Mississippi Survey of Drinking Water Organization Characteristics and Rate Structures

Department of Agricultural Economics • PO Box 5187 • Mississippi State, MS 39762 • (662) 325-2750

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INTRODUCTION Eighty-eight percent of the approximately 1,200 public water systems in Mississippi are considered community water systems; that is, they serve at least 15 service connections or 25 residents on a year-round basis. In 2012, Mississippi State University Extension Service faculty surveyed all public water systems in the state to acquire information about the structure and level of water rates for Mississippi’s community water systems. An equally important goal was to obtain information about how rates were set, as well as general information regarding system characteristics. Many of these systems were created in the 1960s to provide safe drinking water to rural areas through a program developed and implemented by the Farmers Home Administration. Today, many of these systems face substantial challenges, including aging infrastructure, increased legal mandates and regulations, and subpar management practices. These challenges stress the need for water systems to continually monitor their rate structures and understand that they may use the rate structure to remain (or become) viable. Each Mississippi public water system has a public water system identification number assigned by the state Department of Health/Bureau of Public Water Supply. For the purposes of this study, multiple individual public water systems having the same responsible party and mailing address were determined to belong to a single organizational body and to be governed in the same manner. These organizational bodies (whether municipal, rural, county district, utility authority, or privately owned) will be referred to hereafter as organizations unless otherwise specified. To gain insight regarding the environment of water rate levels and structures in the state, surveys were sent to all public water systems in the state of Mississippi. The systems were asked to complete one survey per organization since, as previously mentioned, one organization can consist of multiple smaller systems with separate public water system identification numbers. The organizations were asked to respond to survey questions regarding population, connections, rate structures, and other factors that reflect the organization as a whole. Respondents were asked to list each identification number contributing to the data on a single survey. Because organizations consisting of multiple identification numbers act as one body, separate surveys returned containing data belonging to a single organization were aggregated for this publication. Aggregated data was verified using a master list of system information and characteristics provided by the Mississippi Department of Health/Bureau of Public Water Supply.

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Surveys were sent to 1,252 individual community water systems across the state. It was determined that these systems are controlled by 976 organizations. Systems serving institutions such as schools, hospitals, and prisons (noncommunity systems) were not included in this publication. Three hundred sixteen organizations returned surveys for a response rate of 32 percent. Duplicate surveys were discarded and separate surveys responding with data for each public water system identification number were combined to represent organizations. An additional 20 survey responses were discarded because the systems were deemed noncommunity systems (such as campgrounds and state parks) that do not charge for water in the traditional sense. Finally, four additional survey responses were discarded because they came from schools or federal programs that do not charge individual customers for water. Thus, 292 survey responses were used in the following analyses.

WATER SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS Sixty-two percent (182) of the usable survey responses from community water organizations in Mississippi were rural water association organizations, while approximately 29 percent (84) were municipal water organizations. This compares favorably to the overall population of water organizations in the state, with 59 percent being organized as associations and 33 percent being organizations governed by a municipality. The remaining 26 responses were classified as utilities, districts, or privately owned community systems. Fifty-five percent (161) of the responding organizations were classified as small based on population data provided by the Mississippi Department of Health/Bureau of Public Water Supply (small was defined as a system with a served population between 501 and 3,300 people). Fifteen percent (45) of the responding organizations were considered very small by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), serving a population of 500 or fewer. Twenty-two percent (64) were classified as being medium (serving between 3,301 and 10,000 customers), while 8 percent (22) were considered large (serving between 10,001 and 100,000 customers). The largest responding organization served a population of approximately 47,000. While applying these size definitions to organizations (rather than individual systems) is not a common practice, it was deemed acceptable for the purpose of this study because it provided a commonly understood delineation. The majority of the responding organizations were classified as Class D (59 percent), while 22 percent were Class C, 13 percent were Class B, and 6 percent were Class E. Twenty-five systems indicated that they purchase at least a portion of the

Percentage of Total Respondents

total water sold. Of these 25 responses, 17 of them were Class E systems. The remaining responses indicating that some water is purchased from another organization were comprised of Class B (2), Class C (2), and Class D (4) organizations. These

organizations reported purchasing between 1 percent and 60 percent of the water sold. Figure 1 shows the percentage of organizations in each size category broken into the various classes.

35% 30%

Class B

25%

Class C

20%

Class D

15%

Class E

10% 5% 0% Very small

Small

Medium

Large

System Size

Figure 1. Water system size and class. Along with providing drinking water, some of the organizations responding to the survey provided additional utility services to the public, such as sewer/wastewater, natural gas, and/ or electricity. A total of 108 organizations responding to the survey (37 percent) provided drinking water and one or more other services (the majority of these were municipal organi-

zations). Of these 108 organizations providing other services, 106 organizations provided sewer/wastewater services along with drinking water. Ten organizations provided natural gas, and eight organizations provided electricity. Figure 2 depicts the number of organizations providing additional utilities.

Number of Systems

120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Wastewater

Electricity

Natural gas

Wastewater & electricity

Wastewater & natural gas

Wastewater, electricity, & natural gas

Additional Services Provided

Figure 2. Additional services provided. System population is calculated as being 2.6 people per system connection. Class B organizations are those organizations having two or more Class C treatment facilities or organizations with iron and/or manganese removal facilities. Class C organizations are organizations with aeration, pH adjustment, corrosion control, or closed pressure type facilities. Class D organizations provide no treatment to the water other than chlorination, fluoridation, or direct chemical feed. Class E organizations purchase all finished water from other systems. (Source: Recommended Minimum Performance Guidelines for Certified Waterworks Operators in the State of Mississippi, Mississippi Department of Health.)

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rate structure reported by the systems to the answers that were given for the questions regarding the minimum fee, minimum gallons, and charge per block, it was apparent that many of the organizations do not have a full understanding of the various types of rate structures. One of the more common mistakes made by organizations was reporting a flat or increasing block rate when the rate structure was actually uniform. Figure 3 shows that only a small portion of the reporting organizations (6 percent) used a flat-rate structure. Organizations using a flat-rate structure charged customers a fixed amount for an unlimited number of gallons of water consumed during the billing cycle. For example, an organization using a flat-rate structure may charge all customers $20 per billing cycle regardless of the amount of water consumed. The majority of organizations (94 percent) responding to the survey charged customers for water based on the number of gallons consumed. The most common rate structure among survey respondents was the uniform-rate structure (used by 68 percent of responding organizations). This was followed by the increasing block-rate structure (16 percent) and the decreasing block-rate structure (10 percent). Most of these organizations charged a minimum fee for a specified number of gallons plus a flow rate for the amount of water used in excess of the number of gallons covered by the minimum fee. The number of gallons covered in the flow rate is divided into units, or blocks, of consumption called price blocks. For example, an organization may charge $15 (minimum fee) for the first 2,000 gallons of water consumed and an

The survey also asked whether the organizations impose a tap/connection fee and a late fee. Two hundred eighty-two organizations (97 percent of the responses) indicated a tap/connection fee is charged. Two hundred forty-nine organizations indicated that a flat fee is charged for a new connection and did not specify if connection size affected the fee. Thirty-three organizations specified fees based on the size of the line being installed or actual cost. The residential tap/connection fee, as reported by these organizations, ranged from $5 to $3,400; the average tap fee collected is $496. Two hundred seventy-nine organizations (96 percent) reported charging a late fee. While 82 of these organizations charged a fixed dollar amount late fee, 187 organizations charged a late fee that is based on a percentage of the water bill or a combination of both. The fixed late fees ranged from 50 cents to $35. The late fees assessed as a percentage of the total bill ranged from 2 percent to 44 percent. Forty-four percent of survey respondents (129 organizations) planned to implement capital improvements. Forty-seven organizations that planned to make capital improvements also expected to adjust water rates in the near future.

