• What rate do I pay?

• How are the residential rates established?

• What are the different ways I can pay?

• Can I pay monthly?

• How and when am I billed?

• Why was my water service or sewer service disconnected?

• How do I get a lien released?

• How are commercial customers billed?

What rate do I pay?
Residential sewer bills are based upon water meter information from January – March of the prior year. In the event water meter information is not available for a customer for the specified winter months, the customer is billed the median amount. Currently the median sewer bill is $ 76.61 per quarter. Additionally, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has a fee of 5¢ per household, per month.

How are the residential rates established?
There are three components to RCPSD rate structure. The first is the base fee. The base fee is $51.75 per quarter. The base fee is used largely to pay off the $25 million in bond debt over the next 20 years. The variable fee is $1.95 per 1,000 gallons of water that is used. This represents the districts direct cost to treat the wastewater. It costs the district $1.95 for each 1,000 gallons of wastewater that is processed. The third component is a charge of 15¢ by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR).

Example: Let us assume you used 18,000 gallons of water over a three-month period.

Variable Fee Calculation
          18,000 gallons / 1,000 gallons = 18.0
          18.0 x $1.95 = $35.10 = Variable Fee
 
Base Fee
          $51.75 per quarter = Base fee

MoDNR Fee
          15¢ (MoDNR Fee)

Total Bill Calculation
          $35.10 Variable Fee + $51.75 Base Fee + 15¢ MoDNR = $87.00 Total Bill

What are the different ways I can pay?
There are several ways you can pay your sewer bill:

• In person - Customers can pay in person at district offices at 5124 Warren Road, Imperial between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.

• By Phone - Customers can pay their bill over the phone by an electronic funds transfer.  A fee of $1.00 is charged for payments that are made over the phone.

• Bank draft - Customers may pay their bill by bank draft. To establish a bank draft, a copy of a voided check would be provided that shows the required routing and bank account information.

• Drop Slot - Customers may also use the 24-hour drop box located at the base of the front door of the districts administration office at 5124 Warren Road.

Can I Pay Monthly?
Monthly payment of a quarterly bill will be accepted provided the monthly payment (equal to 1/3 of the quarterly bill) is paid by the 15^th of each month of the quarter.  Customers must use caution in using this option.  The district will not send a bill monthly nor will a reminder be sent to the customer.

How and when am I billed?

• Bills Issued - Sewer bills are sent out quarterly- January 1^st, April 1^st, July 1^st, and October 1^st.

• Bill Due Date -  Payments of each quarterly bill are due by the 15^th of the month. Accordingly, the January 1 bill is due by January 15^th, the April 1 bill is due April 15, etc.

• Late Charge - Quarterly bills that are not paid by the end of the month in which the bills were issued (that is by January 31^st , April 30^th , etc.) become delinquent. A ten percent (10%) delinquency charge is made against all delinquent bills.  The delinquency charge is made against the entire principal amount due and will appear on the next quarterly bill.

• Crediting - All payments will be credited to late fees and other charges prior to basic service

• Payments - fees regardless of customer request.

Why was my water service or sewer service disconnected?
Bills that are more than three months in arrears are subject to water or service disconnection for non-payment of sewer bill. Restoration of service and reconnection will take place only after all past due amounts, including the late charges, are paid in full. 

The entire cost of reconnection must be paid in full prior to restoration of service.  Each public water district charges the district a disconnection/reconnection fee of $100.00.  That fee is collected from the customer prior to authorizing restoration of water service.

In the event a lateral has been dug up and capped by the district, all fees must be paid in full prior to being authorized to reconnect to the sewer system.  The district will charge the customer its cost to dig up and cap the lateral.  It will be customer’s responsible to pay a plumber or drainlayer to reconnect the lateral to the sewer system.

How do I get a lien released?
In addition to disconnecting water or sewer, the district may file a lien against the property for the total amount due.  All costs to record and release the lien are charged against the customer’s account.  The entire balance due must be paid in full prior to the release of the lien. 

It is important to have your lien cleared prior to the sale of the property or refinancing of the mortgage.

How are commercial customers billed?
Commercial customers are billed at $24.05 for a minimum of 16,000 gallons of water and $2.46 per 1,000 gallons exceeding the first 16,000 gallons of water.

Still have questions?
Staff at RCPSD is available to help you Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. at 636-464-3305. For emergencies after hours, please call 314-889-1904.