Use this calculator to estimate your monthly water and sewer bill based on your usage measured in Centum Cubic Feet (CCF), which is a standard unit used by many municipal utilities. 1 CCF equals approximately 748 gallons.
For many households, the monthly water bill is a significant utility expense. Unlike flat-rate utility services, water bills are typically dynamic, fluctuating based on how much water your household consumes during a billing cycle. Understanding the components of your bill is the first step toward budgeting effectively and identifying opportunities for conservation.
Key Components of a Water Rate Structure
Most municipal water utilities in the United States use a rate structure that includes two main components: fixed charges and volumetric charges.
1. The Fixed Service Charge
This is a base fee that appears on your bill regardless of whether you used any water at all. It covers the utility's fixed costs, such as maintaining the infrastructure of pipes, treatment plants, meter reading, and administrative services. This fee is often determined by the size of your water meter.
2. Volumetric (Usage) Charges
This portion of the bill is directly tied to how much water flows through your meter. It is calculated by multiplying your usage volume by a specific rate. Utility companies measure water in different units, but the most common are:
CCF (Centum Cubic Feet): Represents 100 cubic feet of water. This equals approximately 748 gallons.
HCF (Hundred Cubic Feet): Interchangable with CCF.
Gallons: Some utilities bill directly in thousands of gallons.
Tiered Pricing (Inclining Block Rates)
While the calculator above uses a simplified single volumetric rate per CCF for demonstration, many modern utilities employ "tiered" or "inclining block" pricing structures to encourage conservation.
Under a tiered system, the rate you pay per CCF increases as your total usage passes certain thresholds during the month. For example:
Tier 1 (Essential Needs): The first 5 CCF might be billed at a low rate (e.g., $3.50/CCF).
Tier 2 (Average Use): Usage between 6 and 12 CCF might be billed at a higher rate (e.g., $5.25/CCF).
Tier 3 (Excessive Use): Any usage over 12 CCF might be billed at the highest rate (e.g., $8.00/CCF) to discourage irrigation or water waste.
If your utility uses tiers, your actual bill may be higher than the estimate provided by a single-rate calculator if your usage pushes you into higher price brackets.
The Sewer/Wastewater Charge Connection
It is very common for municipal sewer charges to be tied directly to your metered water usage. The logic is that most water coming into your home generally ends up going down the drain and into the sewer system for treatment. Therefore, your sewer rate per CCF is often applied to the same usage volume as your water rate, frequently making the sewer portion of the bill even more expensive than the water delivery portion.