Water & Sewer Bill Pay

To provide water and sewer services, there is a portion of the costs that are fixed charges. These are sometimes called the ready to serve costs. Essentially, there is a certain level of costs that are incurred to staff, operate and maintain our system prior to delivering any water or treating any wastewater from our customers. There is a requirement for minimum staffing to be prepared to provide service, a certain amount of supplies such as tools, training, and equipment that are needed to be ready to serve and there are electrical and gas charges to our facilities so that they can be ready to serve our demands. These fixed charges are calculated as a percentage of the budget components to determine the fixed charges of operating the water and sewer system.

To provide water and sewer services, there is a portion of the costs that are variable charges. These charges are the costs to treat and distribute water and to collect, treat and dispose wastewater. The variable charge for water is essentially the cost to pump it out of Lake Tahoe, treat the water and deliver it to the customer. The variable charge for sewer is essentially what it costs to collect the wastewater and deliver it to the wastewater plant, treat the wastewater, pump and dispose of the effluent and biosolids. This requires staff, chemicals, supplies, tools, equipment, and energy to perform these services.

The capital improvement charge funds the replacement of water and sewer infrastructure. There are separate connection fees to new customers to buy into existing infrastructure. The capital charge is based on funding the costs of the five year capital improvement plan with a consideration for the multi-year capital plan.

The Defensible Space Fee pays for the work IVGID does on its property to manage the watershed and reduce fire fuel loads. This work also provides a protective boundary for the homes of Incline Village and Crystal Bay from the potential destruction caused by wildfires. The Fuels Management Program began in 1991 in a collaboration of the NLTFPD and IVGID. Annually approximately $450,000 to $500,000 is spent to maintain the 1,000+acres of land IVGID owns.  The defensible space fee on the Public Works statement pays for 50% of the IVGID share of costs for fuels treatment. The other 50% share of this cost is paid by the IVGID Recreation Facility Fee.  The Angora Fire in South Lake Tahoe and wild fires in other mountain regions continue to remind us of the significance of this effort in our community.