, that figure was 100 gallons per person per day. Some will use a bit more, others a bit less. A family of 2 (husband/wife, etc) will average 3,000 gallons/mo. Add a garden tub/spa/jacuzzi...or one of those multi-head showers, and that can easily double or triple.

We water a half acre....believe me, you do NOT wanna know.....

[mrstxcop]

I wish my bill was $80... Heck, I wish my bill was $100, LoL...

We are a family of 5, 1/4 acre, sprinkler system, dishwasher and washing machine run atleast every other day, we live in the county, AND we filled an 18 ft x 4.5 ft pool, UGH!!!

I am with TexasRed... You DO NOT want to know what our bill is... You would probably choke... LoL

[elnina]

Didn't noticed any increase. My bill is about $24 every month, even in Summer. The usage is always around 750 gal. from October till April. More than double in Summer, when I water the lawn. I am not sure at what point they start to charge per gallon. Must be more that 2000 gal/month - anyone knows?

[mcferguson]

SAWS explains the water rates here: San Antonio Water System: Residential Water Service

Essentially, you are charged a basic fee depending on the size of your meter:
$7.14 for a 5/8 inch meter,
$10.01 for a 3/4 inch meter,
$15.75 for a 1 inch meter, etc.

Then, you get charged for how much water you use:
$0.0948 per 100 gallons for the first 5,985 gallons,
$0.1372 per 100 gallons for the next 6,732 gallons,
$0.1953 per 100 gallons for the next 4,488 gallons, and then
$0.3388 per 100 gallons for the rest

After May 1st, the rate is higher after the first 5,985 gallons. FYI, it is an industry standard, based on water meter calibration, to bill per 100 gallons instead of per gallon.

[JuanValdez]

Neighbor averages are a scam - no matter what you do the average will always be less than your usage. It's an old trick to get people to use less water. I've taken several week vacations and had $15 water bills and still told the average was less.