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Community Corner

Changes are Coming to Your Water and Sewer Bill

Customers of Forsyth County Water and Sewer will see changes to bill date and due date.

In an effort to increase efficiency of its meter and reading operations, the Forsyth County Water and Sewer Department billing routes and cycles are being updated.

The routes and cycles will be more geographically grouped allowing meter readers to stay in one general area of the county throughout a work day, rather than travel from one part of the county to another. This new measure is expected to save fuel for the county.

“We are continuously seeking ways to improve our operations and become more efficient, and this adjustment is certainly one way of doing so,” said Tim Perkins, director of Water and Sewer.

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If you are a Forsyth County Water and Sewer customer, expect a potential change in your bill date and due date beginning with the March billing. You will receive detailed information about the upcoming change in this month's bills. If you do not, contact the Forsyth County Water and Sewer Customer Service at 770.781.2160.

What does this mean to you:


In February:

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For some customers, their water meter reading and billing has been handled as usual. After their February reading was taken and their bill was processed, their account is now being assigned to its new billing cycle.

Other customers will receive a minimum bill in February. This will allow meter services staff ample time to make all necessary changes in the billing software. After their February bill is processed, these customers’ accounts will be assigned to their new billing cycle.

In March:

Customers’ water meter reading and billing will be handled in their new cycles. Customers may receive and pay their bill at a different time of the month than they are accustomed. This change could result in some customers having a longer or shorter usage period than normal. However, charges will still be based on the same-tiered rate and daily average consumption that have been in place since 2006. The daily average consumption method ensures customers are billed in the correct tier (please see important information below regarding daily average consumption).

In April and beyond:

Customers’ water meters will be read and bills will be processed at approximately the same time as in March, returning customers to a typical billing cycle length.

Important information about meter reading and bill calculation:


Daily average consumption:

The Forsyth County Water and Sewer Department is not able to read all of the 47,000+ water meters in the county on the same day each month.

Since customers’ meters may be read on different days each month, their water and sewer bill is calculated based on a daily average consumption (gallons).

Using numbers found on the monthly water and sewer bill, consumption is calculated using the equation: (Curr Read - Prev Read) X Multiply. This consumption is then broken down into daily average consumption using the number of days in the service period. The daily average consumption is then billed according to the tiered water rate structure.

“We sincerely appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding during this transitional period,” said Christina Jones, controller for the Water and Sewer Department.

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