Estero Municipal Improvement District

ABOUT BAWSCA

The Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) is a special district providing regional water supply planning, resource development, and conservation program services to over 1.8 million residents and 40,000 commercial, industrial and institutional accounts across San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda Counties.

Established through special legislation in 2003, BAWSCA was formed by its member organizations to ensure reliable, high-quality water at fair prices to protect the health, safety, and economic vitality of its service area.

BAWSCA is the only entity legally authorized to directly represent the interests of its member agencies regarding the San Francisco Regional Water System (SF RWS). The organization enables its customers to work with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) on equal footing to ensure proper system maintenance and resource management.

MEMBER AGENCIES

San Mateo County: BAWSCA serves approximately 745,000 people within a 185 square mile area in San Mateo County. Member agencies include the cities of Brisbane, Burlingame, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Redwood City, San Mateo, California Water Service districts, Coastside County Water District, Estero Municipal Improvement District, Guadalupe Valley Municipal Improvement District, Hillsborough, Mid-Peninsula Water District, North Coast County Water District, and Westborough Water District.

Santa Clara County: BAWSCA serves approximately 547,000 people within a 117 square mile area in Santa Clara County. Member agencies include the cities of Milpitas, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Purissima Hills Water District, San Jose Municipal Water System, and Stanford University.

Alameda County: BAWSCA serves approximately 510,000 people within a 166 square mile area in Alameda County. Member agencies include Alameda County Water District and the City of Hayward.

Does the City provide public assistance for water/sewer bills?
Yes. The City offers assistance programs for eligible elderly residents who qualify for the Real Estate Tax Elderly Exemption (Clause 41C). Applications must be submitted through the City Assessor's Office, and if approved, a water/sewer billing discount of $42.50 per quarterly bill applies, up to $170.00 annually.

How can I reduce my water bill and conserve water?
Bills vary based on consumption patterns and personal water habits. You can lower usage by installing water-efficient fixtures or following simple conservation practices. Visit our Water Conservation Tips page for additional strategies.

How do I locate a water leak?

• Faucets - Inspect all faucets and pipes for dripping water beneath sinks and from exposed plumbing. Check with water both on and off, as some leaks only occur when water is flowing.
• Toilets - Add several drops of food coloring to the toilet tank. Without flushing, wait a few minutes. If coloring appears in the bowl, you have a leak. Note that some toilet leaks are intermittent.
• Pipes - Examine basement plumbing by looking for water droplets on exposed pipes.
• Meter - Turn off all water-using appliances and fixtures inside and outside your home. Check if the meter's leak detector (small triangle indicator) is moving or vibrating. Movement indicates a likely leak requiring further investigation.

How do I read my water meter?
Your water meter reads from left to right, similar to a car odometer. Readings are in hundred cubic feet units (100cf = 748 gallons).

How often will I receive a bill?
Most residential meters are billed quarterly (approximately every three months). Commercial meters typically receive monthly billing.

What's the procedure for Real Estate Transfers?
The City does NOT provide meter readings for final bills. The seller or representative must obtain a final reading from the water meter and notify their attorney before closing. The attorney handling the transaction should call the Water Billing Office at 508-799-1440 for the outstanding water and sewer usage calculation, which will be verbally provided for inclusion in closing documents.

What is a Fire Pipe Service charge?
Fire Pipe Service charges are ANNUAL bills issued to property owners with private fire protection systems. These bills are sent in August/September yearly, covering July 1st through June 30th, and represent prepayment for fire pipe services. The annual fee is based on pipe diameter, with each 1" of pipe diameter costing $89.00 annually.

What payment options are available?
You may pay your bills through several methods:

• In person at City Hall (Treasurer's Office)
• Online through our Online Payments portal
• Mail to PO Box 15602, Worcester, MA 01615

Why does my bill amount fluctuate between billing periods?
Your water bill is consumption-based, calculated in units shown on your bill under the usage section. Units are measured in hundred cubic feet (CCF), and usage varies due to several factors. Many customers increase water usage during summer months for gardens, car washing, swimming pools, etc. Bills may also vary based on the number of days in a billing period, which can sometimes be more or less than 90 days depending on when your meter was read.

Why is my bill estimated?
Bills are estimated when actual meter readings cannot be obtained. Readings are normally collected via an automated meter reading (AMR) drive-by system. If your meter interface unit (MIU) malfunctions, you'll receive an estimated bill based on historical usage. If you receive an estimated bill, please contact DPW Customer Service at 508-929-1300 to schedule a free meter repair.

Why is my bill unusually high?
Bills fluctuate according to water consumption patterns. A significant increase might indicate a leak. If you suspect a leak or receive a high consumption notification, check all plumbing fixtures. If you cannot locate a problem, contact the Water Billing Office at 508-799-1440 to schedule a complimentary home inspection.

Why is my sewer charge higher than my water charge?
Sewer rates exceed water rates for several reasons, including differences in infrastructure installation and maintenance costs between water distribution and sewer collection systems. Additionally, wastewater treatment costs have increased more dramatically over time than drinking water production costs. For FY2019, the water rate is $3.67 and the sewer rate is $7.43 per hundred cubic feet of usage.