Most residential properties within the city are billed at a flat rate. Charges are calculated quarterly (every three months), based on the physical characteristics of the property. Please refer below for the billable characteristics:
| Description | Quarterly Charge |
|---|---|
| Room (each) | $5.57 |
| Water Closet (each) | $21.83 |
| Bath (each) | $18.31 |
| Shower, separate from bath (each) | $18.31 |
Sprinkling charge of $0.37 per front foot shall be assessed each three-month billing period for lawn sprinkling and other outside uses.
A flat water rate shall be applied where a swimming pool, pond or other pool is found on the premises having a capacity of more than one hundred (100) cubic feet and less than two thousand (2,000) cubic feet which are not metered under Section 23.16.060, Revised Code. Said flat rate shall be payable for periods of three (3) months in advance as follows:
| Capacity (Cubic Feet) | Quarterly Charge |
|---|---|
| More than 100 but less than 501 | $34.34 |
| 501 but less than 1,001 | $48.06 |
| 1,001 but less than 1,501 | $61.82 |
| 1,501 but less than 2,000 | $75.54 |
After paying the flat rates imposed under the foregoing Subsection 5(c)1 or Section 5(c)1 of Ordinance Number 68694, or both, for a minimum of one (1) year, the user making said payments shall have the option to pay at meter rates as provided by Chapter 23.18, Revised Code. Such options shall be exercised in writing on forms supplied by the Water Commissioner. The user shall provide for the meter by having a meter box and set up installed on the service in accordance with Section 23.04.210, Revised Code, at the user’s own expense.
Metered accounts are primarily used for commercial properties and residential dwellings with seven or more units, though single-family homeowners can opt to pay for meter installation. These bills fluctuate based on two primary components:
| Meter Size | Quarterly Charge |
|---|---|
| 5/8″ | $35.36 |
| 3/4″ | $41.21 |
| 1″ | $52.23 |
| 1 1/2″ | $75.54 |
| 2″ | $109.78 |
| 3″ | $212.85 |
| 4″ | $377.55 |
| 6″ | $720.82 |
| 8″ | $1,098.36 |
| 10″ | $1,510.27 |
The quantity charge shall be at the following rates:
| Usage Per Billing Period | Rate (Per 100 Cubic Feet) |
|---|---|
| First 25,000 cubic feet | $2.62 |
| Next 1,975,000 cubic feet | $2.05 |
| Over 2,000,000 cubic feet | $1.55 |
There are three specific additional fees that appear on a water bill:
| Service Type / Meter Size | Quarterly Fee |
|---|---|
| All Flat Rate Accounts | $1.05 |
| 1″ or less | $1.05 |
| 1 1/2″ and 2″ | $5.25 |
| 3″ and 4″ | $25.50 |
| Greater than 4″ | $49.50 |
Note: All Rates are listed as quarterly charge per connection
| Applicable Accounts | Quarterly Charge |
|---|---|
| Flat Rate Residential Accounts | $3.00 |
| Metered Residential Accounts (6 or fewer dwelling units) | $3.00 |
Purpose: Funds repairs to leaking service lines located within any public street, alley, right-of-way, or easement.
| Description | Rate |
|---|---|
| Tax on Water Works Revenue Fund Gross Receipts | 10% total |
| Portion Passed Directly to Consumer | 4% |
| Portion Incorporated in Rate Structure | 6% |
| Service | Charge |
|---|---|
| Turn-On (New Flat Rate or Meter Account) | $40.00* |
| Turn-On After Delinquent Shutoff | $50.00* |
The Collector of Revenue shall furnish the Water Commissioner a written list each day of all water bills paid the previous day. The Water Commissioner shall shut off the water from all premises for the nonpayment of delinquent bills. Water shall not again be furnished thereto until all outstanding obligations for water supplied to such premises shall have been paid in full and a charge of $50.00 has been paid in advance for turning on such water, subject to the Inflation Adjustment.
