FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM AND PAYMENTS
Who bills me for my water and sewer usage?
The City Business Office sends the bills for water and sewerage usage.
What are the water and sewer rates?
Water rate is $4.04 per 100 cubic feet of water.
Sewer rate is $5.51 per 100 cubic feet of water used.
How many gallons are there is a 100 cubic feet?
There are 748 gallons in 100 cubic feet.
How often will I receive a water/sewer bill?
The City bills for water/sewer quarterly so you will receive a bill 4 times a year.
Does the City have any adjustment for filling a pool?
Yes, but only if you have city sewer. You will be billed for the water you use at the regular rate, but since the water is not going into the sewer system we will not charge you for that. Customers desiring an abatement of sewer charges for filling their pools must call the Business Office (332-3110) for instructions PRIOR to filling the pool. You will need to make a note of the reading on your water meter before you start to fill the pool and an ending reading when you are done filling the pool. If your have followed our instructions you will see the adjustment for the sewer portion on your next quarterly billing.
Do the Water and Sewer Divisions have any elderly exemptions?
Yes, if you qualify for the elderly exemption on your taxes you automatically get it on your water and sewer bill.
What is an average water/sewer bill?
There really isn't any average water bill. It all depends on how much you use.
How can I conserve water?
Three common ways to reduce your water usage are to replace toilets with the 1.5 gallon flush models, install energy saving shower heads, and repair leaky fixtures.
What is a Sewer Deduction Meter and who should get one?
A Sewer Deduction Meter measures the water used outside your home that does not go into the sewer system. The cost is approximately $250.00, so if you use a lot of water for your lawn or garden, or washing your car or house, or top off your pool frequently, you may want to consider this option.
How do I check for leaks?
First, make sure no one is using any water. Then look on the top of your water meter and you will see a red or black dial. This dial is the flow indicator and should be still. If the dial is moving, there is a leak somewhere in the home. Leaks are the responsibility of the property owner, so you should find the leak and get it fixed as quickly as possible. Even a small leak can be very costly!
Does the City of Rochester add fluoride to the water and how much?
Yes, the dosage of 1.0ppm(part per million) or 1.0mg./l (milligram per liter of water).
Where does the City of Rochester get its water?
Rochester's Water is drawn from the Berry River Watershed. The watershed is located in the communities of Rochester, Barrington, Strafford and Farmington. The major reservoirs are Rochester Reservoir, Round Pond, and Tufts Pond. The three reservoirs are connected by the Berry River and a 24-inch transmission pipe that connects the Berry River to Round Pond and to the Rochester Reservoir.
I understand that a contractor must be licensed to perform work on Rochester's water or sewer system, or to install services that will connect to Rochester's water or sewer system. How do I obtain a license?
Contractors who wish to be licensed shall apply to the Public Works Director annually for a license. Applications can be obtained from the Public Works Department. Please submit application, along with: the appropriate license fee ($100.00 for water and $100.00 for sewer each year) and a current certificate of insurance to:
City Engineer
City of Rochester, DPW
45 Old Dover Road
Rochester, NH 03867
Contractors who have not been issued a license during any of the past three years shall also include the name of at least three references. The references should be utility or infrastructure owners (e.g. government officials from other towns where the contractor has worked, property owners, etc., not other contractors or subcontractors). The Public Works Department will check references prior to issuing a license. All licenses expire on December 31 of the year it is issued. Renewal applications will be forwarded to contractors with current licenses in December of each year.
How do I tie into the water system?
The first step is to complete an application for a water service connection/extension, which is obtained from the Public Works Department. Please be sure to include a sketch of the location and size of the service requested with the application. Please submit the application to:
Office Manager
City of Rochester, DPW
45 Old Dover Road
Rochester, NH 03867
The owner must pay for the cost of connecting to the water supply system. It is the customer's responsibility to hire a City of Rochester-licensed water contractor to install the service connection. The Department of Public Works must approve all materials, inspect the installation, provide and install the meter and its remote sensor and associated wiring.
How much does it cost to tie into the water system?
Assuming a property has frontage on a right-of-way where a water main is located, the minimum connection fee is $300.00 for all work in the right-of-way. The City charges on a time and materials basis to bring a water service to your property line and to hook up a water meter. So the cost to tie in will likely be greater. For estimation purposes, figure on $18.00 per foot to bring the water service from the main to your property line and to install the water meter.
If the distance from the water main to your home is 40 feet or less, then the City may choose to bring the service from the street right into your home. If there is a longer distance from your property line to your building then you will have to hire an excavation contractor licensed by the City to run the service from the property line to your structure. This is an extra cost.
The Department of Public Works will prepare an estimate of the fees to tie-in after you file an initial application. The department will notify the owner of the estimated cost to tie in to the system (less costs to install piping from the water main to the water meter, which is installed by the licensed contractor). A deposit equal to the estimated fees or a payment agreement shall be made with the Rochester Business Office before work is begun on a new service. Actual costs will be determined upon completion of work and the customer will be charged or refunded as necessary. Installation charges and other fees on all new services must be paid or a payment agreement made before the water is turned on.
Where does the Wastewater Treatment Plant discharge?
The Treatment Plant discharges into the Cocheco River.
How do I tie into the sewer system?
The first step is to complete an application for a sewer service connection/extension, which is obtained from the Public Works office at 45 Old Dover Road. Be sure to include a sketch of the location, with elevations tied into the state of New Hampshire vertical datum, where the sewer connection piping will be exiting the building foundation. This information shall be mailed to:
Office Manager
City of Rochester, DPW
45 Old Dover Road
Rochester, NH 03867
The property owner must pay for the cost of connecting to the sewerage system. It is the customer's responsibility to hire a City of Rochester-licensed sewer contractor to install the service connection. If wastewater must be pumped from the building to the sewer (rather than flow by gravity), the customer may be directed by the Department of Public Works to hire an engineer to prepare and submit plans for a sewer collection and pumping system, prior to permitting the connection. Such plans shall include elevations and pump specifications. When a sewer connection is made, the Department of Public Works must approve all materials and inspect the installation, prior to backfilling the trench.
How much does it cost to tie into the sewer system?
A permit and inspection fee of $50.00 shall accompany an application. The Department of Public Works, as part of the review of the initial application, will prepare an estimate of the final fees to tie-in. The department will notify the owner of the estimated cost to tie in to the system (less costs to install piping from the foundation to the sewer main, which is installed by the licensed contractor). A $50.00 fee for an excavation permit is also required. A deposit equal to the estimated fees, or a payment agreement, must be given to the Rochester Business Office before work begins on a new service. Actual costs will be determined upon completion of work and the customer will be charged or refunded as necessary. The customer or contractor may be required to establish a performance bond in an amount equal
to the cost of the construction of the sewer service.
New or expanding customers, other than a single family home, including multi-family dwellings, new subdivisions, commercial, industrial or business structures will be required to pay a $2.00 per gallon per day reserve capacity assessment fee. The basis for determining the quantity of the discharge will be daily flow volumes as defined in NH Department of Environmental Services Sewage Disposal System Design Rules. Facilities discharging more than 500 gallons of wastewater per day will also required to obtain a wastewater discharge permit w/ a $50.00 fee.
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