Rate Structures Organizations were asked to report the type of rate structure used to generate revenue from sales of water. Organizations often implement the same rate structure for all individual water systems governed by the organization’s board or responsible party; therefore, the data reported in the survey was expected to reflect the organization as a whole. By comparing the type of

6% 10%

Flat Uniform

16%

Increasing 68%

Figure 3. Rate structures.

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Decreasing

additional $3 for every 1,000 gallons (price block) consumed after the initial 2,000 gallons. As water consumption increases, the dollar amounts charged for each additional price block can remain the same, increase, or decrease. Since the price blocks for organizations using a uniform rate structure are constant, these are considered to have one pricing block. Organizations using an increasing-rate structure used an average of two price blocks, while organizations with a decreasing-rate structure had an average of three price blocks. Figure 4 shows the number of organizations using the various numbers of price blocks in their rate structure.

Residential Drinking Water Rates The price of drinking water for organizations charging customers a flat rate ranged from $6 to $36 with an average flat-rate fee of $19.78. The fixed monthly residential fee for organizations having a block-rate structure (uniform, increasing, or decreasing) ranged from $4.00 to $42.25, and the number of gallons covered by this minimum fee ranged from 0 to 9,000. Block-rate structured organizations charged an average minimum fee of $15.65, with an average of 2,258 gallons being included in the minimum fee. Table 1 shows rate structures reported by 265 organizations based on size.

180

Number of Systems

160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 1

2

3

4

5

Number of Price Blocks

Figure 4. Number of price blocks.

Table 1. Rate structures by organization size.

Rate structures by organization size

# % of number # of very small # of small # of medium # of large reporting reporting organizations organizations organizations organizations

Flat 17 6.4 7

6

4

0

Uniform 179 67.5

23

105

44

7

Increasing 43

16.2

7

25

6

5

Decreasing 26

9.8

7

9

3

7

3 A uniform block-rate structure consists of a minimum fee for a specified number of gallons plus an additional constant charge for a series of price blocks consumed in addition to the gallons included in the minimum fee. For example: For every 1,000 gallons consumed in addition to the minimum gallons, the customer is charged $3 per 1,000 gallons. An increasing block-rate structure consists of a minimum fee for a specified number of gallons plus a series of price blocks that increase in price as consumption increases. For example: For the first 1,000 gallons consumed in addition to the minimum gallons, the customer is charged $3. The customer is charged $3.50 for the next 1,000 gallons, and so forth. A decreasing block-rate structure consists of a minimum fee for a specified number of gallons plus a series of price blocks that decrease in price as consumption increases. For example: For the first 1,000 gallons consumed in addition to the minimum gallons, the customer is charged $3. The customer is charged $2.50 for the next 1,000 gallons, and so forth.

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Nonresidential Drinking Water Rates Twenty-three percent of water organizations charged a separate rate to nonresidential customers, such as agricultural, industrial, or commercial customers. For those systems charging a separate rate to nonresidential users, the monthly charge for 10,000 gallons of water for agricultural customers ranged from $27.00 to $97.60, with an average of $51.74. The monthly charge for 10,000 gallons of water for industrial users ranged from $19.29 to $280.00, with an average of $82.69. The monthly charge for commercial users ranged from $19.29 to $129.00, with an average of $50.72.

Rate Setting

This number is potentially greater since the surveys were completed midyear 2012 and rates may have changed for other organizations. Rates have remained constant for 13 percent of the organizations for 6 to 10 years and for 5 percent of organizations for 11 to 15 years. Only 2 percent indicated that it has been longer than 15 years since the last rate increase. Thirty-four percent (98) of the organizations surveyed expected to increase or adjust rates in the near future. Thirty-two organizations expected a rate increase in the latter half of 2012, 23 organizations expected to implement a rate increase in 2013, and five organizations expected to implement a rate increase in 2014 or later. One hundred thirteen responding water organizations underwent a comprehensive water rate analysis, with 58 of these analyses conducted since 2010. The remaining rate analyses were conducted for 2009 and earlier. These analyses were completed by a variety of individuals including accountants, engineers, technical assistance providers, board members, and others. A majority of these analyses (89) were conducted

Rate Setting Methods

Water organizations vary not only in rates and rate structures, but also in the method used to determine whether to increase or adjust rates. Many organizations used more than one method for determining rate adjustments. Sixty-six percent (193 organizations) of the surveys returned indicated that the organizations’ board members analyze the fixed and variable costs, budgets, revenues and expenditures, changes in customer base, and future renovations and expansions of the organization when making rate decisions. Eighteen percent (52 organizations) contacted a technical assistance provider to conduct a comprehensive rate analysis to determine the best rates. Eight percent (24 organizations) set rates that are comparable to the rates of neighboring water systems. Four percent (11 organizations) raised or adjusted rates by a fixed amount at a routine time, while two percent (7 organizations) did not raise or adjust rates. These percentages indicated that 98 percent of the responding organizations answered this question. The remainOther/no response ing two percent either overlooked the question Does not adjust rates or chose not to respond. Figure 5 shows the perAdjusts rates in fixed amounts centage of water systems using various methods for Sets rates comparable to neighbors determining rates. Of the 292 organiReceives help from tech assistance providers zations responding to the survey, 270 answered Board analyzes costs, budgets, etc. questions regarding 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% rate increases. Of these organizations, 80 percent Percentages (216) have increased rates within the past 5 years. Figure 5. Methods used for rate setting.

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60%

70%

The usual purpose of the base minimum fee is to cover fixed costs incurred by the water organizations. The average residential minimum fee for very small and small organizations was greater than the average minimum fee when taking all organizations into consideration. Tech assistance providers Statistical analyses of the averages of the minimum fee Engineering firms for each organizational size revealed Board members/internal that there was no statistical difference Accountants between the very small and small, the Other small and medium, and the medium and 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 large size pairs. This indicated that an Number of Water Systems organization with a relatively large number Figure 6. Entities performing rate analyses. of customers would be able to charge a lower minimum fee than an organization with a smaller number of connections since the fixed costs of the organization could be Several other findings regarding water rates were identified dispersed among a greater number of customers. This appears from analysis of the data. These findings relate to the organito be the case for municipal organizations since population zations’ size, number of other services provided, location, and density is relatively high and purported to be much more contype of organizational structure. stant across organizations than would be the case for organizations established as nonprofit associations. Size Table 2 also demonstrates the average monthly residential A water organization’s size was determined by the number of charges for 10,000 gallons. While the averages tend to trend connections and the population served by the organization. downward slightly as water organizations get larger (with the The effective residential minimum fee (the reported minimum exception of the very small organizations), statistical analyses fee was converted to a 1,000-gallon basis) and monthly charge of these charges using organizational size class as the analysis for 10,000 gallons of drinking water for residents living inside factor indicate no statistical difference in the average charges the county/city limits were compared to size indicators to debetween any system size. This is reaffirmed by the small variatect any trends. The average residential effective minimum fee tions shown in the table. decreased as the organization population class size increased (see Table 2).

Entities Performing Rate Analyses

by technical assistance providers such as the Community Resource Group or the Mississippi Rural Water Association. Figure 6 shows the number of rate analyses performed by various entities.

Additional Survey Findings

Table 2. Comparison of population size and fee structure. EPA class size

Average residential minimum monthly fee (1,000-gallon basis)

Average monthly charge for 10,000 gallons

$8.41

$41.27

Small

$7.81

$41.83

Medium

$6.71

$40.51

Large

$5.43

$38.07

Average

$7.49

$41.12



Very small

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for treatment classes and locations within the state. Statistical analyses show that while there is a significant difference between the average effective minimum charges between regions when using treatment class as the analysis factor, there is no significant difference in the average charge for 10,000 gallons when using the same analysis scenario.

