If you are a residential user with no water meter, your bill will be computed on the basis of the average water usage of similar residential users - unless you choose to install a water meter at your own expense. If you are a non-residential user with no water meter, you must install one at your own expense in order to receive NSWRD services.

NSWRD serves many municipalities. Some of these municipalities provide meters that register in gallons. Others provide meters that measure in cubic feet. Our system has been set up to send you a bill that uses the same unit of measure that is used by the municipality or agency that provides your water.

Your bill will be based on the water usage information furnished to NSWRD by your water supplier. If your water supplier later adjusts the water usage amount, NSWRD will do the same.

No. We will only bill you based on the amount of water that you use. We do not have minimum charges, monthly charges, or customer charges.

Many customers use extra water in the summer which may not end up in the sewer system - water for lawns, gardens, swimming pools, and car washing. Accordingly, residential users receive a special summer credit. This credit is based on the difference between the amount of water you use on your average summer day and the amount of water you used on your average winter day based on bills from the previous winter. Your average summer day is based on water usage from May 1st through September 30th with your average winter day based on the remaining months. If you use more water in the winter than you do in the summer, you receive no credit but simply pay based on the amount of water you actually use during the summer.

There are two things to keep in mind about the summer credit. First, during the winter you will be billed on your actual usage. During the summer, you will either be billed on your actual usage or on your winter average, whichever is lower. Secondly, and most importantly, there is no need to sign up. Being a residential customer automatically qualifies you for the program. To learn more about the summer credit program, click on the following link: Information About Our Summer Credit Program.

Wastewater treatment services are of vital importance for protecting our environment and public health. The District is mandated by the IEPA to maintain adequate treatment capacity to serve all properties and residents in the District whether or not they are connected to the system. All property owners in the District contribute to investments in new and upgraded equipment and infrastructure through the ad valorem (property) tax, since these capital facilities are required to be in place and available to serve customers if they choose to utilize NSWRD's services. New customers connecting to the NSWRD are also required to pay a Capital Recovery Fee, consisting of a Connection Fee and an Annexation Fee. The Capital Recovery Fee pays for the reserve capacity of the District's facilities that is required to serve new customers. The Annexation Fee component of the Capital Recovery Fee ensures that new customers pay for their fair share of the capital improvements that existing customers have been paying for all along through the property tax levy.

The NSWRD works to strike a balance in funding its services through property taxes, which predominantly underwrite capital investments, and user fees, which generally pay for "day-to-day" costs. The acquisition of capital additions and costs attributable to the replacement of equipment and infrastructure are largely funded through the ad valorem (property) tax.

User charge fees primarily pay for the everyday operation and maintenance of the District's facilities.