1. What do charges on my bill mean?

• Meter Base Charge - These charges pay the District’s fixed operations and maintenance costs, such as water main repairs, consulting services and wages. The charge is based on the size of the meter/connection.

• Usage Charge - The usage charge portion of your bill is based on the amount of water that is registered passing through your water meter. This portion is used for variable operations and maintenance costs, such as purchasing surface water, chemicals for water treatment and electricity for pumping groundwater.

Current Rates and Charges

Other charges that may appear on some bills:

• Private Fire Service Charge - A monthly charge for water service at un-metered connections to SSWD’s water system which supplies water to privately owned and maintained sprinklers used exclusively for fire fighting. This charge is based on the connection size of the fire service assembly.
• Backflow Charge - This charge is to administer and monitor SSWD’s backflow program. Backflow devices prevent potential contaminants from entering the water system. Monies collected are used to notify customers of testing and retesting, compiling results and submittal of results to Department of Public Health.

2. Why is my neighbor’s water bill lower than mine?

• One reason could be the size difference of the meter/connection.
• Using less water results in a lower bill.

3. Why are the water rate charges so high?

Monies collected from the water rate charges are used to pay for expenses directly related to providing water to your home or business. For example, electricity used to pump water from the underground aquifer is a major expense for SSWD. Electricity costs are approximately $1.2 million per year. Water rate charges also include the cost of purchasing surface water.

4. Why doesn’t SSWD have a low-income program?

Unlike AT&T and PG&E, who are private utilities regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission, we are a  publicly owned water utility (a form of local government call a “special district”) regulated by the State of California Department of Public Health and State Water Code laws. We are also regulated by Proposition 218 passed by California voters in 1996. The rates and charges are approved by your elected Board of Directors in compliance with state law. In particular, Proposition 218 prohibits us from collecting from any customer more than the amount required to provide water service. By providing a reduced rate other ratepayers  would subsidize the low “reduced rate” ratepayers.  Those paying the subsidy, would be paying in excess of the cost of service to their parcel in violation of Prop 218.

5. How can I find out more about the District?

• By contacting SSWD.
• At SSWD’s Administrative Office located at 3701 Marconi Avenue, Suite 100, Sacramento, California.
• By calling our Customer Service Team during business hours which are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 916.972.7171.
• At the monthly Board meetings typically held the third Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Meetings are held at the Administrative Office.