Water Utility FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a late payment charge of one percent (1%) per month on the outstanding balance due is applied when payments are not received by us on time. An additional 10% penalty will be charged if the utility has to transfer any unpaid delinquent balances, as of November 1st, to the tax roll.
Per Public Service Commission guidelines, we are not allowed to reverse or waive late fees.
The Mequon Water Utility has an automatic sewer proration in place for second and third quarters. The sewer consumption will be limited to the higher of your first quarter water usage or 14,000 gallons during this proration period.
The Mequon Water Utility does not perform final readings for utility bills for sales of property. The buyers and sellers should have the utility charges prorated as part of the closing process. If you are currently signed up for automatic withdrawal payment, you should contact the Finance Department to make sure this is removed and the bill is mailed to the correct address moving forward.
Mequon Water Utility customers are responsible for their water service from the curb stop valve outside (typically near the right of way line) into their house and past the meter. Mequon Utility customers are encouraged to check with their insurance company to see if repairs are already covered. Also, the customer needs to determine if this repair policy and its long term costs warrant coverage of this type. Mequon Utility customers should carefully read the proposed terms of service coverage for what is actually covered. The City of Mequon Water Utility does not endorse any of these insurance companies. The Water Utility is not affiliated in any way with these insurance companies or their programs.
Yes! If your toilet is running at all in between flushes, that means there is a leak. A good test to see if there is a leak in a toilet would be to put a few drops of food coloring into the tank of the toilet. After a few hours or overnight, you can check to see if the water color has changed in the bowl. If you are unsure how to fix the leak, you will want to get a plumber out to your home as soon as possible.
We want to exceed your customer service expectations. If you have questions or problems with your service or bill, please give us a call at 262-236-2947.
If a situation is not resolved to your satisfaction, you can contact the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin per instructions at the following link: https://psc.wi.gov/Pages/ForConsumers/LogAComplaint.aspx
We offer a variety of payment options including: automatic ACH withdrawal, online payments with credit card or e-check, in person at City Hall with cash or check or by mail with check.
Our mailing address for check payments is: 11333 N Cedarburg Rd, Mequon, WI 53092
Typically, we see water usage increase in the summer quarters due to lawn irrigation, filling pools and watering plants. Other things that may increase your usage include guests visiting or a leak. Leaks can seem very small but can run up your metered water significantly. For reference, a leak the size of a ball point pen can lead to almost 25,000 gallons of water usage over one month’s time.
For more information on how to check your home for leaks, check out the "Potential Leak Notice" document under Water Utility Documents and Reports.
Depending on what type of service you have with the city, you may have one or all of the following charges:
- Water Service Charge: Fixed charge based on capacity of service and maintenance of the water system; determined by your meter size
- Public Fire Protection Charge: Fixed charge based on the additional costs and capacity that are needed to provide adequate to fight a fire; determined by your meter size
- Water Volume Charge: Variable charge based on the number of gallons of water you use during the quarterly billing period
- Sewer Charge: Variable charge based on the water volume charge for gallons used during the quarterly billing period or Flat charge if you only receive sewer service through the utility
The current rates for these charges can be found in the Water Utility Service Guide on our website or the following link to the Public Service Commission will give you all the approved tariff information: http://apps.psc.wi.gov/vs2010/tariffs/viewfile.aspx?type=water&id=3595.
There are many factors that go into determining what the average consumption should be, so it is difficult to give an exact amount for this question. Some of the factors to consider are how many people live in your household, if you have guests visiting, if you have filled or are maintaining a water level in a pool or hot tub or if you are irrigating/watering your lawn. The average consumption is approximately 6,000 gallons per person per quarter.
Disconnection notices are mailed to customers with delinquent balances approximately 30 days after the due date. These notices request payment or payment arrangements be made within 5 business days or the customer will be subject to service shut-off. Utility staff will attempt to contact the customers by telephone if no customer response is received.
Shut-off notices are posted on delinquent customers' homes 24-48 hours prior to shut off following no customer communication from the disconnection notice. This is the final notice prior to the utility coming to the home to shut off service.
There is no charge for disconnection, but reconnection charges do apply.
The Mequon Water Utility purchases treated Lake Michigan water from North Shore Water Commission and Milwaukee Water Works for resale to utility customers.
Your water meter will be in your basement typically towards an outside wall with pipes coming from both sides. If you do not have a basement, the meter could be located in a utility closet.
In order to take a reading of your meter, you may need to lift up a gray cover in order to see the spinning dials.
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission governs all the water utilities in the state. The following two links provide information to answer any questions you may have:
Contact Info and General Questions: https://psc.wi.gov/Pages/Home.aspx
Rules and Regulations - State Ordinance PSC 185: http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/psc/185
Yes, the Mequon Water Utility began a program in 2018 to replace aging water meters in the Mequon Water Utility. This is mandated by the Public Service Commission (PSC), which requires replacement of water meters every 20 years. Because the Mequon Water Utility began in 1998, the oldest meters in the system are approaching their designated lifespan and are scheduled to be replaced.
If your residence or business is scheduled for a meter replacement, a notification/letter will be sent in the mail with instructions to set up an appointment. The replacement typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete and is no cost to you.
Please see our Mequon Meter Change Program page for more information.
