A reader contacted me about what they felt was an outrage: the cost of their water use went up over 4% in the last year and they wanted to know if this was unusual and whether or not they were now paying more than other South Metro cities. While I do not see my individual monthly water usage bills as I live in an association and our fees are rolled into our monthly association dues, I was interested enough to dig through the publicly available information on water usage rates and find out which city was charging its residents the most for their water use.
After looking through the documentation available on the websites for each of the cities I generally cover, I realized that the concerned resident had absolutely nothing to worry about as they weren’t paying anything near the highest rate in the South Metro for water.
Because of the differences in water rates, I made my best attempt at standardizing the rates across all cities and their various rates (quarterly, monthly, base fees, etc). The table below (Google Docs version available with more information) lists the amount of money a residential household would be charged on a monthly basis for 1,000 gallons of water usage:
| City | Source | Minimum | Rate | Total |
| Apple Valley | Source of Apple Valley’s rates | $4.08 | $1.08 | $5.16 |
| Burnsville | Source of Burnsville’s rates | $2.00 | $2.23 | $4.23 |
| Eagan | Source of Eagans rates | $2.00 | $1.40 | $3.40 |
| Farmington | Source of Farmington’s rates | $4.00 | $0.85 | $4.85 |
| Hastings | Source of Hastings’ rates | $2.00 | $1.82 | $3.82 |
| Lakeville | Source of Lakeville’s rates | $1.20 | $0.85 | $2.05 |
| Rosemount | Source of Rosemounts rates | $3.33 | $1.50 | $4.83 |
| Savage | Source of Savage’s rates | $7.11 | $2.84 | $9.95 |
* Update: Savage’s Communications Manager suggests this document for more background on their higher rates.
So the real question is, why are some cities paying rates which are much higher than the average ($4.78) with Savage charging over twice as much? Do you even look at your water bill and think of ways to lower it? Are you pleased enough with your water quality/service to pay the rates you are or do you think they should be lowered? Whatever you have to say about the data provided here go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear what you have to say.
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March 7th, 2011 at 8:54 am
It would be helpFul to know if they have a connection fee for new development. Sometimes it is a pay me now or pay me later thing. Water is a separate fund, and some cities pay for the city water infrastructure (ie wells, water towers, water treatment facilities) with connection fees, and then have lower ongoing fees. Some have little or no connection fee, so all of the infrastructure is paid for by your usage bill.
March 7th, 2011 at 9:07 am
In Minneapolis, we pay about $4.27 for 1000 gallons.
March 7th, 2011 at 9:47 am
Sounds like a good question for the Savage Utility folk, specifically a break down on what those fees are for. The certainly seem a bit high. I would expect that the fees come from actual costs of providing the service, so the interesting thing to learn is why does it cost so much in Savage for water processing than it does in most other cities?
March 7th, 2011 at 10:00 am
Very interesting, as a Savage resident. I think I’ll be sending a email to the city asking them to explain this. Also, to note, Savage does get a portion of it’s water supply from Burnsville.
March 7th, 2011 at 10:04 am
When I was in a Bloomington apartment complex they took the entire complex’s bill and divided it evenly between us (based on apartment occupants or size, I don’t remember which). I paid around $26 a month. Now I’m in a townhome where we’re billed individually by the city. I pay $25-30 a month. I’ve never really cared how much that came out to per gallon, I just know that the water was good when I moved there, got crappy (i.e., chlorine-filled), and is better now, and my bill always stays within a $5 range.
March 7th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
@SouthMetroNews Savage has many environmental challenges that other cities don’t. Here’s more details: http://bit.ly/ekLk4r
March 7th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Maybe if the Savage Municipal Liquor Store was not giving away so much free wine to it’s customers, it would be able to charge less for water.
March 7th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Point taken, lefty … however, the distributors provide the wine for all tastings held at or by Savage’s municipal liquor stores.
March 7th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
I have linked to the document provided to me by Savage’s Communication’s Manager in the post above under the table. The same document was also sent to me via Twitter (which you can see in #6) above.
March 7th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Two questions come from the linked document. #1 – What are the driving factors behind a predicted annual increase of 3% for the next 3 years? Is there a project that is planned or some infrastructure change required that is due to be funded? #2 – Are these high costs (today) due to one time expenses (drilling a deep well) or are these ongoing costs which will cause Savage to always be significantly higher?
March 7th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Amy B,
Yes, I know this. I was just kind of laughing at the irony that the article about why Savage water is so expensive also had an ad for the Muni giving out free wine. In particular given the vitriol thrown at the AV Muni stores on this site.
