▼

Utility Billing

Show All Answers

1. What is a unit of water?

Water usage is measured by cubic feet: 1 unit = 100 cubic foot = 748 gallons.

2. Why is my consumption so high?

Consumption may be high for many reasons. If a bill is estimated too low for a length of time, an actual meter reading may result in a large increase. More people may be living in the household. During the summer, water consumption may be higher because you are watering the lawn or garden, or an outside hose may be left on. A leak in the residence may also lead to high consumption.  Click here for more information about common causes of leaks.

3. Can I change the name on the bill so the tenants receive the utility bill?

By state statute (MN Stats 116A.22; 279.01; & 444:075 subd 3[c]), and city ordinance code (245:10; 575:01, 20) all utility bills are sent directly to the property owner or his/her authorized agent (property management company).  [Property owners must complete a "Relative Homestead/Property Mgmt Authorization Form" if you wish to have an authorized agent receive the bill instead of you.] The owner shall be liable for water, sewer, and refuse services supplied to the property, and any unpaid charges shall be a lien upon the property. It becomes the responsibility of the property owner/authorized agent to forward any bills to the tenants as the charges remain with the property. 

4. How can the water meter tell me if I have a leak?

To check for leaks, look at the indicator when no one is drawing water. It should not be moving. If it is moving, check every plumbing fixture at the property, i.e., toilet, sink, outside sprinkler, washer, etc. Shut off the valves that supply each fixture, one by one, and check the indicator after each shutoff. When closing the water supply, a valve stops the indicator from moving, or slows its movement, you have found the location of a leak. There may be more than one leak! Once the leak is repaired, check the leak indicator again and make sure all leaks are repaired.

5. How do I determine if I have a toilet leak?

Toilet leaks are leaks in which water from the tank seeps into the toilet bowl. From there, the water goes into the sewer system. If you can hear the toilet running or need to jiggle the handle to get it to stop running after you flush, you have a toilet leak.  Sometimes you cannot hear the leak, however. To determine if you have a leak, place a dye tablet or food coloring into the tank and do not flush the toilet for about an half an hour. If the dye coloring has seeped into the stool from the tank, the flapper is leaking and needs to be replaced. Local hardware stores carry new flappers for about $5.00, complete with installation instructions. If you have more than one toilet, either do the dye test for all of them, or turn the toilets off one at a time, and do the overnight reading again. This may take a few nights to work out.  Click here for more information about common causes of leaks.

6. My toilet isn't leaking, where else could it be coming from?

You will need to check every plumbing fixture on your property, i.e., sink and tub faucets, outside sprinkler system, washer, water softener, etc. You will need to shut off the water supply to each fixture, one at a time and check the water meter for movement. If movement on the meter stops when the valve is shut, you will know that is the fixture that has the leak. There may be more than one leak at your property. Click here for more information about common causes of leaks.

7. Why is my water cloudy and then clears up after I run it for a while?

The cloudy water is caused by tiny air bubbles in the water. After a while, the bubbles rise to the top and disappear. This type of cloudiness occurs in the winter, when the drinking water is very cold.

8. What can I do to improve water pressure?

If a recent loss of water pressure has occurred at all the faucets in your building, make sure that the meter valves next to the water meter are fully open. The most common cause we seen in loss of water pressure is when the water softener is malfunctioning. To check your water softener, shut off the bi-pass valve to the water softener and see if your pressure resumes. If your pressure comes back, you know that you will need to have your water softener serviced.
A few other common causes of water pressure is:
• Meter valves and/or other valves are not fully opened.
• Old or corroded piping or corroded connections in the home.
• Clogged screens on faucets.

9. I'm installing a water softener, how hard is the water and how much iron is in our water?

The City of St Cloud has on average 7.5--8.5 grains of hardness per gallon. A water softener is not recommended for use in the City of St Cloud. The water's iron levels are very low at 0 mil/per liter.

10. How are utilities billed?

Utilities are billed bi-monthly *NORTH side on the odd months (Jan., Mar., May, Jul., Sep., Non.) *SOUTH side on the even months (Feb., Apr., Jun., Aug., Oct., Dec.) Bills are sent out by the 5th of each month and are due on the date stated on your bill. Water is billed based on meter readings or estimated according to historical usage if no reading is obtained.

11. How is my sewer rate determined?

The sewer rate is based on the February meter reading (North side accounts) and March meter reading (South side accounts) and is set for the upcoming year at that rate. That way you don't pay sewer charges for water that runs outside during the summer (i.e. for lawn irrigation, watering plants, filling pools, washing vehicles, etc.). The storm water monitoring fee is different from the sanitary sewer in that it is the fee assessed to monitor storm water through the system. This is a fee assessed because of a mandate by the Federal Government.

12. My bill shows a credit. How do I get that back?

If your account is active, the credit is applied to the current balance.

