How To Read Your Bill

The key below can help make sense of your monthly water/wastewater bill.

A. Account Number: The first six digits combined is your customer number, while the next three represent the number of addresses (active or deleted) under your customer number.

B. Service Address: The address where services are rendered. It may be different from the mailing address.

C. Meter Serial Number: The serial number found on your water meter.

D. Billing Date: Date bill was created.

E. Due Date: Date current charges are due/last day to pay without accruing a penalty.

F. Meter Reading: The serial number identifies the meter. Previous and current meter readings are listed in CCF. Subtracting the previous reading from the current reading will give CCFs used. This figure is converted to gallons by multiplying it by 748. In the sample above, this is 3.638 X 748 = 2,721 gallons.

G. Customer Address: This is the mailing address on file for this account and may be different from the service address (item B) above.

H. Special Message: Field dedicated to messages for customers. In the attached example, the message reminds customers that previous unpaid balance must be paid by Sept. 8 to avoid disconnection of service and other charges. This is a static message, but only applies if you have a previous unpaid balance. To determine if you have a previous unpaid balance, subtract your total current charges from your total amount due. The difference is your previous unpaid balance and must be paid by the date shown in the message.

I. Current Charges: Detailed information of charges from your previous reading date to your current reading date. Your charges will depend on the type of services that you receive. All water is billed to the gallon based on the latest tiered rate schedule.

J. Help 2 Others: The City of Gainesville Help 2 Others (H2O) Program is a bill roundup fund that assists customers who have trouble paying their bill. The Gainesville Department of Water Services partners with the Salvation Army for this customer assistance program.

K. Water Usage: A bar graph displaying up to 24 months of usage to help customers quickly visualize how their current usage compares to previous months. For more detailed usage, please register your account here.

L. Bill Summary: Summary of previous balance, payments, late penalty, additional billing (connection or disconnection of services, deposit, cutoff fees, additional refuse fees), surcharges and current charges, all which determine your Total Amount Due. If a late penalty is listed, then it will be for your prior month's bill that was not paid by the due date. It is 10% of the total current charges for the previous month.

M. Total Amount Due: Amount owed by customer.

N. Total Amount Due By: Due date and amount owed by the customer.

O. Payment Coupon: Portion of the bill to be mailed with your payment.

P. Amount Enclosed: Amount being paid by customer. If the customer is enrolled in Autopay, the word "Autopay" will show here.

Q. Payment Address: If sending payment by mail, please use this address.