After a number of reader requests and a personal curiosity since I moved to Liberty three years ago - I'm going to take a look at the Liberty Water Bill.
I've had a number of delays for various reasons:
• Liberty Water is actually part of the Greenville Water System. It has taken a significant amount of time, effort, and personnel shuffling to get to someone to talk to in the Greenville Water Department.
• My own personal bill for June was missing due to a mixup regarding automatic draft.
• My water bill saw a significant drop due to my daughter leaving the house for college ... it seemed unfair for me to compare water bills when she was here erratically - spiking the monthly usage. She took up to (3) showers a day sometimes and had a significant amount of clothes to wash.
• I bought a new front loading washer. It uses 4 to 7 gallons of water per load versus 30 to 35 gallons per load for my old washer. The new washer was in full use starting June 5, 2010 and all of the month of July 2010.
• The recent storms have brought a significant amount of water (and drainage) problems ... I wanted to observe a few things that I will be discussing.
• Water rates actually dropped a few pennies per thousand gallons in March of 2010. This made figuring out old bills awkward.
First and foremost ... I have to thank Gloria at the Liberty Water Department for all her help with understanding the bill. Although she seems to have taken the questioning a little personal - she has been VERY kind to me. She is a perfect person to represent Liberty to the public.
Second ... I would like to thank Olen Hamlin ... he really works hard and thinks things through before he does them - he gets things done in a timely fashion ... he's pretty much an "all you have to do is ask nicely kind of guy".
Liberty water is high. Having such access to water as we do in this area - it seems almost absurdly high. The high rates discourage the use of pools and water fun. It limits freedom to have nice long baths - something I was quite fond of before moving here.
I've never understood the argument that higher prices encourage wiser consumption. It isn't true for gas ... from what I can see, it isn't true for cigarettes. I've heard the idea tossed around that Liberty water rates encourage wise consumption. By a few of us; maybe. For most ... they pay whatever. I've seen LOTS of Liberty water bills. In fact, I came upon a year's worth of bills recently from a certain Liberty residence. (They had fallen out of their trash when they moved I suppose.) Their average bill was $100+.
With my daughter in the home, the average Liberty water bill was around $65.
The sample bill includes a credit from a water leak that I reported.
I was told that I was allowed (1) credit per 365 days.
The first line (going by the sample bill above) has a "W" - this stands for WATER.
The meter reading from the "previous" month was 2219 - the meter reading for the "present" month was 2251.
The difference between these two numbers is 32.
Liberty Water measures by the 100's of gallons.
A number of 32 = 3200 gallons.
According to Gloria, if I used 3250 gallons ... I won't be billed until the "ticker" on the reader crosses (a difference of) 33 or 3300 gallons.
The next line (going by the sample bill above) has a "S" - this stands for SEWER.
This number is identical to first number because it is pretty much considered that what you "take in" you "expel" also.
This is where one could really question the bill. This is a "fictitious" figure - not actually measured. The number could be higher, but it could also be significantly lower.
A typical residential water connection has a 5/8" meter.
The minimum number of gallons you will be billed for WATER is 2000 gallons.
The charge is $10.45 inside the city for 2000 gallons.
(Each additional 1000 gallons is $3.26)
The charge is $15.75 outside the city for 2000 gallons.
(Each additional 1000 gallons is $4.58)
* These rates are effective March 2010
Going by the sample bill above and this rate information and accounting for the fact that I live inside the city limits.
My WATER usage rate is calculated as such:
(1) 2000 gallons minimum = $10.45
(1)1000 gallons additional = $3.26
(.2) 200 gallons additional = 0.65¢
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3200 gallons total = $14.36 (the total matches up with the sample bill)
Going by the sample bill above and the rate information for SEWER and accounting for the fact that I live inside the city limits.
My SEWER usage rate is calculated as such:
(1) 2000 gallons minimum = $13.11
(1)1000 gallons additional = $6.38
(.2) 200 gallons additional = $1.28
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3200 gallons total = $20.77 (the total matches up with the sample bill)
Until this math was explained to me - I couldn't find ANY way whatsoever to match the totals up.
Now it makes sense - it's still just high.
Now, for the additional charges ...
The next "S" stands for SEWER and has the words "SEWER SURCHARGE" - this is a standard fee of $2.90.
This is incorporative of the storm water drainage fee charged by the County (via the State & EPA)
The next line with an "E" is "THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEE" - this is a standard charge of $6.00.
This charge includes trash pick up.
