There are a lot of details in your utility bill for water, wastewater and sanitation. The City of Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities is happy to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about your monthly water/sewer bill.

First, let’s begin by reviewing the most pertinent pieces of information you’ll find on your monthly water/sewer/sanitation bill:

TOTAL AMOUNT DUE - This is probably the most straightforward of all the information presented on your statement. It’s the amount of money owed for the services you were provided, water, sewer, and sanitation. However, what makes-up the total amount is more complex and dependent on the various type of charges on the bill.

SERVICE - The monthly bill is comprised of three main charges for services, water, sewer and trash/recycling.

WATER - This is the charge for all the water you have used in your home from the water mains. Every time you water your garden, wash your clothes or use water in your home, you pay a rate which is measured in 1,000 gallon increments. During the summer months, residents might see a higher water bill because more water is used for irrigating lawns, therefore higher water consumption. Water meters, located inside your home, provide the Board with the information of how much water was used at your home/business. On average, water bills are based on 30 days, depending on holidays and how the billing cycle align. 

The example above shows a total of 19, 000 (6,000 + 13,000) gallons of water were used for the monthly billing cycle. 6,000 gallons at a rate of $4.05 per thousand gallons and 13,000 gallons at a rate of $5.01 per thousand gallons. The Board has a tiered rate structure; the more water your use, the higher the bill. Click here for current water rates. 

SEWER-This is the charge for all the water that drains to the sewer system from your home and piped to the water reclamation facilities. This includes all the waste water from activities in your home like washing dishes, showering, flushing toilets, laundry, etc. Residential sewer rates include both variable and fixed charges. Variable charges are calculated from each household’s average water use billed for 3-months during the winter. Winter months are used because it best represents indoor water use which typically ends up going down the drain and into the wastewater system. These charges are calculated and applied to each home/business bills in late spring for the coming year. A typical sewer use for a home is around 4,000 gallons. The example below shows 2,000 gallons sewer use. 

Trash/Recycle-The Board of Public Utilities bills and collects all sanitation fees on behalf of the City of Cheyenne. For trash and recycle information, please call 307-637-6440. New sanitation rates be in affect to homes/businesses mid-August 2017. 

All families use water differently. Comparing bills with your neighbors might not give you the correct information because there might be a different number of people in the household, lawn sizes differ or different water habits. However, if you notice a substantial difference, you may have a leak. Click here for finding and fixing leaks. If you do have a leak, please give us a call at 307-637-6460.