Summer Sewer Averaging 

Q: What is the summer sewer average?
A:  The "summer sewer average" is also called the "summer sewer rate" in the Kalama municipal code. The City takes the average of the consumption from the 8 "non-summer" months (which are usually rainy and cooler months) plus 10%, and uses that average as the base sewer charge for your 4 "summer months" if your consumption ends up meeting or exceeding that average.

Q: Why is this beneficial to our City residents?
A: If your residence is tied to City Sewer, every drop of water that you use has a sewer charge associated with it. The City knows that during those warmer "summer" months many of you are watering your plants, turning on your sprinklers, and using the bulk of your extra water outdoors. That water will go into the ground/plants instead of down the drains into the sewer system.
This summer sewer average will stay in effect until the middle of September (around the 20th) and is based on the meter reading date in September.

Q: What about water? 
A: The water portion of the bill is billed in the same way all year (billed based on consumption).

We do our best to keep our residents informed when we get closer to the reading dates for the beginning and end of the summer sewer averaging time period.

Further utility billing questions? Call 360-673-4554.

 Note: The summer sewer average is not for industrial or commercial users of sewer.

Kalama Municipal Code section: https://library.municode.com/wa/kalama/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT12WASE_CH12.08SASEDIATCOCH_12.08.012SUSERAST