Of the 292 total reporting organizations, only 233 organizations reported the residential billing rate for 10,000 gallons of drinking water. For the purposes of this analysis, the state was divided into five regions: Hills Region, Pines Region, Delta Region, Capital/River Region, and Coastal Region as shown in Figure 9. Table 3 compares the average effective minimum rates and billing charges for 10,000 gallons of residential water

Table 3. Average billing rates by treatment class and location. Region Capital Hills Delta River Pines Coastal # of systems reporting 2 3 9 19 2 Effective minimum rate (1,000 gal)

$7.55

$3.76

$9.58

$7.75

$5.25



Average billing charge for 10,000 gal

$52.38

$26.31

$47.20

$50.15

$42.00



# of systems reporting

20

0

16

14

16



Effective minimum rate (1,000 gal)

$6.40

N/A

$9.01

$8.26

$8.49



Average billing charge for 10,000 gal

$36.69

N/A

$47.24

$42.28

$42.80



# of systems reporting

39

31

21

46

35



Effective minimum rate (1,000 gal)

$6.49

$8.78

$8.35

$7.33

$6.26

Average billing charge for 10,000 gal

$38.65

$39.15

$44.45

$39.66

$39.29



Class B

Class C

Class D



Table 4 shows the average billing rate reported by organizations based on size. Statistical analyses show that neither the average effective minimum fee for 1,000 gallons nor the charge

for 10,000 gallons is the same across the size classes. This is affirmed by examining the relatively large variations in the average charges contained in Table 4.

Table 4. Average billing rates by size and location. Region Capital Hills Delta River Pines Coastal # of systems reporting 6 14 7 13 4 Very small

Effective minimum rate (1,000 gal)

$9.33

$10.90

$9.13

$6.30

$5.75



Average billing charge for 10,000 gal

$47.50

$40.36

$49.35

$42.50

$33.13



# of systems reporting

39

15

22

51

32



Effective minimum rate (1,000 gal)

$6.49

$7.77

$9.51

$8.29

$7.54



Average billing charge for 10,000 gal

$37.70

$38.81

$46.23

$46.27

$39.66



# of systems reporting

18

5

11

14

16

Medium

Effective minimum rate (1,000 gal)

$6.22

$7.00

$9.71

$5.82

$5.91



Average billing charge for 10,000 gal

$41.58

$38.16

$48.07

$33.25

$43.38



# of systems reporting

4

4

7

5

1



Effective minimum rate (1,000 gal)

$3.71

$5.23

$5.07

$8.11

N/A

Average billing charge for 10,000 gal

$34.63

$27.70

$40.30

$44.53

N/A

Small

Large



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Figure 7 indicates that the average monthly charge for 10,000 gallons of drinking water and the residential minimum fee both decrease as the number of service connections increases. This again could be due to increasing economies of

scale that occur as fixed costs are spread over a larger number of connections and as population (connection) density increases for the water organization’s service area.

$45.00 $40.00 $35.00

Average monthly charge for 10,000 gallons

Dollars

$30.00 $25.00 $20.00

Average minimum fee

$15.00 $10.00 $5.00 $0.00

1-1,000

1,001-2,000

2,001-3,000

>3,000

Connections

Figure 7. Average charge for 10,000 gallons based on connections. Additional Services Provided

average monthly charge for 10,000 gallons of water, regardless of whether any other services were provided, was $41.41. Fifty-eight organizations did not provide the monthly charge for 10,000 gallons. The average monthly charge of $46.14 for organizations providing no services other than drinking water differed from the average monthly charge of all organizations responding to the survey of $41.41 for 10,000 gallons.

Average Charge for 10,000 Gallons

When comparing the number of services provided with the monthly charge of 10,000 gallons of residential drinking water, the average monthly charge tended to decrease as the number of services increased. The average monthly charge for organizations providing one or more services was nearly $10 less than the total average (Figure 8). As previously noted, the

$50.00 $45.00 $40.00 $35.00 $30.00 $25.00 $20.00 $15.00 $10.00 $5.00 $0.00

0

1

2

3

Number of Additional Services Provided

Figure 8. Additional services provided.

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Table 5. Comparison of municipal and association organizations. # of organizations reporting

Very small

Municipalities Average Average # of effective charge for organizations minimum fee 10,000 gallons reporting

Associations Average effective minimum fee

Average charge for 10,000 gallons

13

$6.66

$44.22

29

$8.81

$39.43

Small

41

$6.80

$36.20

109

$8.53

$45.96

Medium

17

$4.43

$26.99

40

$7.77

$48.14

Large 18 $4.00 $35.89 3 $8.11 $60.76

Location

The charge for 10,000 gallons of residential drinking water was further analyzed with respect to the various regions of the state. The Delta Region had the fewest responses in total. The Pines Region had the most organizations reporting a flat-rate structure, while the Hills Region had the most organizations reporting increasing-rate structures. The Pines Region reported the most uniform-rate structures as well as the most decreasing block-rate structures. The average cost for 10,000

Delta Region $37.36

Capital/River Region $45.86

Figure 9. Regional average charge for

10

gallons of drinking water for each region ranged from $38.25 to $45.14 with an average cost of $41.25 (Figure 9). Analyses show that there are statistical differences between the average charges when using regional location as the critical factor.

Comparison of rural and municipal organizations Ninety-one percent of the organizations completing the survey were either rural water associations or municipalities. When analyzing the data for rural water associations and municipal organizations only, the average effective minimum fee paid for water was $7.64 per 1,000 gallons (Table 5). The average effective minimum fee charged by rural water associations was $8.40 per 1,000 Hills Region gallons and was 40 percent higher than the $38.94 average fee charged by municipalities ($5.99). The median effective minimum fee for municipalities was $5.58 (half of the customers pay this amount), while the median effective minimum fee for rural organizations was $7.50. The median effective minimum charge Pines Region when considering both types of organizational $42.72 structures was $7.50. Association and municipal organizations were also analyzed with regards to their monthly charge for 10,000 gallons for residents living inside the county or city limits. The average charge for 10,000 gallons for rural water organizations ($45.77) was 32 percent greater than the average amount charged by municipal organizations ($34.80). The average monthly Coastal Region charge for the two types combined was $41.70. $40.31 The median for the 10,000-gallon charge for the two types of organizations combined was $41.25. The median 10,000-gallon fee for customers of rural water associations was $45.50 and $33.51 for municipal customers. This measure also indicated that customers of rural water organizations tend to pay more for 10,000 gallons. their water consumption.

There are a variety of factors that could contribute to the effective minimum fee and the 10,000-gallon monthly charge appearing greater for rural organizations than for municipal organizations. The average monthly charge for organizations providing at least one additional service was less than the charge for organizations providing only drinking water. Eightyeight percent of the municipal organizations surveyed provided at least one additional utility service, while only 8 percent of the rural organizations provided other utility services. Organization size may contribute to the average rural association customer paying more for water. The 10,000-gallon monthly charge for large organizations was less than that of the systems that were classified as very small, small, or medium (Table 1). Seventeen percent of the municipal organizations surveyed were classified as large, while only 2 percent of the rural organizations were this size. Population density is another probable contributing factor. While the survey did not obtain any information regarding the population density of the water organizations, towns and cities tend to be more densely populated than rural communities. Water organizations in more densely populated areas appear to have more cost advantages with regards to facility and maintenance costs. This leads to lower costs being passed to the customers. More research is needed to identify the factors that are critical in determining billing rates. While many of these factors are necessarily related to water production (well depth, distribution terrain, treatment requirements, etc.), others are likely to be related to management and governing body issues.

