How to Calculate Your Water Bill
Your water bill includes these charges:
Minimum Bill + Volume Charge = Total Water Bill
All customers pay the minimum bill, which includes up to 2 Ccf (1,496 gallons) of water. If you use more than 2 Ccf, you pay an additional volume charge. To determine your minimum bill and volume charge, you need to know three things:
- Water used
This is on your bill in a unit called Ccf, which stands for Centum (hundred) cubic feet. One Ccf equals 748 gallons. To convert Ccf to gallons, multiply by 748. Ex. 6 Ccf x 748 = 4,488 gallons - Water connection size
Find it on your bill. Most residential customers have a 3/4 inch connection. - Whether you live inside or outside the city of Charleston
This affects your minimum bill and volume charge.
Calculate your water bill:
- Determine your minimum bill
Most residential customers have a 3/4 inch connection. If you used between 0 and 2 Ccf of water, you only pay the minimum bill amount. If you used more than 2 Ccf, continue to #2 below.
Rates effective 1/1/2023Connection Size Minimum Bill
Inside CityMinimum Bill
Outside City3/4 inch $13.95 $22.50 1 inch $17.10 $26.20 1 1/2 inches $35.00 $45.80 2 inches $47.70 $59.50 3 inches $103.00 $120.00 4 inches $165.50 $188.50 6 inches $289.50 $329.00 8 inches $478.50 $532.50 10 inches $635.00 $704.50 12 inches $729.50 $807.50
- Determine how much water you used above the 2 Ccf minimum bill amount
If you used 6 Ccf, the first 2 Ccf are included in the minimum bill. That means you'll pay a volume charge for the other 4 Ccf.
6 Ccf (total usage) - 2 Ccf (included in minimum bill) = 4 Ccf
- Calculate the volume charge
Find the appropriate unit rate (inside or outside City) and multiply by the amount of water you calculated in step 2.
Rates effective 1/1/2023Water Use Inside City of Charleston Outside City Over 2 Ccf $2.23 per Ccf $4.20 per Ccf
Continuing the example from above, if the customer lives inside city of Charleston, calculate volume charge like this:
2023 Rates 4 Ccf x $2.23 = $8.92 (volume charge) - Add the volume charge to the minimum bill
This will give you your total water bill. Here's what it would look like for a residential customer who lives in the city of Charleston and used 6 Ccf (4,488 gallons) of water:
$13.95 (minimum bill) + $8.92 (volume charge) = $22.87 (total water bill)
- Determine how much water you used above the 2 Ccf minimum bill amount