Residential Water Renewal Rates

Your rate is determined by the average of two water use readings taken at your water meter by Veolia each year between October and April, and your property had a change in the amount of water that was used in these readings. The city is now adjusting your water renewal (sewer) bill to reflect that change. The current rates will be billed until next June/July based on the next water usage readings.

The city averages two readings taken at your meter from October 15 to April 15. To find out which months your readings took place, you can review your Veolia billing to see which two bills fall within the October 15 to April 15 guideline. If the reading starts on October 15, then meter reading dates are usually October 15 and February 15. If the reading starts on April 15, then meter reading dates are usually January 15 and March 15. The city will average these two measurements and will bill daily based on that amount until the next update in June/July.

Email utilities@cityofboise.org or call 208-608-7460 to reach a utility billing specialist who can provide your specific water use reading dates.

If you can see your water meter, confirm that you are not running water anywhere in your house and check to see if the meter is still reading that water is being used. This is a great indication of a leak.

If you can’t see your water meter, contact utility billing by emailing utilities@cityofboise.org or calling 208-608-7460, and they can contact Veolia to see if there is a leak for you.

Leaks can be visible or hidden. Here are a few items that are common causes of leaks:

1. Leaking faucet
2. Running toilet
3. Water leak in yard
4. Water leak on hose bib

There are many reasons why your water use readings may reflect a change, beyond major household changes, including:

1. You have a leak. See question 3 for guidance on how to determine if you have a leak.
2. The number of people in your household changed.
3. You started working or going to school from home, causing more water use for your household.
4. You had a plumber out to fix or address any plumbing issue.
5. You yourself did plumbing work such as changed a toilet flange or fixed a hose bib outside.
6. More water was used in your home. Children taking more showers due to sports activities is a common reason water usage may slightly increase.

Complete a water use increase form and include how you resolved the increased usage. Email utilities@cityofboise.org or call 208-608-7460 with further questions on disputing billing. Bills must be disputed within 15 business days of receiving your bill.

It is standard practice to use winter water use measurements to set water renewal (sewer) rates. Summer water use readings would cause much higher and incorrect billing amounts due to many customers using water for their yard and garden. During the winter, landscaping water use is excluded, so the city can be confident that the amount of water being used is sent to our Water Renewal Facilities.

The City of Boise only receives comprehensive readings of water use once per year. This yearly report is used to determine the average water use in your home.

City code 10-2-6-4 defines how many CCF’s we charge based on number of people in the home.

The previous year’s winter water readings are not valid for recent water usage. Accounts are updated when utility billing receives valid readings from Veolia for the current year. Until valid readings are received, city code requires the use of the estimated fees in sub section 10-2-7-2B.

City code determines default water renewal (sewer) rate amounts. This is the industry standard for municipalities and has been found to be the most accurate way to bill for water renewal (sewer).

The dispute window is limited to 15 days by city code. To ensure that residents can correct inaccuracies in their bills, the city notifies users of this dispute window through multiple notifications in addition to bills. Agents are also available Monday through Friday during business hours via phone or email to answer any questions and help process disputes.

Tenants may contact the city at utilities@cityofboise.org or 208-608-7460 to have their water renewal (sewer) bill transferred to the property owner. The city is not able to mediate tenant/owner disputes.

Tenants may contact the city at utilities@cityofboise.org or 208-608-7460 to have their water renewal (sewer) bill transferred to the property owner. The city is not able to mediate tenant/owner disputes.

Property owners may contact the city at utilities@cityofboise.org or 208-608-7460 to have their water renewal (sewer) bill transferred to their name to receive notifications about water use increases. If you have fixed the leak, you can complete a water use increase form within 15 business days of receiving your bill to reduce the billing rate going forward.