Sewer Rate & Bill Pay Practices

If your MSD service is billed through Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW), you can Pay your Bill Online. (A new browser window will open.)

Please note: If you are billed for sewer service by an agency other than GCWW, online bill payment is not available at this time.

If you think your sewer bill is too high because of a problem that caused water usage that did not go down the drain or enter the sewer system, MSD will review your account to see if it can be adjusted. Download the MSD Account Review Request form to continue.

The sewerage service charge rates shown on this page were put into effect January 9, 2013.

An increase was necessary:

• to provide funds to construct projects to meet commitments and mandated programs and
• to meet the continuing inflationary cost increases.

Your support enables the District to continue to improve and maintain the wastewater collection and treatment systems which protect and enhance water quality and the environment.

The sewerage service charge rate structure is designed to meet the cost of sewerage treatment, normal santiary sewer maintenance and repair, and provide for interim replacements as defined by the Enviromental Protection Agency.

The Sewerage Service Charge consists of a minimum charge and a commodity charge. Charges for industrial customers may include additional fees and charges.

Sewerage Service Charge Rate Schedule

Minimum Charge Rates

The minimum charge includes an allowance for the first 500 cubic feet of water used in the case of monthly bills; and the first 900 cubic feet of water used, in the case of quarterly bills. The minimum charge rates are as follows:

Please refer to the Notes & Definitions below for additional information on how these charges are determined.

Commodity Charge Rates

The commodity charge is based on the quantity of water used on the premises served as measured by the water meter or meters therein used, which meters must be acceptable to the Municipality which collects such charge. The commodity charges are as follows:

Monthly Billing Commodity Charges

> 5 but < 50 Ccf	$5.232 per Ccf
> 50 Ccf	$4.184 per Ccf

Quarterly Billing Commodity Charges

> 9 but < 150 Ccf	$5.232 per Ccf
> 150 Ccf	$4.181 per Ccf

Please refer to the Notes & Definitions below for additional information.

Industrial Customer Rates and Charges

Surcharge Rates

For customers having high strength waste discharge, the surcharge, which is in addition to the metered use charge, shall be computed on the following basis:

Surcharge Rates

Suspended Solids (SS)	$0.002756 per Ccf for each mg/l of SS strength above 300 mg/l
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)	$0.004707 per Ccf for each mg/l of BOD strength above 240 mg/l
Nitrogenous Oxygen Demand (NOD)	$0.004122 per Ccf for each mg/l of Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) strength above 25 mg/l

Provided, however, that to the extent the strength of a pollutant is less than eighty percent (80%) of the corresponding value for normal strength sewage, a credit shall be allowed as an offset against surcharge otherwise due. The credit shall be calculated by multiplying the herein above specified surcharge rate for the pollutant in question times the difference between actual pollutant concentration in mg/l and eighty percent (80%) of the corresponding value for normal sewage. No credit shall be allowed in excess of surcharge otherwise due.

Please refer to the Notes & Definitions below for additional information.

Industrial Pretreatment Charges

All users required to apply for and obtain a wastewater discharge permit or which are subject to federal pretreatment standards, as specified in the MSD Rules and Regulations, shall be subject to the payment of a pretreatment charge(s), as determined by the Director. Said pretreatment charge(s) shall be sufficient to recover, in whole or in part, the costs for the MSD Pretreatment Program including investigations, record keeping, administration, and monitoring of industrial waste charges to the system. Each industrial user shall pay a pretreament charge(s) as follows:

Industrial Pretreatment Charges

Annual Fee	$2,889 per annum
Monitoring Charge	$17,912 maximum per monitoring event

Notes & Definitions

Minimum Charge basis
The minimum charge is based on the size of the water meter used to serve the premises or the size of the premises served as determined by the number of units therein, whichever results in the larger minimum charge.

Winter Period
For residential water service accounts (one and two family residences) the quarterly minimum and commodity charge is based upon water used during the last winter quarterly billing period. The winter period is the quarterly billing period most closely corresponding to usage during the months of October through April. The sewerage service charges are payable with each bill rendered throughout the year. All non-residential customers are charged based upon the water used during a billing period that is subject to a sewerage charge. The District will consider application, fully supported, for adjustment due to non-sewered water use. All well water and water reaching the system from other sources will be considered in the basis charge. First billings after January 9 will be billed proportionately at old and new rates.

OM&R Portion
Public Law 95-217 requires notice of the "OM&R Portion" being operation, maintenance and replacement costs that are included in the "Total Rate". By definition, such replacements are those necessary to extend the life of facilities and not the total replacements of the entire system. (For detailed information on OM&R costs, please download the 2012 Rate Schedule Flyer; requires free Adobe Reader. A link to the Adobe Reader download may be found at the right side of this page.)

Ccf
1 Ccf = 100 cubic feet or 748 gallons

For more information on MSD's Sewerage Service Charge Rates, please contact Yudora Flack at 513.244.1304.