Appendix The appendix shows selected information collected through the survey for each responding organization. Although the names of the organizations are not revealed, the organizations are sorted according to region and population served. Figure 9 can be used as a guide to determine the counties in each region. When interpreting this information, it is important to remember that this information was reported for organizations as a whole, which often contain more than one public water system identification number. However, in some cases, one organization may represent only one public water system identification number.

Summary A wide variety of information regarding Mississippi’s community water organizations was collected through the water rate survey. Most of the state’s community water organizations were either very small or small, serving a population less than 3,300. Most organizations charged a minimum fee and a block rate (with a majority using a uniform block rate), while only a few organizations had a flat rate. The average charge for 10,000 gallons of drinking water for residential accounts for customers living inside the county or city limits for all types of organizations was $41.12. This average charge tended to be greater for rural water organizations than municipal organizations, and larger water organizations tended to charge less for water. As the size of water organizations increased, the average minimum fee and the average charge for 10,000 gallons of water both decreased. Approximately 37 percent of the organizations surveyed provided additional services other than drinking water. Those organizations providing at least one other service to customers charged less for drinking water than those organizations providing only drinking water. Water rates and average monthly charges varied for different regions of the state.

For More Information For more information regarding this study or for help analyzing the water rates for your system, please contact us: Lauren Behel (662) 325.6807 [email protected] or Alan Barefield (662) 325.7995 [email protected]

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MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE DRINKING WATER RATE SURVEY FOR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS PWS ID: ______________________

Water System: ______________________________________________________________

Are there other water system PWS IDs that are under the same board or management structure as this PSW ID? If so, please provide the PWS ID numbers for these systems in the space provided. ________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ WATER SYSTEM INFORMATON 1. How large a population is served by the water system? ______________ persons 2. How many connections does the water system have in the following categories?

Residential service connections _______ meters



Agricultural service connections _______ meters



Commercial service connections _______ meters



Industrial service connections _______ meters

3. Which of the following services are provided by your organization? Please check all that apply: o Drinking water o Electricity o Natural gas o Wastewater/sewer 4. Does the water system purchase any of the water (that it sells) from another system? o Yes o No If yes, what percentage of water sold is purchased? _______ % 5. How much does the water system charge for a tap or connection fee?

Residential $_______ Commercial $_______



Agricultural $_______ Industrial $_______



By line size (specify) $_______ for a _____ inch line



By line size (specify) $_______ for a _____ inch line

6. Does the water system charge a late fee to customers who do not pay their bills on time? o Yes o No If yes, how much is the late fee? $ ________ or % of water bill _______ % 7. What was the water system’s production (in gallons) for the last fiscal year? __________ gallons 8. What was the water system’s water sales (in gallons) for the last fiscal year? __________ gallons 9. Is the system planning any capital improvements in the near future? o Yes

o No



If yes, please briefly describe: ___________________________________________________________________________



___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

System Name: ______________________________________________________________

PWS ID: ______________________

RATE STRUCTURE 10. What type of rate structure does the water system use for residential drinking water accounts? Please check one: o Flat o Increasing o Uniform o Decreasing 11. What is the minimum monthly charge the water system charges for drinking water and how many gallons of water does this minimum charge include?

Residential accounts

$ _____________ for _____________ gallons



Agricultural accounts $ _____________ for _____________ gallons



Commercial accounts $ _____________ for _____________ gallons



Industrial accounts

$ _____________ for _____________ gallons

12. If the system has a uniform, increasing, or decreasing rate structure for residential accounts, please complete the following to show the number of gallons sold in each block and the price that is charged for those gallons of water. The minimum rate should not be included. Not all blocks in the table may be used. Price



Amount



Block 1: ___________ gallons for $ ____________



Block 2: ___________ gallons for $ ____________



Block 3: ___________ gallons for $ ____________



Block 4: ___________ gallons for $ ____________



Block 5: ___________ gallons for $ ____________

13 If the system is a municipal system, are customers who are served outside of the county/city limits charged a different rate than those customers served inside of the county/city limits? o Yes o No 14. What is the total bill for one month’s usage of 10,000 gallons of drinking water for residential customers located within the county/city limits? $____________ 15. If you answered yes to question 13, what is the total bill for one month’s usage of 10,000 gallons of drinking water for residential customers located outside the county/city limits? $____________ 16. Are nonresidential users (i.e., agricultural, commercial, or industrial users) charged a different rate than residential users? o Yes o No 17. If the answer to question 16 was yes, what is the monthly charge for 10,000 gallons of drinking water for nonresidential accounts?



Agricultural accounts $ _____________



Commercial accounts $ _____________



Industrial accounts $_______________

System Name: ______________________________________________________________

PWS ID: ______________________

RATE SETTING 18. In what year did the water system last adjust, either increase or decrease, its drinking water rates? ___________ 19. Are the drinking water rates expected to be adjusted or increased in the near future?

o Yes

o No

If yes, when will this go into effect? ___________

20. Do the system’s board members review the water rates annually? o Yes

o No

If no, how often do they review rates? ___________

21. Has the water system had a comprehensive rate analysis done by a technical assistance provider such as Community Resource Group or the Mississippi Rural Water Association?

o Yes

o No

If yes, when was this done? _________________

Who performed the rate analysis? __________________________

22. Which of the following scenarios best describes how the board members of the system determine whether or not a water rate adjustment or increase is necessary? o The board members analyze the fixed and variable costs, budgets, revenues and expenditures, changes in customer base, and future renovations and expansions of the system to determine whether an adjustment is needed. o A technical assistance provider such as Community Resource Group or the Mississippi Rural Water Association is contacted to conduct a comprehensive rate analysis to assist the board in determining the best rates.





o The board sets the water rates so they are comparable to the rates of neighboring water systems.



o The rates are raised or adjusted by a fixed amount at a certain time. (For example, the minimum rate is raised by $.50 at

the beginning of each year.)

o We do not adjust or raise rates.



