What do I do if I need to make a change to the billing information for my water/sewer account?
If you need to make a change to your billing information, please download the Request to Change Water Bill form (pdf) and return the completed form, along with requested documentation, to the Water Department at the Village Hall, 325 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee, IL 60031.
How often am I billed for water and sewer?
Bills are currently issued quarterly on the first of the month for the prior three month's usage. Meter readings are taken around the 15th of the month prior to billing. For example, bills issued August 1 would be for usage between April 16 and July 15.
What are the current rates for water and sewage?
The rate for water is $4.45 per 1000 gallons. There is a minimum charged based on meter size. For a single family home, the minimum is 5,000 gallons or $22.25 per quarter. Funds pay for both the cost of water itself and the maintenace of the mains and other distribution components.
The Village sewer charge is $8.40 per quarter plus $ 0.15 per 1000 gallons. This charge pays for maintenance and operation of sewer lines (not for sewage processing).
Why am I billed by North Shore Sanitary District?
Homes located east of the tollway (I-94) receive a separate bill from North Shore Sanitary District (NSSD) for sewage processing. This bill is based on your water usage -- provided by the Village to NSSD. Property owners also pay property tax to the NSSD for its administrative costs. Homes west of the tollway are billed Lake County Public Works Sewer fees, and do not receive a NSSD bill or pay property taxes to the NSSD.
Why am I billed for Lake County Public Works?
Homes located west of the tollway (I-94) pay an additional charge of $3.52 per 1000 gallons of water used. This charge is now itemized separately on your bill. Although this charge is billed by the Village, it is in turn paid to Lake County Public Works (LCPW). It covers the cost of processing sewage and paying bonds issued for the construction of sewer trunk lines leading to the NSSD Treatment Facility.
During the summer months a discount is applied to the Lake County Public Works portion of your bill. The discount is based on the assumption that a portion of your summer water usage is not returned as sewage (lawn sprinkling, for example.) The discount applies to bills issued July 1 through December 1. The discount works as follows: Your summer LCPW charge will be based on no more than 110% of your average winter usage. If you used 15,000 gallons of water in the winter months, and have used 25,000 gallons used in summer months, your LCPW charge will be based on usage of 16,500 gallons (15,000 x 110%).
Why are my inside water meter and outside remote readings different?
This is due to mechanical failure of the remote register, located outside the house, causing it to stop registering usage. The actual water meter, which is located inside the house, should still be operating properly. If you notice this, please contact Public Works at 847-599-6800, to have a service technician come out and upgrade your water meter to newer equipment. This new equipment will eliminate this problem. There is no charge for this service.
Why did I get a high water bill after having my water meter replaced?
This could be due to a mechanical failure of the remote register, located outside the house, causing it to stop registering usage. The remote reading would then be less than the reading on the water meter, located inside the house. The water meter was still operating properly. As a result, you may notice a one-time charge for the difference between the reading on the remote register and the reading on the water meter on your next water bill.
What should I do if my bill seems too high?
There are several things to investigate. First, check to see if your meter reading is correct. The inside meter is usually located in the basement, crawl space, or utility closet for homes without a basement. The reading should be taken from left to right. The reading in thousands of gallons on your bill and the reading on the inside meter and should be close. (Remember to factor in the water usage since the reading date.) If the reading on your bill is higher, please call (847) 599-7500, describe the discrepancy, and someone will be dispatched to take a corrected reading.
Second, check for leaks in your home. An easy way to check for leaks is to read your meter either at night or when you will be away from home for an extended period of time. Read the meter again in the morning or when you return home, before using any water. If the reading has changed, this suggests a leak. Common areas to check for leaks are toilets, sinks, water softeners, humidifiers, and sprinkler systems. If you are unable or unsure how to repair a leak, contact a licensed plumber. Remember a leak means you are paying for water you are not using.
A Sample Water Bill:
INVOICE FRONT: Click to enlarge
Present Reading - usage is determined by subtracting the previous read from the present read.
Previous Reading - reading taken last quarter
INVOICE BACK: Click to enlarge