13. What if I did not receive my bill in the mail or by e-mail?

Please contact the Utility Billing office at 320/255-7211 or email our office to request another copy of your bill. If you didn't receive it by your e-mail account, please check your junk e-mail folder or your deleted items to make sure that it didn't copy into those locations. 

14. How do I dispute a bill amount?

You may question the basis for one or more of the charges shown on your bill. If you'd wish to discuss your bill, please call Utility Billing at 320-255-7211, or email our office.

15. Why is my bill estimated?

The bill will be estimated if you do not submit your water meter reading when requested. Estimated bills are based on previous history at the service address. If we cannot get an actual read, you will be notified and a technician will need to be scheduled to come to your home to repair/replace your meter and get an actual read.

16. What can I do if my bill was estimated or is not correct?

If your bill was over or under estimated, you can call Utility Billing (320-255-7211) to request a technician come out and get a current/correct meter reading and an adjustment can be made to that reading if necessary.

17. I am going south for the winter; do I still need to pay my water bill?

Minimum charges will still apply when you are away. However, you can request an adjustment/credit of the recycling (and, if applicable, garbage cart) fees if you have been away from your home for 60 days or more AND there has been no water usage during the time away. Please complete the "Recycling & Garbage Credit" fillable form: Recycling & Garbage Credit Form

18. Does the City issue an adjustment for leaks?

If you have a leak in your home, the leak is using water that the City has processed through it's water plants and has been treated, that water is then sent through our sewer system. Therefore, normally, that usage will need to be paid by the resident.

19. Delinquent Utilities

On July 1st of every year any unpaid utility balances more than 30 days past due will be notified of delinquency.  You will be given a certain amount of days (as stated in the letter mailed to you) to get this delinquent balance paid.  If still unpaid, your name/account will be added to the delinquent utility assessment roll, which becomes part of a public record furnished to the City Council for consideration at a future meeting, at which time a public hearing date will be set to consider the final assessment roll.  Accounts included on the delinquent utility assessment roll adopted by the City Council will incur a certification fee of $50.00 (and will begin accruing daily interest as of this approval date).  Any utility account included on the delinquent utility assessment roll with balances remaining as of November 1st will be forwarded to the County Auditor's office for collection with your property taxes payable the following year, along with interest accrued from the date the Council adopted the assessment roll.

20. Is there an auto payment system? (pay-by-phone?)

• Yes, you can sign up for auto pay and the amount of your utility bill will be automatically deducted from your VISA, MasterCard, Discover, Checking or Savings Account on a specified date that you determine. To sign up, just log into our Utility Billing on-line processing page and enroll.  You can enroll in this plan at anytime. There is no charge for this service. 
• You also have the option of paying your utility bill by phone through an automated system 24 hours a day/7 days a week.  Simply call 844-791-1412. You will need your customer and account numbers when you call this number. You may pay by VISA, MasterCard, Discover, Checking, or Savings Account. Payments process the next day. There is no fee for this service.

21. Water Fun Facts

• 2/3 of the water you use at home is in the bathroom.
• It takes 30 - 40 gallons of water to fill a bathtub.
• A 5-minute shower uses 25 - 50 gallons of water.
• Brushing your teeth for 2 minutes while running water takes 6 gallons.
• A typical household uses about 100 gallons of water per day per person.
• You can drink more than 4,000 glasses of tap water for the same cost as a 6-pack of soda.
• Families turn on water faucets about 70 times a day.
• Washing a load of clothes uses about 50 gallons of water.
• It takes 10 -15 gallons of water to wash dishes by hand.
• 9 to 12 gallons of water are used in a dishwasher.
• The average cost for water supplied to a home in the U.S. is about $2.00 for 1,000 gallons, which equals about 5 gallons for a penny.
• Refilling a half-liter water bottle 1,740 times with tap water is the equivalent cost of a 99 cent water bottle at a convenience store.
• Water expands by 9% when it freezes.
• It takes 100,000 gallons of water to manufacture one automobile.
• A cow must drink 4 gallons of water to make 1 gallon of milk.
• It takes 50 glasses of water to grow enough oranges to make one glass of orange juice.
• Ten inches of melted snow equals about one inch of water.
• 122 gallons of water are needed to produce one loaf of bread.
• It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef.
• You can live about one month without food; but only a few days without water.
• 75% of all rain and snow fall directly back into the ocean and other bodies of water without touching land.
• It takes 6 gallons of water to produce one serving of french fries.
• It takes 10 gallons of water to make one serving of soda.
• About 3/4 of a human body is water.
• Growing a day's food for 1 adult takes about 1,700 gallons of water.
• About 9 gallons of water are used to process one can of fruit.
• Making a hamburger, fries, and soda uses 1500 gallons of water (raise potatoes, grain, and cattle).
• Over 42,000 gallons of water are needed to grow and prepare the food for a typical Thanksgiving dinner for eight. This is enough water to fill a 30' by 50' swimming pool.
• Watermelon is 93% water.
• Tomatoes are 90% water.
• Potatoes are 80% water.
• Ear of corn is 70% water.