o Other _____________________________________________________________

System Name: ______________________________________________________________

PWS ID: ______________________

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

No

Uniform

$18.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2005

No

1

Yes

Uniform

$37.00

2000

$79.00

No

Yes

2009

No

382

0

No

Uniform

$18.00

2000

$44.00

No

Yes

2007

No

447

198

1

No

Uniform

$11.00

2500

$28.78

Yes

Yes

2011

Yes

Very small

450

194

0

Yes

Uniform

$15.00

2000

N/A

No

No

2012

No

Municipal

Very small

481

230

1

Yes

Increasing

$14.50

1500

$55.00

No

Yes

2009

No

Capital/River

Rural

Small

630

207

0

No

Uniform

$18.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2009

No

Capital/River

Municipal

Small

651

171

1

No

Uniform

$9.00

2000

$19.00

Yes

No

N/A

No

Capital/River

Municipal

Small

1031

275

0

No

N/A

$17.00

3000

$45.00

No

Yes

2004

Yes

Capital/River

Municipal

Small

1234

1194

1

Yes

Uniform

$19.24

2000

N/A

Yes

Yes

2010

Yes

Capital/River

Rural

Small

1260

360

0

No

N/A

N/A

N/A

$60.00

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Capital/River

Rural

Small

1285

389

0

No

Uniform

$28.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2012

No

Capital/River

Municipal

Small

1334

464

1

No

Uniform

$17.00

2000

$33.16

Yes

Yes

2012

Yes

Capital/River

Rural

Small

1413

460

0

No

Uniform

$13.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2010

No

Capital/River

Municipal

Small

1680

669

2

Yes

Flate

$21.00

N/A

$51.00

Yes

Yes

2011

No

Capital/River

Rural

Small

1750

650

0

Yes

Uniform

$14.95

2000

$65.25

No

Yes

2012

Yes

Capital/River

Rural

Small

1764

570

0

Yes

Uniform

$19.00

2000

$51.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Capital/River

Rural

Small

1790

795

0

Yes

N/A

$33.60

3000

$71.40

No

Yes

N/A

No

Capital/River

Rural

Small

1893

596

0

Yes

Uniform

$16.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2010

No

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Region

Type of organization

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Capital/River

Rural

Very small

200

91

0

Capital/River

Other

Very small

213

212

Capital/River

Rural

Very small

387

Capital/River

Municipal

Very small

Capital/River

Rural

Capital/River

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

15

16

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

Yes

Uniform

$21.25

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2010

Yes

1

No

Uniform

$18.16

2000

$38.56

No

Yes

2010

Yes

576

0

No

Uniform

$22.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2012

No

2016

665

0

No

Uniform

$36.00

4000

$50.70

No

Yes

N/A

Yes

Small

2420

821

1

Yes

Uniform

$17.79

2000

$42.51

Yes

Yes

2008

No

Municipal

Small

2911

718

0

No

Increasing

$9.84

1500

$28.23

Yes

Yes

2011

Yes

Capital/River

Rural

Small

3210

999

0

No

Decreasing

$17.00

3000

$28.00

No

Yes

2012

No

Capital/River

Rural

Small

3210

1035

0

No

Uniform

$24.00

2000

$56.80

No

Yes

2012

No

Capital/River

Rural

Small

3250

688

0

No

Uniform

$20.00

2000

$52.00

No

Yes

2007

No

Capital/River

Rural

Small

3273

948

0

Yes

Uniform

$17.00

2000

$47.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Capital/River

Rural

Medium

3843

1208

0

Yes

Uniform

$25.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Capital/River

Rural

Medium

3963

1265

0

No

Uniform

$19.50

2000

$51.50

No

Yes

2006

Yes

Capital/River

Rural

Medium

4375

1227

0

Yes

Uniform

$15.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Capital/River

Rural

Medium

4500

1416

0

No

Decreasing

$17.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2010

No

Capital/River

Rural

Medium

4569

1523

0

Yes

Uniform

$19.00

2000

$45.00

No

Yes

2012

No

Capital/River

Municipal

Medium

4838

1803

1

No

N/A

$5.00

0

$29.01

Yes

Yes

2011

No

Capital/River

Rural

Medium

5096

12260

0

Yes

Uniform

$19.50

0

$59.50

No

Yes

2012

No

Capital/River

Rural

Medium

5177

1784

0

Yes

Uniform

$27.00

3000

$69.00

No

Yes

2010

Yes

Capital/River

Rural

Medium

7000

2983

1

No

Increasing

$15.00

2000

$27.00

No

Yes

2006

No

Region

Type of organization

Capital/River

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Rural

Small

1900

766

0

Capital/River

Municipal

Small

1980

640

Capital/River

Rural

Small

2000

Capital/River

Rural

Small

Capital/River

Municipal

Capital/River

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

Yes

Uniform

$12.00

2500

N/A

No

Yes

2009

No

0

Yes

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$55.00

No

Yes

2009

No

4058

1

No

Increasing

$12.00

3000

$37.55

No

Yes

2012

Yes

13200

5175

1

No

Uniform

$17.00

3000

$31.98

Yes

Yes

2010

Yes

Large

13360

3232

1

No

Increasing

$10.45

3000

$25.15

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Municipal

Large

14790

4843

3

No

Decreasing

$4.00

0

$29.01

Yes

Yes

2011

No

Capital/River

Municipal

Large

15792

6135

1

Yes

Uniform

$10.00

2224

$36.49

No

Yes

2011

No

Capital/River

Municipal

Large

20344

7535

1

Yes

Uniform

$2.06

1000

$82.65

Yes

Yes

2011

Yes

Capital/River

Rural

Large

25000

4500

1

No

Uniform

$3.00

3000

$20.00

No

Yes

2012

Yes

Capital/River

Municipal

Large

25216

8804

1

No

Decreasing

$11.30

2244

$34.80

Yes

Yes

2011

Yes

Coastal

Rural

Very small

190

80

0

No

Uniform

$12.50

2000

$32.50

No

No

2010

No

Coastal

Municipal

Very small

350

130

1

No

Uniform

$11.00

2000

$38.00

No

Yes

2010

Yes

Coastal

Rural

Very small

366

122

0

No

Uniform

$12.00

2000

$32.00

No

Yes

1992

Yes

Coastal

Other

Very small

400

114

1

Yes

Flat

N/A

N/A

N/A

No

No

N/A

Yes

Coastal

Rural

Very small

475

220

0

Yes

Increasing

$10.50

2000

$30.00

No

Yes

1997

No

Coastal

Other

Small

550

240

1

No

Increasing

$15.00

3000

$27.50

No

Yes

2000

Yes

Coastal

Municipal

Small

700

219

1

No

Uniform

$16.25

2000

$50.25

No

Yes

N/A

No

Coastal

Rural

Small

713

297

0

No

Uniform

$22.00

2000

$54.00

No

Yes

2008

No

Coastal

Other

Small

844

366

0

No

Uniform

$19.75

3000

$49.25

No

No

2010

No

Region

Type of organization

Capital/River

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Rural

Medium

8220

2740

0

Capital/River

Rural

Medium

8327

3149

Capital/River

Other

Large

10551

Capital/River

Municipal

Large

Capital/River

Municipal

Capital/River

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

17

18

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

No

N/A

$15.00

3000

$30.75

No

No

N/A

No

1

No

Uniform

$16.00

2000

$48.00

No

Yes

2011

No

380

1

Yes

Uniform

$17.50

3000

$38.50

Yes

Yes

2011

No

1152

350

0

No

Decreasing

$13.25

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2009

Yes

Small

1155

385

0

No

Increasing

$13.00

2000

$22.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Rural

Small

1176

1124

0

Yes

N/A

$20.00

1500

