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Water Bill

Quick Billing Facts and Understanding Your Bill

  • Current water rates are $1.70 per cubic feet, in addition to a $20.00 per quarter/per household fee and a $55.00 per quarter/per household fee. Your water meter records every 100 cubic feet your home uses each quarter. Sewer rates are $4.75 per cubic feet of water used. Water and Sewer bill are measured at the point of entry not the exit.
  • Every water meter has a manufacturer’s serial number. The Winchester Water Department uses this number as your account number. So, if your meter is replaced your home will be assigned a new account number. 
  • Each billing period is 3 months. At the end of each quarter the water department staff reads your meter (as described above), writes the series of numbers transmitted to the hand held reader and then the water department staff transfers that data to a template generated by our billing software. That data is then manually entered into the billing software, automatically calculated and then transferred to "Tax Collect" for mailing.
  • Q1 is Nov., Dec. and January, period closes January 31
  • Q2 is Feb., March and April, period closes April 30
  • Q3 is May, June and July, period closes July 30
  • Q4 is Aug., Sept. and October, period closes October 31

Immediately following the close of each billing period meter reads begin.

Note: Winchester's Water Department reads your meter and manages account data. By law, tax collect is the only department that can receive your water and sewer payment.

  • To ensure your bill is accurate simply compare the numbers on your meter(to learn more about your meter go to the Consumer's Corner Page and click on "Anatomy of a Meter") to the numbers on your bill in the lower left hand corner under "Meter Readings". "Current:" indicates your most current read and "Previous:" indicates the last quarters read and below that is your usage your account was billed for.

You will not get a bill if you have the water department turn your water OFF from the water main. If you do not use water but do not have the water turn your water off from the water main you will be charged the quarterly rate for water and sewer where applicable.

I have a higher than normal water bill, what do I do?

There are several actions that can be taken to deduce why your bill is higher than normal. First check all of the water fixtures in and around your house for leaks and/or proper functioning. A dripping water faucet can account for 25 or more gallons per day and steady streams of water contributing hundreds of gallons per day to your water bill. With our experience we have found that toilets are more prone to leaks than any other fixture. Open the toilet tank and inspect the overflow and adjust the float to keep the tank level approximately 1" below the top of the overflow tube.

You can also put food coloring, Kool-Aid or any other biodegradable coloring into the toilet tank and watch for the water in the toilet bowl to change colors. A color change in the toilet bowl can indicate that there is a leak in the flapper valve that is located at the bottom of the toilet tank. Replacing the internals of the typical toilet costs around $15 for do-it-yourselfers and should take less than an hour to accomplish. You can also call your plumber to assist you with this repair.

Water lines that feed from the house to a garden, barn or other part of the property is always a suspect in a high bill. These lines may have leaks in them that do not appear above ground. When not in use we suggest that these lines be shut off at the house to reduce the risk of leaks and a high water bill. After you have checked your home and repaired the leaks that were found, you may call the Water Department to check your usage with a new meter reading and for more assistance in locating leaks.

Why is my bill estimated?

Estimating bills is a practice the Winchester Water Department feels is neither fair to the customer nor is it an accurate record of your homes usage. In most cases a water bill is estimated because the meter pad is inaccessible to water department staff by obstructions of snow, fencing, bushes and other debris. Reading over 1100 meters can be a timely task, sometimes taking as long as two weeks. For safety reasons, the water department staff is not authorized to remove or move any obstruction preventing them from attaining an accurate read. Nothing lasts forever and that goes for your meter and pad. Pads are exposed to the elements of weather so it is possible for them to eventually stop working, although a large majority of Winchester's homes have a pad from their original installation.

When water department staff discovers your pad is no longer working they will either repair it at time of discovery or return to your home before the next quarter closes. Sometimes your pad cannot be read because a homeowner has inadvertently disconnected the wire from inside the house. If this happens the water department will try to inform you and try to schedule an appointment. It is important know where your pad and meter is located.

Building dog pens, putting up fences, placing dumpsters, etc. in front of your pad will result in an inability to access your meter pad. Building shelving units, storage cabinets or closing off your meter with sheetrock walls will result in an inability to easily access your meter for testing, repair or replacement. Note: If you are repairing or replacing vinyl siding or clapboards please call the water department for safe removal of your home's pad and wires. Removal of the pad and wire does not stop your meter from calculating usage. When your project is complete the water department will reinstall your pad and properly hook it back up to the meter. Please make these arrangements with the Water Department at (603) 239-4951, ext.105

What are "Misc. Charges" on my bill?

There are many categories of "Misc. Charges" that could be listed on your bill. Some are past amounts due, interest on past due amounts, services or parts that the Water Department has provided to you, fees for turning on or off your water for various reasons and dozens of other charges that are to numerous to list. For questions on your "Misc. Charges" you can call the Water Department for an explanation.

What if I feel my bill is too high due to a faulty meter?

Customers may request a meter test be performed by the water department staff. There is a fee for this service and the fee must be paid before the meter is tested. Contact the Water Department at (603) 239-4951, ext.105 to set up an appointment.