FAQs about Water & Sewer Billing & Rates
Billing
Rates
Billing FAQ
I’m selling my house. How do I request a final water bill and
transfer water service?
First, the resident needs to determine when they are supposed to
pay their bill through: either through the date of closing or when
they turn the keys over, as listed in the purchase agreement of the
house. Water bills are a lien on the property.
In order to transfer service, a request for a final meter reading
must be called in to the Novi Water Department. No meter readings
are accepted over the phone.
The seller, Real Estate agent or Title Company must call
248-347-0496 or 248-735-5661 to request a final meter reading. In
the case of new construction, the buyer must call and request a
final meter reading so we can bill the builder for what they have
used. Please be ready to provide the following information:
- Date of meter read
- A contact name and phone number
- Service address where reading is needed.
- Mail to name and address or the date you wish to pick up the
bill or fax number where the bill should be faxed. Final bills may
be picked up at the Novi Treasurers Office (45175 W 10 Mile Rd.)
after 9:30am the day of the reading.
Where do I pay my water bill?
Water bills can be paid at the City of Novi’s Treasurer's Office
located at 45175 W. Ten Mile, Novi, MI 48375. NO payments will be
accepted at the Public Works Facility on Delwal Dr.
Can I have a separate meter for my lawn sprinkler system?
The City of Novi does not issue separate meters for lawn
sprinklers. All accounts are charged water and sewer on the water
going through the meter, so a separate meter is of no benefit to the
resident. Also, a minimum water bill would be due on the meter even
when the sprinkling system was not in use.
 Rates FAQ
Why don’t communities get the same wholesale water rate from
Detroit Water & Sewerage Dept (DWSD)?
There are many issues that impact rates from community to
community making direct comparisons difficult. The rates charged to
local residents are set by individual communities and include costs
to maintain local water mains, pumps and storage tanks. Because
water distribution systems do not work by gravity, the cost to
transport water is impacted by the distance it must travel.
Increased energy costs are incurred the farther and higher the
drinking water must be pumped. Therefore, the higher costs to
service communities farther out and at higher elevations are born by
that community. This approach is consistent with billing standards
used by other communities and developed by the American Water Works
Association. Wholesale water rates charged by DWSD vary by community
based on usage of water, distance from the water treatment plant,
and elevation change from the plant. The basis for allocating more
cost to communities that use more water is that DWSD must build
greater production capacity to meet the communities’ maximum daily
demand. Because of this, costs are higher for communities with
higher peak demand.
Why does my water and sewer bill come from my community but the
water comes from DWSD and the sewage treatment plant is from Oakland
County Drain (OCDC)?
DWSD is a wholesale provider and Novi is the final provider of
water and wastewater service. Your community’s service includes
maintaining the pipes and infrastructure between your house and
DWSD’s system as well as reading meters and performing billing.
Likewise Oakland County Drain Commission is responsible for the
North Huron Rouge Valley treatment plant. If you have a problem with
service to your home, your community will work with you to solve the
problem.
Why does Novi charge fees on top of what DWSD charges for water
and sewer service?
DWSD provides “wholesale” service to all customers of the system.
DWSD delivers water to several points in Novi’s system and then the
Novi transports it to your house. Novi builds, maintains and
operates its own infrastructure of water mains, pumps, and storage
tanks. This is also true of sewers – your community transports the
sewage through its sewers to a major OCDC interceptor (sewer) that
takes the sewage to the North Huron Rouge Valley Wastewater
Treatment Plant. Novi is also responsible for the billing and
collection functions. Your bills include the costs from DWSD, OCDC
and Novi’s costs to complete the delivery of services.
How are water and wastewater (sewer) rates set?
Novi sets water and sewer rates for its residents and businesses.
These rates cover the cost that Novi incurs in delivering water and
wastewater service in addition to the charges they pay DWSD and OCDC
for services provided. DWSD and OCDC rates with communities are set
through an established process each year. Rate setting is a
forward-looking process based on estimated future use and actual
past usage from the communities.
Why can’t rates be better managed to reduce fluctuations?
Just like yearly household expenditures, water and sewage rates
can vary from year to year. Overall costs are impacted by use of the
system, required capital improvement projects, and operation and
maintenance costs. On the water side, seasonal usage of water has
a dramatic impact on the overall cost of service. Increases or
decreases in maximum day or peak hour usage due to changes in summer
seasonal usage can contribute to significantly higher peak demand
and rates.