N/A

No

Yes

2011

No

Coastal

Rural

Small

1318

506

0

No

Uniform

$14.00

2000

$46.00

No

Yes

2012

Yes

Coastal

Rural

Small

1338

525

0

No

Decreasing

$14.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2009

No

Coastal

Municipal

Small

1421

553

1

No

Uniform

$9.00

1000

$31.50

No

Yes

2010

No

Coastal

Rural

Small

1560

518

0

Yes

Uniform

$20.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2012

No

Coastal

Other

Small

1567

487

1

No

Flat

$21.90

N/A

$21.90

No

Yes

1991

No

Coastal

Rural

Small

1580

626

0

No

Flat

$16.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2008

No

Coastal

Rural

Small

1710

572

0

Yes

Uniform

$23.00

1500

$71.88

No

Yes

2012

No

Coastal

Rural

Small

2000

785

0

Yes

Uniform

$17.50

2000

$55.50

No

Yes

2012

Yes

Coastal

Rural

Small

2028

676

0

Yes

Uniform

$14.00

3000

$38.50

No

Yes

2007

No

Coastal

Rural

Small

2058

677

0

No

Uniform

$13.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2009

Yes

Coastal

Rural

Small

2076

663

0

No

Uniform

$15.75

2000

$55.75

No

Yes

2010

No

Coastal

Municipal

Small

2132

1960

2

Yes

N/A

$22.33

4000

$28.33

No

Yes

2011

No

Coastal

Municipal

Small

2175

770

1

No

Increasing

$8.50

3000

$22.50

No

Yes

2008

No

Region

Type of organization

Coastal

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Other

Small

921

397

0

Coastal

Rural

Small

1000

310

Coastal

Municipal

Small

1068

Coastal

Rural

Small

Coastal

Rural

Coastal

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

No

Uniform

$20.00

1500

$54.00

No

Yes

2010

Yes

0

No

Uniform

$20.00

1500

$54.00

No

Yes

2007

No

915

0

No

N/A

$10.00

2000

$26.00

No

Yes

1998

No

2758

967

0

No

Flat

$22.00

3000

N/A

No

Yes

2012

Yes

Small

2769

978

1

Yes

Increasing

$11.00

2000

$29.00

No

Yes

2008

No

Municipal

Small

2928

1022

1

No

Uniform

$7.50

2000

$19.50

Yes

Yes

N/A

No

Coastal

Other

Small

3000

75

1

Yes

Uniform

$15.00

4999

$27.00

No

Yes

N/A

No

Coastal

Rural

Small

3105

1017

0

Yes

Uniform

$20.00

2000

$44.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Coastal

Other

Small

3280

860

1

Yes

Uniform

$8.00

2000

$46.00

No

Yes

2012

No

Coastal

Other

Medium

3341

1271

0

No

N/A

$7.75

1000

$77.50

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Coastal

Rural

Medium

3925

1303

0

Yes

N/A

$16.00

2000

$52.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Coastal

Other

Medium

4103

1481

1

Yes

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$33.00

No

Yes

2012

No

Coastal

Rural

Medium

4167

1305

0

Yes

Uniform

$17.12

2000

$54.40

No

Yes

2012

Yes

Coastal

Other

Medium

4332

1429

1

Yes

Uniform

$11.00

2000

N/A

Yes

Yes

2005

Yes

Coastal

Rural

Medium

4500

1245

1

No

Uniform

$19.75

3000

$47.25

No

No

2010

No

Coastal

Rural

Medium

4950

1663

0

No

Uniform

$14.00

2000

$45.20

No

Yes

2005

No

Coastal

Municipal

Medium

5100

1356

1

No

Uniform

$10.50

3000

$25.90

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Coastal

Rural

Medium

5205

1801

0

No

Uniform

$15.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2007

No

Coastal

Rural

Medium

5595

1827

0

No

Uniform

$12.50

2000

$48.50

No

Yes

2011

No

Region

Type of organization

Coastal

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Rural

Small

2500

975

0

Coastal

Rural

Small

2535

922

Coastal

Rural

Small

2745

Coastal

Rural

Small

Coastal

Rural

Coastal

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

19

20

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

Yes

Increasing

$8.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2004

Yes

0

Yes

Flat

$14.00

2000

$30.00

No

Yes

2008

No

1935

0

No

Uniform

$16.00

3500

$29.63

No

Yes

2011

No

6222

2489

1

Yes

Uniform

$11.00

5000

$22.00

Yes

Yes

2011

Yes

Medium

7533

1599

1

Yes

Uniform

$8.00

2000

$53.00

No

Yes

2008

No

Rural

Medium

7665

1882

0

Yes

Uniform

$14.00

3000

$45.50

No

Yes

2011

No

Coastal

Other

Large

20000

2995

1

Yes

Increasing

$14.94

2000

$45.32

Yes

Yes

2011

Yes

Delta

Municipal

Very small

110

45

0

No

Flat

$20.00

10000

$20.00

No

Yes

2009

No

Delta

Rural

Very small

112

26

1

Yes

Flat

$35.00

N/A

N/A

No

Yes

2011

No

Delta

Rural

Very small

123

35

1

Yes

Increasing

$27.05

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Delta

Rural

Very small

200

67

0

No

Increasing

$16.50

2000

$26.50

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Delta

Rural

Very small

240

26

0

No

Increasing

$25.00

1000

$61.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Delta

Other

Very small

300

128

0

No

Decreasing

$17.00

2000

$41.00

No

No

2007

Yes

Delta

Rural

Very small

309

130

0

No

Uniform

$18.00

2000

$42.00

No

Yes

2009

No

Delta

Municipal

Very small

316

138

0

No

Uniform

$12.50

2000

$28.50

Yes

Yes

2011

No

Delta

Rural

Very small

350

104

1

Yes

Flat

N/A

N/A

$34.00

No

Yes

2004

No

Delta

Rural

Very small

400

167

0

No

Uniform

$21.00

2000

$53.00

No

Yes

2002

No

Delta

Rural

Very small

420

166

0

Yes

Uniform

$20.00

2000

$40.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Delta

Rural

Very small

431

131

0

No

N/A

$16.00

2000

$36.00

No

Yes

2010

Yes

Region

Type of organization

Coastal

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Rural

Medium

5949

1983

0

Coastal

Rural

Medium

6000

2150

Coastal

Rural

Medium

6000

Coastal

Municipal

Medium

Coastal

Rural

Coastal

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

Yes

Increasing

$15.00

2000

$62.00

Yes

No

2006

Yes

0

No

Decreasing

$26.75

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2011

Yes

179

0

No

Uniform

$16.50

2000

N/A

No

Yes

N/A

No

600

132

1

No

N/A

$12.15

2500

$23.15

No

Yes

2001

No

Small

602

1

1

No

Uniform

$1.50

1000

$15.00

No

No

2008

Yes

Rural

Small

613

130

0

Yes

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$47.00

No

Yes

2008

Yes

Delta

Other

Small

700

309

1

No

Uniform

$12.00

6000

$30.00

No

Yes

2000

Yes

Delta

Rural

Small

765

242

0

No

Uniform

$17.00

2000

$41.00

No

Yes

2011

No

Delta

Rural

Small

840

236

0

Yes

Increasing

$18.00

2000

$54.80

No

Yes

2012

No

Delta

Rural

Small

878

289

0

No

Uniform

$21.00

2000

$49.00

No

Yes

N/A

No

Delta

Municipal

Small

945

241

1

Yes

Uniform

$20.00

2000

$38.30

Yes

Yes

2010

No

Delta

Municipal

Small

1400

448

1

Yes

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$35.00

Yes

Yes

2010

No

Delta

Rural

Small

2170

160

0

No

N/A

$18.00

1000

$47.25

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Delta

Rural

Small

2240

493

0

No

Increasing

$16.75

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2009

No

Delta

Rural

Small

2500

587

0

No

Uniform

$18.00

2000

$42.00

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Delta

Municipal

Small

2649

872

1

Yes

Increasing

$15.00

2000

$47.00

No

Yes

2008

No

Delta

