Wastewater Averaging

As part of its ongoing commitment to responsible resource management, the City of Manvel employs Wastewater Averaging to encourage water conservation and alleviate financial burdens for residents. 

What is Wastewater?

Wastewater originates from various sources, including garbage disposals, human waste, washing machines, and more. Unlike potable water, wastewater lacks a dedicated meter to measure household contributions accurately. 

The treatment of wastewater is inherently more expensive due to its diverse content, such as food scraps, detergent, and human waste, which contributes to the higher cost of wastewater on customer bills.

What is Wastewater Averaging?

Wastewater Averaging utilizes customers’ water meter readings during three consecutive winter months – November, December, and January – every year to determine the household’s average usage. This average will then be applied to utility bills as a fixed monthly fee charged to the household over the following year.

The timing of this averaging coincides with seasonal low water use. This method helps determine the amount of wastewater sent into the sewer system while excluding seasonal activities like irrigation that would not be treated at City facilities. During the wastewater averaging period, readings are taken over three consecutive winter months: November, December, and January. This calculation considers the total water usage.

By focusing on low water use months, the City of Manvel can estimate the wastewater volume more accurately, saving customers an estimated $330.00 annually.

What does Wastewater Averaging Look Like?

As an example, if a customer uses 3,000 gallons in the first month (November), 3,000 gallons in the second month (December), and 4,000 gallons in the third month (January), the City would calculate the average:

 3,000 gallons + 3,000 gallons + 4,000 gallons / 3 MONTHS = 3,333 gallons

This average, 3,333 gallons, will then be applied as a fixed amount to utility bills over the following year.

Customers benefit from a fixed monthly wastewater fee based on this average, regardless of their water usage during the rest of the year. This ensures stable costs and incentivizes water conservation during the averaging period, ultimately reducing the volume of wastewater billed for each month throughout the year.

Questions about Wastewater Averaging? 

Give us a call at 281-489-0630 (Ext 2) or email us!