Saving water entails doing more with less and just using what you need. You could, for example, use the same water to water your plants as you used to wash your vegetables. It also entails financial savings! 3) Make use of water-saving appliances.
Where does Streamwood’s water come from?
Streamwood gets its drinking water from surface water purchased from the City of Chicago (Lake Michigan). The city of Chicago uses two water treatment plants to get its water from Lake Michigan.
How much does a typical Chicago water bill cost?
Your household’s average water bill may differ significantly from the city’s average water bill in Chicago. However, we can provide you with an estimate to help you figure out your pricing.
The average person uses 100 gallons of water each day for indoor use, according to estimates. This includes showering, going to the bathroom, cooking, and doing the dishes.
In 2021, based on Chicago water rates, this would imply that a resident uses $0.41 worth of water each day. The monthly water cost would be $12.50 as a result.
Because the sewage rate is 100 percent of the water rate, your monthly water bill at this consumption would be roughly $25.
The higher your typical water bill is, the more people you live with. Despite higher water usage, you’ll see a cheaper cost per person if you have more roommates to assist you pay down the expenditures.
Keep in mind that this is just an estimate based on national averages and the water rate in Chicago.
Why is my water bill in Chicago so high?
- Water loss: Due to leaking pipes, Chicagoland towns lost 25 billion gallons of water last year, totaling $9 million. One community lost 38.7% of its water supply.
- Upgrades: Replacing deteriorated pipes, pumps, hydrants, and meters is costly. According to the Chicago Tribune, a fifth of the pipes pumping water from Lake Michigan are over 60 years old, quoting the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
- Other municipalities: The farther you reside from Lake Michigan, the higher your cost will be because communities nearby to you will charge you for that water. Water from Lake Michigan is sent to certain cities after it goes through numerous others, with each transaction producing a markup.
- How is your water usage assessed: Are you metered for your water usage? Some governments may simply charge you a flat cost for water service, which means you won’t be paid for how much water you really use. As a result, many clients may end up paying more than they should. It also removes the motivation to be efficient. If you can’t save money, why save water? The MeterSave program in Chicago allows residents to have a meter put in their home to conserve water and money. (For more information on the MeterSave initiative, see our fact sheet.)
- Billing frequency: Some communities may only bill you every few months, resulting in higher but fewer invoices.
- Inefficiency at home: According to the EPA, the average family can waste 180 gallons of water per week, or 9,400 gallons per year, due to leaks in the home. More than 300 loads of clothes could be washed with that amount of water.
- Private water companies are motivated by profitin a dispute before state regulators, Illinois American recently achieved an exorbitant profit rate for stockholders of about 10%. Rate increases also cover the costs of private utilities purchasing another town’s public water infrastructure.
What can we do to reduce water rates?
Here are some suggestions for lowering your water bill:
- Examine all of your appliances. Keep a watch out for leaks and drips, which can quickly accumulate.
What are the upcoming water and sewer rate increases?
Beginning June 1, 2016, and every year afterwards, the yearly water rates shall be raised upwardly, if applicable, by applying the preceding year’s rate of inflation, according to the Municipal Code of Chicago. This increase is based on the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index – Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (Chicago All Items) for the 365-day period ending on the most recent January 1. However, any such annual rise must be limited to 105 percent of the preceding year’s rate.
Water and sewer rates rise in lockstep with the rate of inflation. These hikes are required to meet the ongoing costs of delivering safe, clean drinking water as well as eliminating waste water and storm runoff from Chicago’s streets. All of this is performed through a network of purification plants, tunnels, pumping stations, water mains, sewer mains, valves, and structures that need to be maintained on a regular basis. These services are required to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s water quality criteria. Chicago’s rates for fresh, clean water will remain among the lowest in the country, at less than a cent a gallon.
How do I determine if I have a metered or non-metered account?
Your account type is indicated in the blue box next to the Bill Summary on your consolidated utility bill. It will say whether the account is non-metered, metered, or MeterSave.
How are non-metered accounts billed?
Non-metered accounts are for properties without a water meter to track usage. Non-metered accounts, unlike metered accounts, are charged a set fee depending on characteristics such as building size, lot size, and plumbing fixtures, according to the Municipal Code of Chicago. A breakdown of the computed charges particular to the property is presented on the reverse of non-metered utility bills. See Chapter 11-12-270 of the Chicago Municipal Code for more information on non-metered charges.
How are metered accounts billed?
The actual water usage measured by the water meter is used to bill metered accounts. Water usage is measured in gallons or cubic feet, depending on the type of water meter installed on your home. Metered accounts’ water charges are computed by multiplying the amount of water used by the water rate.
Depending on the property type, metered accounts are billed monthly or bi-weekly.
The Department of Water Management (DWM) is occasionally unable to obtain an accurate meter reading. You will be sent an approximate bill if this happens. When DWM is able to obtain an accurate meter reading, you will be sent a bill that accurately reflects your usage. Customers are encouraged to request the installation of an automatic meter reader to minimize estimated reads that may not accurately reflect real usage. For further information, contact the DWM at 312.747.2862.
Can I manage my utility billing account online?
For utility bills, we now have a new web gateway. The following are some of the useful online features:
You can pay your bills with automatic debits from your bank account using the AutoPay feature. You won’t have to remember to pay your bill if you use AutoPay. There are no service costs, and you will be notified via email before the automated deduction takes place.
What is the Water-Sewer Tax?