You say point taken. Are you running a government sponsored Savage liquor store?
March 7th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
She’s the Communication Manager for Savage.
March 7th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
I cannot pass up the opportunity to complain about the chlorine-laced swamp swill that Burnsville continues to pass off as acceptable water. We now have a filter on our showerhead and have to lease an RO filter for drinking water. We have to suffer the stink when we run regular water in the house, for, say, dishes or laundry.
Burnsville, we are paying the city for clean water. Please deliver!
March 7th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
I pay for water through my HOA fees as well; they divide the total cost between everyone. I couldn’t tell you what I pay per month offhand as a result, though I could find it out. I guess I don’t really give it much thought.
March 8th, 2011 at 7:52 am
But have you tried the savage water? It’s deliciuos! (OK, I have no idea how it tastes)
After reading the information provided by Savage, the higher costs make sense. Deeper wells cost more money. Pumping water isn’t cheap.
AV water isn’t that bad. Yes, it can have a chlorine taste and is hard, but at least it is safe to drink.
March 8th, 2011 at 7:58 am
I must live in the only part of Burnsville that doesn’t have crappy water…either that or it has to do with the fact I grew up in St. Paul and drank that crap for so many years anything would seem good.
March 8th, 2011 at 11:31 am
Lots of great questions. For those who would like additional information behind Savage’s water and sewer fees, feel free to check out the Utility Rate Study conducted last fall:
http://www.cityofsavage.com/index.php?option=com_rubberdoc&view=doc&id=1307&format=raw
It’s also on our website at http://www.cityofsavage.com, under Billing Info on the Utilities page.
March 8th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Amy B should go work for the BPAC.
March 8th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Water rates are significant to a business. Towne & Country Shopping Center has a total Common Area Maintenance (CAM) budget of $220,000 that is paid by the businesses in the center. $52,000 of this is the water bill!
Apple Valley is half!
March 8th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
P.S.
Shooters has to replace their commercial water heater every couple of years because it has filled up with sand. Though expense when business is slow!
March 8th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
That seems like an issue with their water feed. If they stick a large pitcher under a faucet right off the main feed line and let it set, do they get a lot of sand dropping out?
March 9th, 2011 at 8:59 am
Yes. This sand also clogs the supply on bathroom fixtures. They are very close to the water main that enters the building and get the majority of the problem.
March 9th, 2011 at 9:01 am
MR,
What has the city said about the problem? Have you tried filtering the water for sediment before it enters the establishment’s hardware?
March 9th, 2011 at 9:13 am
It seems to be improving, however we have never had much success with city staff and as a result are reluctant to call on them and have chosen to just deal with the problem.
Yes there is a filter on the Shooters line that was out of commission due to the amount of sand; it has now been repaired.
March 9th, 2011 at 9:49 am
I’d say that is an issue to bring up to the city and have them resolve. The MPCA must have some water quality standards related to solids that the City has to meet.
March 9th, 2011 at 10:16 am
Mikeh, thanks.
Shooters has a blocked piece of pipe that I asked them to save.
When we have taken this approach in the past they have responded with additional inspections that have nothing to do with the issue…..not interested in conflict……. we have decided to pass on this sort of thing and just live with the issues.
March 9th, 2011 at 10:19 am
I’m guessing a photo of that blocked pipe needs to be posted publicly so that the political side of the equation is made aware of the administrative side’s lack of decision-making.
March 9th, 2011 at 10:24 am
Hmmmmm.
Let me see if he still has the pipe.
March 9th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Minneapolis would be the highest on the list $3.20 per unit with a $2.00 minimum. I assume 90% use more then the minimum. 6-9 units is the average on some 3 bedroom houses I manage.
March 9th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
This image of a Burnsville shower head after the 50-50 blend of well water and quarry water was introduced into the Burnsville water supply. This may lend some credence as to what MR was saying.
Image link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43879720@N04/4717804079/
March 9th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
Remember the filtered showerhead that I mentioned earlier? It only lasts half the time that it’s supposed to before needing a change.
March 10th, 2011 at 10:15 am
The Minnesota Department of Health has a Contact that any Burnsville Resident or Business should try and contact if there are concerns about their drinking water.
Contact information can be found here:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/swp/swa/swainfo/pdwgetswa.cfm?pwsid=1190002&office=0
I notice they have assessments for all the wells, but I didn’t see anything for the ground water processing.
March 10th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Thanks! We have had a Burnsville water person here to flush our pipes out – the results were nasty and colorful for about fifteen minutes worth. That stuff came from somewhere – and it’s in our drinking water. Yum.