Rochester Hills residents: Do you know that the time of day you water your lawn has an impact on the city’s water rates?
The city purchases wholesale water from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. DWSD determines wholesale water rates to suburban communities on an annual basis based on estimated revenue requirements for the upcoming season and based on each community’s usage requirements.
The rate to each community is based on the following main factors:
- Distance from the water treatment plant (Rochester Hills is 30 miles);
- Elevation (it costs more money to pump at higher elevations);
- Annual water usage;
- Maximum day demand (water usage in a 24-hour period during the summer); and
- Peak hour demand (water usage over a one-hour period during the summer).
The factor that has the most impact is the peak hour demand. As a result of this, and in an attempt to minimize rate increases, city council established a restriction on residential landscape sprinkler systems. In Rochester Hills, they may only be operated between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m.
“In an effort to help control increasing costs and protect our natural resource, it is critical that we all do our part,” says Mayor Bryan Barnett. Under city ordinance, repeat offenders of the watering restrictions may be found guilty of a municipal civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $500.
For more information, visit the city’s website or contact the Department of Public Services at (248) 656-4685.