All new and existing installations for private sprinkler type protection shall be provided with a suitable control valve just inside the building or property line. Connections serving automatic sprinkler equipment must be equipped with an approved type of water flow alarm service of any of local and central station alarms, local alarms and watchman with watch service, or approved outdoor local alarms where there is no watchman on the premises. Water through these connections shall be used to extinguish fires only and the use of water for any other purpose is expressly prohibited. No meter shall be required on connections used to supply private fire protection systems with sprinkler equipment only. Where new and existing connections for private fire protection supply standpipe and hose rack systems or private fire hydrants are or have been installed, a detector check valve with bypass meter and vault shall be installed at the expense of the applicant and if it is found that water is being used for purposes other than the extinguishment of fires or testing, the Water Commissioner shall install a fire service meter and vault at the expense of the owner or occupant. Prior to installation the Water Commissioner shall require a deposit for the estimated cost of all fire service meter and vault installations within ten (10) days of notification or the water shall be shut off from the water main and the Insurance Services Office of Missouri and the Fire Marshal notified of this action. A service charge of Two Hundred Eighty-Eight Dollars ($288.00), subject to the Inflation Adjustment, shall be assessed against each connection made with the mains of the Water Division for all new and existing private fire protection connections used to supply sprinkler equipment only and against all new and existing private fire protection connections regulated by detector check valves with bypass meters. Should water in excess of that required for the emergency extinguishment of fires be used through any private fire protection system regulated by a detector check valve with bypass meter then such water use shall be assessed a quantity charge, but not the readiness-to-serve charge, at the rates set forth in Section Six of Ordinance #71683. Private fire protection connections regulated by fire service meters shall be assessed the regular meter rates as set forth in Section Six of Ordinance #71683. For any private fire protection connection regulated either by a detector check valve with bypass meter or by a fire meter an adjustment will be made for water used for the emergency extinguishment of fire where such use is claimed and certified to the Water Commissioner by the occupant or owner. In cases where these bills are not paid within thirty (30) days, the Water Commissioner shall cause the connection to be shut off and notify the Insurance Services Office of Missouri and the Fire Marshal of this action.
Sprinkler protection shall be considered a piping system with nationally recognized testing laboratory approved sprinkler heads attached. Stand-pipe and hose racks systems shall be considered any arrangements of piping whereby hoses for fighting fires can be attached to the pipes and used either by the occupant or owner or the Fire Department. A fire hydrant shall be considered any water connection with an outlet at least two and one-half (2 1/2) inches inside diameter and provided with the same size threads used by the St. Louis Fire Department. Two (2) inch or smaller fire protection connections shall be used only when approved by the Fire Marshal and by the Water Commissioner and no water for purposes other than fire extinguishment shall be taken from such connections.
Limited service sprinklers attached to domestic service lines shall conform to the following minimum requirements. One (1) sprinkler head per fire area when supplied from a one (1) inch domestic service. Two (2) sprinkler heads per fire area when supplied from a one-and-one-half (1 1/2) inch domestic service. Four (4) sprinkler heads per fire area when supplied from a two (2) inch domestic service. A fire area shall be a confined area which may contain hazardous substances. Limited service sprinklers in any one (1) building shall be limited to a maximum of twenty (20) sprinklers. No sprinkler supply lines shall be attached to the domestic service before the domestic water meter.
The quantity charge for the use of water by any hospital or charitable institution in the City which shall make written application to the Water Commissioner, signed by its president, secretary or managing officer, asking for a special charity rate, and stating that free service is furnished to not less than ten (10) percent of its patients, members or inmates, and giving special details of the management as are necessary to show the philanthropic nature of the institution shall, if approved by the Water Commissioner, be assessed for the water used in the institution at a special rate of $1.38 per 100 cubic feet.
| Quantity Charge | Rate (Per 100 Cubic Feet) |
|---|---|
| Special Charity Rate | $1.38 |
The quantity charge for the use of water by any public, parochial, inter-parochial schools, public libraries, and art museum of the Art Museum subdistrict of the Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District of the City of St. Louis and the County of St. Louis shall be assessed for the water used in the institution at a special rate of $1.55 per 100 cubic feet.
| Quantity Charge | Rate (Per 100 Cubic Feet) |
|---|---|
| Special Rate | $1.55 |
The quantity charge for the use of water by zoological parks of the Zoological subdistrict of the Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District of the City of St. Louis and the County of St. Louis shall be assessed for the water used in the institution at a special rate of $1.38 per 100 cubic feet.
| Quantity Charge | Rate (Per 100 Cubic Feet) |
|---|---|
| Special Rate | $1.38 |
In addition to the quantity charge for these institutions, there shall be assessed each billing period a readiness-to-serve charge for each meter in accordance with the schedule set forth in Ordinance #71683.
