Veazie Sewer District

Why is my bill high?

The sewer usage portion of your bill is based on water consumption using water meter readings from the Orono-Veazie Water District. An increase in water consumption can cause your sewer bill to be higher. Increases can be caused by additional people in the home; a leak (see below for checking for leaks); summer lawn watering; or more frequent laundry and personal care.

Evaluate your activities for the billing period. Your sewer bill is based on the water meter reading done by the Orono-Veazie Water District. These readings cover the following approximate periods:

• The January 1 sewer bill is based on water used from August 15 through November 15.

• The April 1 sewer bill is based on water used from November 15 through February 15.

• The July 1 sewer bill is based on water used from February 15 through May 15.

• The October 1 sewer bill is based on water used from May 15 through August 15.

Think about your water usage during these periods, keeping in mind that outside water usage will be reflected in your sewer bill. Have you been watering your lawn or outdoor plants more than usual?  Do you have a pool that you recently filled?  Household guests or adding people to a household also can cause water usage to go up.  Another possible cause is a leak, such as in a toilet or tap. See below  for information on checking for leaks. If you believe your water meter reading is incorrect, please contact the Orono-Veazie Water District.

One possible cause of a high bill is a leak, such as in a toilet or at the tap.

Checking your water system for leaks:  

1. Locate the water meter.

2. Read the meter twice. Read it first at night, after the day's water use has ended, and again in the morning before any water is used.

3. Find the difference. Subtract the first from the second reading to tell how much (if any) water leaked through overnight.

4. If there is a difference in the reading, find the leak by checking faucets (inside and outside), pipe connections and toilets for leaks.

Checking for silent toilet leaks:

1. Drop a little food coloring into the tank.  DO NOT FLUSH. (A dye tablet may also be used. Contact the Orono-Veazie Water District for more information.)

2. Wait for 10 minutes. DO NOT FLUSH.

3. If the food coloring appears in the toilet bowl, your toilet has a silent leak. The leak is probably located in/around the plunger ball or flapper valve at the bottom of the tank.  These leaks are easy to fix with parts from your hardware or home store, or you may wish to contact your plumber.

What if I fill a pool or water a new lawn?

Pools

The Veazie Sewer District allows abatements (rebates) for filling swimming pools. To qualify, you must contact the District before and after you fill your pool so we may verify the beginning and ending readings.

New Lawns

The Veazie Sewer District allows a one-time abatement for a new lawn. To receive an abatement, the District must be notified prior to seeding.

For regular lawn watering, you must have an outside meter to receive an abatement.

How do I get an outside meter?

For abatements (rebates) on outside water usage, such as watering gardens or washing vehicles, a separate water meter must be permanently installed inside on your hose bib. The cost of purchasing and installing the meter is the responsibility of the homeowner, and an application with the Veazie Sewer District must be completed.

Approximate Cost of an Outside Meter

There is no charge for the application with the Veazie Sewer District.

The Orono-Veazie Water District sells used water meters that you can use as an outside meter. Please contact the Orono-Veazie Water District for prices. For installation, you would have to use your own plumber. Plumber rates will vary, but installation of an outside meter could cost approximately $100.00.

Recouping the Cost of an Outside Meter

Not all homes will recoup the cost of an outside meter.

The Veazie Sewer District charges $4.16 for every 100 cubic feet of water used, which is approximately 748 gallons of water.

To use 748 gallons of water outside, you would have to wash a car or put a full inch of water on a 10x10-foot garden about a dozen times.

For the average home using an average amount of outside water, it takes about five to eight years to recoup the cost of purchasing and installing an outside meter.

Once You Have an Outside Meter

For people with outside meters, it is your responsibility to contact the Veazie Sewer District with your outside meter reading. Readings may be submitted by e-mail, phone, or mail. Outside meter readings must be received on or before:

    November 15, for January 1 billing.
    February 15, for April 1 billing.
    May 15, for July 1 billing.
    August 15, for October 1 billing.

Are "flushable" wipes really flushable?

Wipes are popular for use with adults, babies, and general cleaning. Many of them are labeled “Flushable.” Unfortunately, there are no regulations for what qualifies a wipe as flushable. Typically, wipes will be labeled flushable if they are smaller than non-flushable wipes, even if they are made out of the same materials. More and more people are finding these wipes eventually clog up their own pipes, and the Veazie Sewer District is experiencing clogging of our pumps due to these wipes.

Only regular toilet paper should be flushed. Clogging from wipes and other non-flushable material is costly. If the District is forced to install grinders to grind up non-flushable materials before they enter the collections system, the cost will be tens of thousands of dollars.