Water and sewer tax costs have been included on utility bills since March 2017. The money raised from this tax will be used to make certain pension payments that are required by law. All non-exempt Chicago companies and residents are subject to the tax, which is reported as a distinct line item on utility bills. The Water-Sewer Tax FAQ lists the specific tax rates for each year.
What is the Garbage Fee?
The garbage fee is assessed to all premises that receive waste collection from the City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation. See the Garbage Fee website for further details.
How do I dispute my utility bill?
We recommend paying online, over the phone, or in person at a City of Chicago Department of Finance Payment Center if you have received a notification of water service termination.
Payment plans are available if you are unable to pay your amount in full. More details can be found under utility bill payment plans.
How do I change the name on an account when a property has transferred or is going to be transferred?
Through the Full Payment Certificate Process, the owner’s name is changed. When real estate is transferred in the City of Chicago, the transferor must acquire a Full Payment Certificate (FPC) from the Chicago Department of Finance, as required by ordinance. The FPC application informs the Department of Finance that service should be transferred from the transferor’s name to the transferee’s name.
Please contact the Department of Finance/Utility Billing & Customer Service if you continue to receive invoices in the previous owner’s name. You can request a change by filling out the Change of Owner Name/Mailing Address Form. You may be needed to produce a copy of the deed and/or full payment certificate if Utility Billing & Customer Service does not have a record of the Full Payment Certificate from your closing.
How do I get a refund?
A Refund Application is available for download. Fill out the application completely and thoroughly. Make sure it’s entirely filled out and that you’ve attached all of the required supporting documents. Due to a lack of paperwork, an incomplete application will be declined.
Why am I receiving an estimated bill?
Meters are typically read every 30 to 60 days. The Department of Water Management is occasionally unable to obtain an accurate meter reading. This could happen if we are unable to receive an electronic signal from your meter or if access to the meter is restricted. You will be sent an approximate bill if this happens. When the Department of Water Management is able to obtain an accurate meter reading, you will be sent a bill that accurately reflects your usage.
Customers are encouraged to request the installation of an automatic meter reader to make it easier to collect accurate meter readings and assure accurate billing. For further information, contact the DWM at 312.747.2862.
I received a letter stating that my meter is running continuously, what does this mean?
This letter is being sent to you as a courtesy to alert you about the possibility of a water leak in or on your property. A meter that keeps running is a sign of a leak. It could also be the amount of water you use on a regular basis. This is something you should look into further.
By ordinance, the Department of Finance must bill and collect for all water usage recorded on your water meter. When water has been used, squandered, or lost due to leakage after registration, no account modifications or billing cancellation can be performed.
I received an Orange Notice of Water Service Termination what does this mean?
This implies that owing to non-payment, your water will be turned off as of the date on the notice. You must make payment or enter into a payment plan by the shut-off date on the notice to avoid water service termination.
I received a Yellow Notice of Water Service Termination what does this mean?
This implies that your water will be turned off as of the date on the notice because DWM has been denied access to the building’s water meter. To avoid having your water supply terminated, call DWM at 312.747.9090 to schedule a meter reading within 10 days of the notice’s date.
What should I do if my water has been shut-off for non-payment?
You must either pay your account in full or enroll in an eligible payment plan if you qualify.
Before your water service can be restored, you must sign a Release of Liability if your water has been turned off for more than 30 days.
NOTE: A $500.00 punishment will be imposed if your water is unlawfully restored. The Department of Water Management inspects properties on a regular basis to see if the water has been unlawfully restored.
Can a tenant have the water bill put in their name?
Although a property owner may request that water bills be delivered to a tenant’s name, this does not absolve the owner of the subject property of duty for unpaid utility expenses. To include the tenant’s name in the mailing address, please fill out a Change of Owner Name/Mailing Address Form.
Does filing bankruptcy relieve me of outstanding utility charges?
Your account will be updated to reflect that the bankruptcy was filed for the stated pre-petition charges after you have been notified. All new post-petition charges must be paid in whole and on time by you. We reserve the right to pursue collection actions, including the termination of your water service, if your current costs are not paid.
How do I remove my name from an account for a property lost in foreclosure?
The titleholder of record is responsible for all utility billing account charges up to the date of foreclosure, according to the Chicago Municipal Code. The borrower may still have certain rights to the property until a Foreclosure Deed is signed. The titleholder of record remains liable for utility billing obligations if the foreclosure is only pending (Lis Pendens) and not yet executed.
In Chicago, what is a livable wage?
While Chicago is one of the more cost-effective big cities, monthly expenses can rapidly pile up. Your monthly expenses, excluding rent, should be roughly $3,711.84 for a family of four. Your projected monthly costs for a single person are $1,030.86. When you factor in rent, your monthly bill for a single person renting a one-bedroom apartment rises to $2,618.86.
The typical household income in Chicago is $58,247. And to live comfortably in a one-bedroom apartment in Chicago, you’d need roughly $43,200 per year, or $21.60 each hour. Covering expenses may be difficult depending on your work, if you’re a student, or if you have any debt.
You shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your salary on rent as a general guideline. For example, if your monthly rent is $1,200, your monthly income should be $3,600.
If you want to live in a big city without the exorbitant expenditures of New York or San Francisco, Chicago is an excellent choice. Of course, you want to cut your monthly costs as much as possible. We hope this helps to answer the question, “How much does it cost to live in Chicago?”