Why do rates increase?
Infrastructure maintenance affects the rate of water and sewer
charged to communities served by DWSD.
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Because the water and wastewater treatment systems are aging,
they must be maintained or replaced on a regular basis to ensure
reliable service. The primary driver of rates increase is the amount
of new and rehabilitation projects completed under the Detroit Water
and Sewerage Department’s (DWSD) Capital Improvement Program.
Frequently, new projects must also be undertaken to maintain
compliance with increasingly stringent regulatory requirements.
Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of the water and wastewater systems
also impacts rates. Just like other systems that must be operated
and maintained, DWSD’s and OCDC’s systems are impacted by inflation
and the cost of utilities, chemicals and property insurance. As new
facilities are brought on line, overall expenses increase as well.
Why do residents have to pay sewer charges on sprinkler water
for their lawns?
The water meter at your home or business is used to determine
charges for sanitary sewers with the assumption that most of the
water used in your home or business eventually flows into the
sanitary sewer (clothes, dish washing, showers, toilets, etc.). Both
water and sewer bills are based on the water that flows through your
water meter. Your water bill is based on the number of gallons of
water used. The entities providing water are not-for-profit
entities, and the total costs need to be covered in order for
service to continue. If separate meters were allowed, the cost per
unit of sewer would have to be increased to cover the costs of the
service. The few communities that allow for separate metering have
water and sewer rates that are as much as 200% higher than the
communities that do not allow separate meters.
How can residents save money on their water/wastewater bill?
Conserving and using water wisely is the best way to save money
on your water and wastewater bills. Steps you can take to reduce
your water usage include:
- Water your lawn wisely – it only needs 0.5 to 1.5 inches of
water per week (MSU Extension Turf Tips for Homeowners). Over-
watering lawns results in shallow-rooted plants that are less
tolerant of heat and drought, and more prone to disease.
- Water your lawn during off-peak hours such as during the early
morning or late afternoon (11:00pm to 5:00am is best).
- Check for leaks and drips. Toilets are the most common source
of leaks and can frequently be fixed with a new flapper. Dripping
faucets can usually be repaired with the rubber O-ring or washer
inside the valve.
- Replace your old toilet, the largest water user inside your
home. If your home was built before 1992, chances are you would
benefit from a newer, more efficient toilet.
- Use rainwater to water your plants. Direct downspouts toward
your plants and green areas or collect water with rain barrels for
use later.
- Make your lawn cheaper and easier to maintain by mowing high
(three inches is recommended). Longer grass has deeper roots and
requires less water.
Search the Internet for effective ways to conserve water. The
water wiser
site from the American Water Works Association is a great place
to start with links to other sites.
My house has been empty. Why do I still receive charges on my
water bill?
Certain services must be provided regard-less of the amount of
water used that contribute to monthly fixed costs such as meter
reading, customer accounting, and maintenance of water mains.
Therefore, a home that is not actively using water but has an active
connection will still incur minimum charges. Houses charged a flat
rate sewer charge will also continue to be billed the flat rate.
Who fixes my water main when it breaks?
Water mains are owned by different entities. Typically, DWSD owns
the larger transmission mains that deliver water to each community.
Novi owns the water mains that transport the water from the
transmission main to your home. Whoever owns and operates the water
main fixes it. If the broken water main is in a local road, Novi
will fix it since they own it. If a large transmission main that
connects to your community’s system needs work, DWSD will perform
the work since DWSD owns it.
What kind of water and wastewater projects are being undertaken
by DWSD?
DWSD is continually upgrading and maintaining the water and sewer
systems. Two major studies were recently completed to help guide
this process: a Water Master Plan and a Wastewater Master Plan. Both
plans were developed with input from communities served by DWSD and
take a 50-year view into the future of what customer demands will be
like. Both plans include a Long Term Rehabilitation and Repair
Program that identifies maintenance projects that will be necessary
over the next 20 to 50 years. Projects from these pro-grams are used
to update the 5-year Capital Improvement Program that identifies
water and sewer projects. Additional information about Capital
Improvement Program projects can be obtained from the
DWSD’s website.
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