Municipal

Small

2800

928

1

No

Uniform

$12.00

3000

$47.00

No

Yes

2009

No

Delta

Rural

Medium

3500

1141

0

No

Uniform

$21.00

2000

$51.80

No

Yes

2010

No

Delta

Other

Medium

5411

2008

1

No

Uniform

$20.00

2000

$36.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Region

Type of organization

Delta

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Municipal

Very small

440

240

1

Delta

Rural

Very small

473

127

Delta

Rural

Small

519

Delta

Municipal

Small

Delta

Other

Delta

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

21

22

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

Yes

Uniform

$12.00

6000

$20.00

No

Yes

2011

Yes

0

Yes

Uniform

$21.00

2000

$63.00

No

Yes

2011

No

2000

1

Yes

Uniform

$12.00

6000

$20.00

No

Yes

1991

Yes

11403

4562

2

Yes

Decreasing

$9.31

1000

$22.94

Yes

Yes

2011

No

Large

15500

6695

1

Yes

Decreasing

$8.69

2000

$26.54

Yes

Yes

2012

Yes

Other

Large

20000

5960

2

Yes

Decreasing

$6.81

3000

$16.92

Yes

Yes

2011

No

Delta

Municipal

Large

35000

12400

1

No

Decreasing

$15.00

3000

$44.40

Yes

Yes

2012

Yes

Hills

Rural

Very small

150

50

0

No

Uniform

$22.00

1000

N/A

No

Yes

2012

No

Hills

Rural

Very small

300

180

0

Yes

Uniform

$15.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2011

No

Hills

Municipal

Very small

400

290

1

No

Decreasing

$14.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

N/A

No

Hills

Rural

Very small

423

133

0

No

Uniform

$17.50

2000

$37.50

No

No

2009

No

Hills

Rural

Very small

500

340

0

Yes

Uniform

$9.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

N/A

No

Hills

Municipal

Very small

500

312

0

No

Decreasing

$25.00

4000

$57.50

No

Yes

2007

No

Hills

Municipal

Small

534

278

1

Yes

Uniform

$15.00

2500

$27.20

No

Yes

2004

No

Hills

Other

Small

750

286

1

Yes

Increasing

$12.48

3000

$33.53

No

Yes

N/A

Yes

Hills

Rural

Small

750

278

0

No

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$39.00

No

Yes

2010

Yes

Hills

Rural

Small

806

306

0

No

Uniform

$15.75

3000

$41.51

No

Yes

2012

No

Hills

Municipal

Small

820

318

1

Yes

Increasing

$15.00

3000

$36.00

Yes

Yes

2009

No

Hills

Rural

Small

834

270

0

No

Uniform

$17.50

2000

$39.50

No

Yes

2012

Yes

Region

Type of organization

Delta

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Municipal

Medium

6000

1550

1

Delta

Rural

Medium

8212

2561

Delta

Other

Medium

10000

Delta

Municipal

Large

Delta

Municipal

Delta

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

No

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$45.00

No

Yes

2007

No

0

No

Decreasing

$23.00

3000

$44.25

No

Yes

2011

No

425

0

No

Increasing

$13.00

2000

$34.00

Yes

Yes

N/A

No

1042

392

1

Yes

Decreasing

N/A

N/A

N/A

No

Yes

N/A

Yes

Small

1070

328

0

No

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$39.00

No

Yes

2011

No

Rural

Small

1092

394

0

No

Uniform

$15.00

3000

N/A

No

Yes

2008

Yes

Hills

Rural

Small

1200

376

0

No

Uniform

$20.00

2000

$44.00

No

Yes

2006

No

Hills

Rural

Small

1251

292

0

Yes

Increasing

$16.00

3000

N/A

No

No

2011

Yes

Hills

Rural

Small

1260

402

0

Yes

Uniform

$17.50

2000

$38.70

No

Yes

2011

No

Hills

Rural

Small

1350

450

0

Yes

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$63.00

No

Yes

2012

No

Hills

Rural

Small

1500

638

0

No

Uniform

$15.00

3000

$41.25

No

Yes

2004

No

Hills

Rural

Small

1500

533

0

No

Increasing

$18.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2008

No

Hills

Rural

Small

1560

505

0

Yes

Uniform

$19.00

2000

$43.00

No

Yes

2011

No

Hills

Rural

Small

1600

535

0

No

Increasing

$13.00

2000

$29.00

No

No

2008

No

Hills

Rural

Small

1614

565

0

Yes

Uniform

$15.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2011

No

Hills

Municipal

Small

1675

656

1

Yes

Uniform

$12.00

3000

$26.00

No

Yes

2008

No

Hills

Rural

Small

1800

850

0

Yes

Increasing

$16.00

2000

$24.00

No

No

2002

No

Hills

Rural

Small

1850

636

0

Yes

Uniform

$14.00

2000

$36.00

No

Yes

2005

Yes

Hills

Municipal

Small

1900

751

1

No

Increasing

$12.00

2500

$33.00

Yes

Yes

2011

No

Region

Type of organization

Hills

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Rural

Small

935

326

0

Hills

Rural

Small

1000

315

Hills

Municipal

Small

1000

Hills

Other

Small

Hills

Rural

Hills

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

23

24

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

No

Uniform

$9.00

2000

$25.00

No

Yes

2001

Yes

1

Yes

Increasing

N/A

N/A

$36.00

Yes

No

2011

No

670

0

No

Increasing

$12.00

3000

$24.50

No

No

1999

No

1987

649

0

No

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$46.60

No

Yes

2010

Yes

Small

2000

467

0

Yes

Uniform

$20.00

3000

$44.50

No

Yes

2012

No

Municipal

Small

2013

803

1

No

Uniform

$11.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2010

No

Hills

Municipal

Small

2021

863

1

Yes

Uniform

$9.50

3000

$33.16

Yes

Yes

2012

No

Hills

Other

Small

2288

911

0

No

Uniform

$14.00

2000

$48.00

No

Yes

2011

No

Hills

Rural

Small

2300

760

0

Yes

Uniform

$16.50

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2009

No

Hills

Municipal

Small

2400

720

1

Yes

Increasing

$17.00

2000

$41.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Hills

Rural

Small

2700

878

0

Yes

Uniform

$13.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2012

No

Hills

Rural

Small

2775

918

0

Yes

Uniform

$12.00

3000

$40.00

No

Yes

2006

No

Hills

Rural

Small

2787

929

0

No

Uniform

$14.50

3000

$51.25

No

Yes

2008

No

Hills

Municipal

Small

2995

844

1

Yes

Uniform

$9.37

1000

$36.37

No

Yes

2005

No

Hills

Rural

Small

3026

1505

0

No

Uniform

$15.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2011

No

Hills

Other

Medium

3437

1057

2

No

N/A

$13.45

4000

$30.39

Yes

Yes

2011

No

Hills

Other

Medium

3471

1089

1

No

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$51.00

No

Yes

2011

No

Hills

Municipal

Medium

3504

2975

2

No

Uniform

$8.00

2000

$40.00

No

Yes

2011

No

Hills

Municipal

Medium

4000

1051

1

Yes

N/A

$11.00

2000

$29.80

Yes

Yes

2010

Yes

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Region

Type of organization

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Hills

Rural

Small

1926

642

0

Hills

Municipal

Small

1939

852

Hills

Rural

Small

1960

Hills

Rural

Small

Hills

Rural

Hills

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

Yes

Uniform

$14.00

1000

$43.25

No

Yes

2012

No

0

Yes

N/A

$10.30

3000

$35.15

No

Yes

2008

Yes

1450

0

No

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$47.00

No

Yes

2008

No

4353

1621

0

Yes

Increasing

$15.00

2000

$77.50

No

No

2010

Yes

Medium

5252

3319

2

Yes

Increasing

$12.00

2000

$36.95

Yes

Yes

2011

Yes

Rural

Medium

5468

1322

0

No

Uniform

$18.00

2000