It could not be explained to me why I received a credit during the month of July 2010.
The next line "P" is your previous paid amount = The "P" stands for "PAYMENT"
My previous bill was $63.01 minus the "C" CREDIT for my water leak of $4.47 = $58.54
There is a $4 per $100 LATE FEE.
The late fee is assessed at 5PM EST on the date the bill is due.
If you forgot to pay your bill on time - by mail or by drop off at the Water Department (inside City Hall), you can pay after hours / 24 hours a day at the Police Department window at City Hall.
Your water will be turned off after 15 days of non payment.
The Liberty Water Department is VERY strict and punctual about cut offs!
There is a $35 re-connection charge.
Water can be re-connected after hours in emergency situations - such as in the case of children - but the $35 must be paid at the Police Department window first.
Although difficult to get a precise figure - from what I could ascertain ... The City of Liberty "marks up" the water charges by 17%.
This means if this were billed directly from The Greenville Water System the bill would be 17% lower.
I'll do a follow up story soon regarding this as I'm still waiting on concrete facts and figures.
If any of you would like to post the totals from your bill - it will help to sample - and I can break it down to see if it's right.
If your bill is, in your opinion, very very high - it would be in your best interest to request a service call.
Visit City Hall @
207 West Front St
Liberty SC 29657
Further reading:
Customers Slapped With $100,000 Water Bills
ATLIBERTYTOSAY.COM: Stories With Liberty Water Rates Tag
Notes:
• Liberty Water does serve customers who have septic tanks and therefore are NOT charged the SEWER fees - their bills are nearly 60% less.
11 COMMENTS / Make your own:
I thank you for your explanation-you put a lot of time and energy into breaking that down for us. I'm sure we all have questioned our bill, but never took the time to actually QUESTION OUR BILL like you did.Now, the question is...how can we get the rates lowered?
Thanks for doing this. Thank God we (so far) have enough water.
I think higher prices do encourage change, in some people, some of the time. Can you imagine what would happen if there was no charge for water?
Martin ...
I certainly think we should pay for water to be delivered to us in our home ... it is a utility of convenience providing a commodity of necessity.
We are blessed in this area (even through severe drought) to have enough water.
I have yet to see where a necessity or luxury item priced higher curbs the purchase.
The case can also be made for Apple Computer ... they have been on the rise for about 3 years now ... yet they have record marketshare, record sales, and record profits.
I've never seen less people at a gas station? I'm seeing more and more people smoke.
I do believe the city of Liberty's stipend could be less if a little fat were trimmed.
I believe in the power of persuasion not pocket invasion to change habits.
The world is changing (slowly but surely) to protect our resources and thereby saving money.
Thank you so much for this ...
Do you know what the total water department revenue for last year was?
That information may be in my notes ... If not I'll try to find out. Gimme a few days.
Told to come and read this because my water bills have been so high.
Thank you for explaining.
I agree with the first anonymous comment. How do we get it lowered?
I don't know if "we" can get it lowered.
I do believe their are options like paperless billing that could save significant costs that could be passed along to customers.
I also believe there could be some consolidation of jobs/job titles.
Another highly unpopular idea might be to reduce salaries at the next job transition.
Why could we not entertain the idea of bi-monthly reading of the meters? saving the expense of monthly reading or a three month reading and pay an average monthly and a settlement at the end of the quarter. all and any arraignments could be put into place with some studies of new software programs. Why are the councilmembers not trying to revise this?
Those are some good suggestions ...
The key would be passing the savings along to customers. (Both residence & business)
Thank you so much for this!
I always thought the two numbers were the amount of gallons you used one month versis the other.
Thank you so much for clarifying the reading of the Liberty Water Bill. however, I think there could be a great deal of change if the community would come together and take a stand @ the next City Council Meeting.
I have to agree there could be possibly "fat" trimmed and other suggestions for getting this bill lowered.
I heard that we also have to pay a fine or past debt for something pertaining to the closing of Liberty's own water treatment plant on 93 & also for not recycling the water? not really sure but it would also be something to have investigated.
Regardless in todays economy we are all having to find means of cutting corners. Obviously water is not one of them and the city acknowledges this. However, I have been here for 7 years now and have noticed that long relaxing showers, garden watering, car washing, slip & slide play, daily whirlpool baths, new water saving toilets & appliances, no one being home for 2 weeks @ a time, pool fillings, etc. does not affect the change in the bill @ all. In fact my consumption has not changed in several months. Go figure!
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