Frequently Asked Questions
Billing
Bill’s consist of two components: a Fixed Service Charge and a Usage Charge.
- Service Charge – This charge is for one month of water service based on your meter size and is billed monthly. This charge covers the projected fixed costs for the operations of the CWD. The service days for which you are billed the fixed service charge are displayed on your water bill under billing period.
- Usage Charge – This charge is based on actual water use. It is measured in CCF (hundred cubic feet) that has passed through your water meter during the billing period and is billed monthly. You are charged for consumption on your water meter using the current read on the meter (just prior to billing) and subtracting the read on the meter from your previous billed meter read. This charge covers the projected variable operation costs in the water treatment process.
Example: 1” meter with 20 CCF water usage in one month (using 2021 rates)
Service Charge for one month = $ 45.79
Usage Charge for water used = $ 34.40
Water Bill = $80.19
All customers are billed on a monthly basis, which means you will receive your bill each month. Bills are typically processed on the first of the month. You can expect your electronic bill notification by the next day, and for paper bills around the 5th day of the month, depending on the mail service. For more detailed information about the billing schedule, or for specific details about your account, please contact Customer Service at: (916) 483-2452.
Bills are due and payable at the time of presentation and are delinquent if not paid by the due date printed on the bill (which is the last day of the month the bill is prepared).
No, the billing zones are used to divide the District into manageable and efficient billing groups. CWD has implemented staggered billing by geographic zones so that the billing and corresponding workload is spread evenly over a two-month period. CWD will not consider customer requests to change billing zones or bill dates.
The CWD ratepayers are charged for water based on the cost of providing service to our customers. Revenue from water rates cover the cost of operations, maintenance, infrastructure replacement, customer service, and other necessary programs. The money collected from rates is used to pay for expenses directly related to providing water to your home or business.
The current state law, as modified by Proposition 218, prohibits us from collecting from any customer more than the amount required to provide water service. By providing a reduced rate other ratepayers would subsidize the low “reduced rate” ratepayers. Those paying the subsidy would be paying in excess of the cost of service to their parcel, which is in violation of Prop. 218. This prevents CWD from offering a low-income rate program or Customer Assistance Program (CAP).
CWD offers assistance for military families of service members who are called to active duty. Contact the office and ask about the Military Families Financial Relief Program.
I purchased or sold a home:
Water service will be transferred to the new property owner of record as of the close of escrow date if the District has been provided proof of the sale. A final bill will be generated for water use and billed through the close of escrow date or upon notification of the sale. Final bills will either be collected in escrow or billed directly to the seller. If a seller is renting back the property, any payment for water use will need to be negotiated between the seller and the new owner, as the District transitions ownership at the close of escrow. The District makes every attempt to work closely with respective title companies to ensure a seamless transfer of ownership from seller to buyer. However, if the District is notified after the close of escrow date that a property sold, a final meter reading will be taken at the time of notification and the final bill will be sent to the seller. If the bill remains unpaid, the final bill will be transferred to the buyers account.
One of the following items are required for a transfer of service:
SELLER:
-
- Customer Move Out Form
- Closing of Escrow Statement
- Title Company Escrow Payment
BUYER:
State law (AB 2572) enacted in 2004 required all water suppliers to install water meters on all customer connections by January 1, 2025. All service connections within the District have meters installed.
Your water meter is read every month, typically within one week prior to the scheduled bill date.
Water Quality/Supply
CWD does not add fluoride to its water; however, fluoride occurs naturally in CWD's water. CWD's average fluoride level is 0.11 (mg/L). For additional information on your needs for fluoride in preventing tooth decay, please contact your family dentist.
The District's water supply during the winter months is surface water which is considered soft water. The hardness increases to mildly hard during the months of May - October when the demand increases and the water supply is a combination of surface and ground waters. During the past year, CWD's water hardness averaged 77 ppb for groundwater and 26 ppb for surface water. Hard water may cause ice cubes to be cloudy and leave water spots on glasses. Hardness is naturally occurring in water, generally from magnesium and calcium, which are both important to good health.
The CWD water pressure ranges between 40 to 85 psi. The system average is 60 psi.
CWD's pH target is 8.2 with a range of 8.0 to 8.4.
Yes! CWD water is tested for more than 200 constituents on a daily, weekly, monthly, and/or annual basis. Water samples are subject to the most up-to-date testing methods and then are re-tested to verify accuracy. Samples are then measured against state and federal standards to ensure quality.
Click here to view the Annual Water Quality and CCR Reports.
The Carmichael Water District (CWD) water supply during the winter months is primarily surface water which comes from the American River; during the months of May - October when the demand increases the water supply is a combination of surface and ground waters which comes from wells located throughout the District. All water provided to our customers meets or exceeds state and federal drinking water standards.
Thank you to the District customers that took the time to complete the survey. A total of 36% of our customers responded. The goal of the survey was to determine if the District's customers were in favor of adding fluoride to the CWD drinking water supply and if in favor of fluoridation would customers be willing to pay an additional amount on their water bill. In addition, the survey will help staff determine how much public education we may need in the future. The final results of the survey are listed in the table below:
For Fluoridation (35%) | Against Fluoridation (64%) | For Fluoridation and willing to pay for it | For Fluoridation but not willing to pay for it | Undecided (1%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1,379 | 2,529 | 1,272 | 90 | 15 |