Residents to see sewer rate recalculation on utility bills

Eagle Mountain residents will notice a recalculation of their sewer usage rates on their upcoming utility bills.

This change, which reflects each household’s average water usage during the winter months, was approved by the City Council in July of last year as part of the City’s consolidated fee schedule.

Each year, the City determines sewer usage rates based on residents’ water consumption from Dec. 1 through Feb. 28. This Winter Average is used because it excludes outdoor watering, providing a more accurate measurement of indoor water usage, which impacts the sewer system.

“Residents should be seeing this recalculation on their bills that are being mailed out this week,” said City Treasurer Erin Hart. “A reminder will be included on the statement, and this is something that happens annually.”

In previous years, the City capped the Winter Average at 10,000 gallons to ease the transition for residents with higher usage. This year, the cap has been removed, meaning residents will now be billed based on their full Winter Average, regardless of how much water they used during the measurement period.

“We had several accounts that were well above the 10,000-gallon cap,” Hart explained. “The City-wide average was about 5,000 gallons, but roughly 800 accounts exceeded the previous limit. This year, we’re following the approved rate structure without a cap.”

The sewer usage fee remains at $4.51 per 1,000 gallons of water used.

For most residents, the impact will depend on their individual water usage. If consumption has remained the same, they should not notice a significant change. However, those whose usage exceeded 10,000 gallons last winter may see an increase on their bill.

“Dishes, restroom use, laundry. All of that contributes to a household’s sewer usage,” said Hart. “If a resident’s Winter Average has changed, their sewer rate will reflect that.”

To ensure residents were aware of this adjustment, the City provided notifications leading up to the change. Notices were placed on utility bills for two months before implementation, information was posted on the Eagle Mountain City website, and the rates are published on the utility billing page of the City website.

“We’ve taken several steps to communicate these changes,” Hart said. “Going forward, we’ll continue printing reminders on residents’ statements so they know when their rates have been recalculated.”

Residents with questions about their sewer usage rates can visit the City’s website for more details or contact the utility billing department for assistance.

The new rates will take effect with this billing cycle, and residents should review their statements for any changes based on their individual Winter Average.