SWBNO Bill Overview
Before you use a drop of water, you pay for the infrastructure, resources and people that deliver your services.
Your bill includes charges to help cover the costs of providing drinking water and sewage service to your home or business. In general, your bill includes two different kinds of charges. They cover:
1. The water you use and the sewage we remove and treat, and
2. The infrastructure that makes it all possible – pipes, pumps, treatment plants, meters, maintenance, customer service activities, and more.
If you use City trash and recycling pickup services, your water bill will also include those charges.
In addition to the sanitation charge the fees below cover the fixed cost of maintaining the treatments plants, pumping stations, underground pipes and cost of operations. These charges are billed even if no water is used.
Water Rates
Water Service Charge
The Water Service charge on your bill is calculated from your connection size. As long as the meter is installed, you will be billed the monthly service charge bill based on the billing chart shown. The charge is based on the costs the S&WB must pay even if you don't use any water. These costs include reading your meter each month, replacing your meter if it needs repair, maintaining adequate water pressure, etc. Since the S&WB must always be prepared to deliver water whenever a meter is installed, this part of your bill is sometimes called the "Ready to Serve" charge.
Water Quantity Charge
The Water Quantity charge on your bill is calculated on the amount of water you use each month. The volume of water used is listed on your bill along with the meter reading. Usage information is also shown for the previous month and last year at this time. This lets you see if your use of water is increasing or decreasing. The rates are based on the cost of treating the water that you use.
Water quantity rates are billed per 1000 gallons of usage.
| Usage | January 2021 |
|---|---|
| First 3,000 gallons | $5.80 |
| Next 17,000 gallons | $9.87 |
| Next 980,000 gallons | $7.76 |
| Over 1,000,000 gallons | $6.50 |
| Wholesale Customers | January 2021 |
|---|---|
| All Usage | $6.20 |
Water for Building, Paving or Other Temporary Uses
The quantity charge for water delivered through temporary meters for use in building, paving or other temporary processes is a minimum charge of $332.75 plus tax per month, which includes a $29.38 service fee and a $303.37 minimum usage charge. Any water usage charges accrued above $303.37 will be charged at the general service quantity rates.
Sewer Rates
Sewerage Service Charge
The Sewerage Service Charge on your bill is calculated from the size of your meter. As long as the meter is installed, you will be billed the service charge. The charge is based on the costs the S&WB must pay even if you don't use any sewer services. These costs include maintaining sewerage pipes, treatment plants, etc. Since the S&WB must always be prepared to treat wastes whenever a meter is installed, this part of your bill is sometimes called the "Ready to Serve" charge.
| Meter Size (Inches) | January 2021 |
|---|---|
| 5/8 | $24.87 |
| 3/4 | $35.40 |
| 1 | $50.38 |
| 1 1/2 | $92.72 |
| 2 | $135.60 |
| 4 | $535.90 |
| 6 | $1,071.81 |
| 8 | $1,607.71 |
| 10 | $2,143.59 |
Sewerage Volume Charge
All Residential and Public Housing Class volume charges are applied to 85 percent of the metered consumption, allowing 15 percent of water use for lawn watering and other uses which contribute no flow to the sanitary sewer. Quantity charges for Commercial and Industrial Classes of Customers are based on 100% of metered water consumption. Water used from private wells or non-board sources and discharged to the sanitary sewer system will be metered and the consumption included in computing sewerage volume charges. Any customer who proves only a portion of the metered water usage is discharged to the sanitary sewer system is charged for only that portion of the total water quantity.
| Volume | January 2021 |
|---|---|
| Per 1,000 Gallons | $8.66 |
Fees & Charges
City Sanitation Fees
The City of New Orleans charges a fee for sanitation and recycling services performed by the City. This fee is included on your Sewerage and Water Board bill to minimize the cost of billing and collection. All monies collected for sanitation fees are paid to the City of New Orleans.
There are several exemptions to the sanitation fee and/or recycling fee. The general categories for exemption are:
- Large commercial or residential properties who privately contract for sanitation service and pay a Litter Abatement fee.
- Property which is vacant.
- Persons who are elderly and handicapped and meet certain income criteria.
| City Sanitation Fees | Amount |
|---|---|
| Residential Units | $ 24.00 per unit |
| Commercial Units | $ 48.00 per unit |
Deposits
Residential and commercial deposits are based on the size of the meter or connection installed. Deposits may be increased to an amount deemed necessary to properly protect the Sewerage and Water Board.
Deposits are payable within 21 days of the time an application is made to have water turned on or connected. These deposits will be returned when the account is closed and the full amount owed to the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans is satisfied. No refunds are given on hydrant meters. Delinquent final bills will be transferred to any new or other accounts of the customer.
The S&WB may waive a deposit for residential customers who have not been late with more than two payments in the last 12 months. In addition, the Board may refund a deposit for previous customers who have not been late with more than two payments over a two year period at the same address or who may have had deposits refunded at other addresses, also with good paying history. Interest earned on all deposits is factored into our public rates, helping to keep rates down; therefore, no interest is paid to customers on deposits.
| Meter Code | Size (Inches) | Deposit Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A | 5/8" | $ 100.00 |
| B | 3/4" | $ 100.00 |
| C | 1" | $ 125.00 |
| D | 1 1/2" | $ 300.00 |
| E | 2" | $ 550.00 |
| G | 4" | $ 1000.00 |
| H | 6" | $ 1500.00 |
| J | 8" | $ 1500.00 |
| K | 10" | $ 1500.00 |
| Hydrant Meters | BP | $ 1500.00 |
NSF Fees
A handling fee will be charged to all customers whose checks, tendered in payment of Sewerage and Water Board bills, are returned from the bank for any reason. Additional fees may be charged if water service is discontinued due to an NSF check.
| NSF Fee | Effective Date |
|---|---|
| $ 25.00 | January 1, 2010 |
Turn On/Off Fee
A Meter Turn-On Fee is added to your bill if the water is turned off for non payment or for an unsigned application.
| Turn On/Off Fee | Effective Date |
|---|---|
| $ 75.00 | January 1, 2010 |
Reconnection Fee
A Meter Reconnect Fee is added to your bill if the meter is removed for non payment or if the lock is tampered with.
| Removal/Reconnect Fee | Effective Date |
|---|---|
| $ 75.00 | January 1, 2010 |
Tampering Fee
A Meter Tampering Fee is added to your bill if additional tampering is found. An additional deposit of $1,000 will also be required.
| Tampering Fee | Effective Date |
|---|---|
| $ 350.00 | December 1, 2024 |
Safe Drinking Water Administrative Fee
A fee was authorized by the Louisiana Legislature on April 19, 2000 for the benefit of the Office of Public Health of the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH). Under the provisions of the legislation, DHH will use the funds generated by the fee to perform all inspections, tests or procedures of public water supplies to comply with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The S&WB collects the annual fee on behalf of the state and transfers the proceeds to DHH each year.
| DHH Safe Drinking Water Fee | Effective Date |
|---|---|
| $ 1.00 | January 1, 2017 |