How US water utility bills are calculated
US municipal water utilities bill customers using volumetric units of either thousand gallons (kgal) or hundred cubic feet (CCF, where 1 CCF = 748 gallons).
Bills typically include separate volumetric charges for water delivery and sanitary sewer service, combined with a fixed monthly meter connection fee.
Worked example
For a monthly bill of 6 thousand gallons with water rate of $5.50/kgal, sewer rate of $6.20/kgal, and a $20.00 base account fee:
Water supply costs $33.00, sewer collection costs $37.20, and base fees are $20.00, resulting in a total monthly utility bill of $90.20.
Inputs for the US water meter calculator
Meter reading unit
The volumetric measurement unit used by your municipal utility (thousand gallons or CCF).
Water units consumed
Number of units used during the billing cycle (typical home uses 6 to 8 kgal).
Billing cycle
Select whether your utility bills on a monthly or quarterly cycle.
Water volumetric rate
Rate charged per unit for freshwater supply.
Sewer volumetric rate
Rate charged per unit for wastewater disposal.
Monthly base account fee
Fixed monthly service charge for meter maintenance and customer billing.
CALCULATOR QUESTIONS
Water meter calculator US questions
What is 1 CCF of water in gallons?
One CCF (centum cubic feet) equals 100 cubic feet or approximately 748 US liquid gallons.
Why are sewer rates often higher than water rates in the US?
Wastewater treatment requires extensive environmental purification, biological processing and regulatory compliance under the Clean Water Act.