How Is Wastewater Service Billed?

Many agencies providing wastewater (sewer) service, including OMWD, calculate wastewater service bills based in part on water consumption at the property. Therefore, higher water consumption can lead to higher wastewater service bills.

Wastewater service charges are collected on each property owner’s tax bill on an annual basis. Wastewater service bills are due and payable in April and December of each year, at the same time that a property owner’s tax bill is due to the San Diego County Tax Assessor’s Office. 

For those customers whose water and wastewater service needs are served by different agencies, water usage data may be exchanged between agencies. For example:

• For customers who receive a wastewater service bill from OMWD and a water bill from the City of San Diego, the City provides water usage data to OMWD.
• For customers who receive a wastewater service from the City of San Diego and a water bill from OMWD, OMWD provides monthly water usage data to the City. The City bases the wastewater service charge on winter usage. If a customer’s water usage is higher this winter than it was in the previous year, the wastewater service bill may also be higher. For questions about how the City calculates wastewater service bills, visit the City’s website.

Each parcel receives one wastewater assessment. If a parcel has multiple water meters, the property tax bill will reflect a total of all wastewater assessments. Irrigation meters are not included in any calculations.