The City of Rifle has received several questions from citizens concerning recent utility bills sent to our customers. Unlike other jurisdictions, Rifle consolidates water, sewer, trash and recycling all on one bill.
Sewer is not metered and runs on two annual cycles. Each month, from November through March, the sewer fee is based on actual household water usage. Starting in April, and continuing through October, those five months of winter consumption are used to calculate an average monthly sewer discharge. This average consumption is the amount billed each month from April through October and avoids charging citizens for sewer consumption of water being used to irrigate lawns or other summertime activities. Because this is the first month in which actual water use is being applied to the sewer fee calculations, some customers are seeing an increase in their utility bill. Though individual sewer usage may have increased in this latest November billing, it does not necessarily mean there is a problem with the water meter or sewer lines. It is likely attributable to the change from average winter use billing to actual water use billing as the basis for the sewer charge.
Additional information as well as the utility rates can be found on your utility bill or at the City of Rifle website, https://www.rifleco.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/9595. Should you have further questions regarding utility billing, you are welcome to contact Lynn Miller at the City of Rifle, 665-6445.