$50.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Hills

Rural

Medium

5481

1733

0

Yes

Flat

$13.00

2000

N/A

No

No

2003

Yes

Hills

Municipal

Medium

5500

2347

1

Yes

Uniform

$9.27

2000

$38.71

Yes

Yes

2012

No

Hills

Rural

Medium

7620

2450

0

Yes

Uniform

$19.00

2000

$57.00

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Hills

Rural

Medium

7999

2461

0

No

Uniform

$14.00

2500

$47.75

No

Yes

2009

No

Hills

Municipal

Medium

8000

3800

1

Yes

Flat

$6.00

2000

$19.20

No

Yes

2003

No

Hills

Municipal

Medium

8165

2415

2

No

Uniform

$6.68

2000

$20.04

Yes

Yes

2011

No

Hills

Rural

Medium

8500

2100

0

No

Increasing

$11.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Hills

Rural

Medium

9952

2770

1

No

N/A

$12.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2006

No

Hills

Municipal

Large

14573

6370

0

Yes

Flat

$2.00

0

$53.50

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Hills

Municipal

Large

24000

9019

2

Yes

Uniform

$6.68

2000

$33.40

Yes

Yes

2010

Yes

Hills

Municipal

Large

46428

12764

2

No

Increasing

$9.89

3000

$21.24

Yes

Yes

2009

No

Hills

Municipal

Large

47366

16385

2

Yes

N/A

$11.60

4000

$30.39

Yes

Yes

2010

No

Pines

Rural

Very small

36

21

0

No

Uniform

$42.25

9000

$44.50

No

Yes

2009

No

Region

Type of organization

Hills

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Rural

Medium

4000

1750

0

Hills

Rural

Medium

4300

4167

Hills

Rural

Medium

4350

Hills

Rural

Medium

Hills

Municipal

Hills

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

25

26

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

No

Flat

$36.00

9000

$38.50

No

Yes

2010

No

0

No

Decreasing

$17.00

2000

$28.00

No

No

2010

No

121

1

Yes

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$27.50

No

Yes

2008

No

285

98

1

Yes

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

No

No

N/A

No

Very small

321

305

1

No

Uniform

$18.00

3000

N/A

No

Yes

N/A

No

Rural

Very small

322

322

0

Yes

Flat

$18.00

3000

$36.50

No

No

1999

Yes

Pines

Rural

Very small

330

110

0

Yes

Decreasing

$13.00

3000

N/A

No

Yes

2000

No

Pines

Municipal

Very small

340

145

1

Yes

Uniform

$20.00

3000

$55.00

No

Yes

2012

No

Pines

Rural

Very small

348

117

0

No

Flat

$18.00

3000

N/A

No

Yes

2010

Yes

Pines

Rural

Very small

365

154

0

No

Increasing

$21.00

3000

$42.00

No

Yes

2009

No

Pines

Rural

Very small

435

145

0

No

Decreasing

$16.00

3000

$53.50

No

Yes

N/A

No

Pines

Rural

Very small

445

165

0

No

Uniform

$17.00

2000

$57.00

No

Yes

2012

Yes

Pines

Municipal

Very small

482

481

1

No

Uniform

$14.77

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Pines

Rural

Small

558

186

0

Yes

Uniform

$29.00

2000

$81.00

No

Yes

2011

No

Pines

Rural

Small

575

130

0

No

Increasing

$18.50

2000

$58.50

No

Yes

N/A

No

Pines

Rural

Small

686

225

0

No

Uniform

$15.50

2000

$31.50

No

No

2004

No

Pines

Municipal

Small

763

231

0

Yes

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$55.00

No

Yes

2011

No

Pines

Rural

Small

935

367

0

Yes

Uniform

$16.00

2000

$38.00

No

Yes

2011

No

Pines

Rural

Small

940

330

0

No

N/A

$23.00

1500

$48.50

No

Yes

2009

No

Region

Type of organization

Pines

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Rural

Very small

42

15

0

Pines

Rural

Very small

140

134

Pines

Municipal

Very small

265

Pines

Other

Very small

Pines

Municipal

Pines

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

No

Uniform

$19.50

2000

$47.50

No

Yes

2011

Yes

1

No

Flat

N/A

N/A

$27.75

No

Yes

2004

No

315

0

Yes

N/A

$23.00

2000

$41.40

No

Yes

2012

Yes

1000

472

0

No

Uniform

$18.00

2000

$58.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Small

1002

319

2

Yes

Decreasing

$21.00

2000

$48.50

Yes

Yes

2009

No

Municipal

Small

1014

299

1

No

Uniform

$11.00

2000

$34.00

Yes

Yes

2005

Yes

Pines

Municipal

Small

1068

470

1

No

Increasing

$8.00

3000

$37.05

No

Yes

2011

No

Pines

Rural

Small

1072

316

0

Yes

Uniform

$20.00

2000

$68.00

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Pines

Rural

Small

1175

349

0

Yes

N/A

$25.00

2000

$58.00

No

Yes

2012

Yes

Pines

Rural

Small

1200

350

0

Yes

Uniform

$22.00

2500

$59.50

No

Yes

2010

No

Pines

Municipal

Small

1200

1153

1

Yes

Increasing

$8.50

2000

$41.00

Yes

Yes

2011

Yes

Pines

Rural

Small

1250

402

0

No

Uniform

$14.50

2000

$46.50

No

Yes

2009

No

Pines

Rural

Small

1355

445

0

No

Uniform

$14.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2009

No

Pines

Rural

Small

1400

462

0

No

Flat

$16.00

0

$56.00

No

No

2010

No

Pines

Municipal

Small

1440

830

1

Yes

Uniform

$11.46

3000

N/A

No

Yes

1996

No

Pines

Rural

Small

1457

582

0

No

Increasing

$18.50

2000

$46.50

No

Yes

2008

No

Pines

Rural

Small

1462

384

0

No

Decreasing

$17.00

2000

$45.00

No

Yes

2009

Yes

Pines

Rural

Small

1484

530

0

No

Decreasing

$12.50

2000

$34.50

No

Yes

N/A

No

Pines

Rural

Small

1500

371

0

Yes

Uniform

$16.00

3000

$28.75

No

Yes

2011

No

Region

Type of organization

Pines

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Rural

Small

950

309

0

Pines

Municipal

Small

963

913

Pines

Rural

Small

978

Pines

Rural

Small

Pines

Municipal

Pines

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

27

28

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

Yes

Uniform

$17.50

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2010

No

0

Yes

Uniform

$19.00

2000

$63.00

No

Yes

N/A

No

721

1

Yes

Uniform

$11.00

2000

$35.00

Yes

Yes

2012

No

1563

1420

0

No

Uniform

$20.00

2000

$60.00

No

Yes

2012

No

Small

1590

502

0

No

Decreasing

$20.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2008

No

Municipal

Small

1590

528

1

Yes

Increasing

$15.45

2000

$40.73

Yes

Yes

2011

Yes

Pines

Rural

Small

1620

321

0

No

Uniform

$24.00

2000

$68.00

No

Yes

2009

Yes

Pines

Rural

Small

1680

558

0

No

N/A

$8.00

3000

$29.00

No

Yes

2001

Yes

Pines

Rural

Small

1804

560

0

No

Uniform

$14.00

2000

$34.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Pines

Rural

Small

1860

601

0

No

Uniform

$12.00

3000

$22.50

No

Yes

2010

No

Pines

Rural

Small

1880

569

0

No

N/A

$21.00

2000

$45.50

No

Yes

2011

No

Pines

Rural

Small

1937

174

2

No

Uniform

$10.00

2000

$27.60

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Pines

Rural

Small

1954

673

0

No

Uniform

$11.00

2000

$27.00

No

Yes

2002

No

Pines

Municipal

Small

1962

682

1

Yes

Uniform

$14.00

2000

$48.00

Yes

Yes

2002

Yes

Pines

Rural

Small

1997

1989

1

No

N/A

$18.00

2000

$58.00

No

No

2007

No

Pines

Rural

Small

2000

650

0

No

Uniform

$27.00

2000

$78.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Pines

Rural

Small

2200

578

0

Yes

Flat

N/A

N/A

N/A

No

Yes

N/A

Yes

Pines

Rural

Small

2300

650

0

Yes

Uniform

$19.00

2000

$43.00

No

Yes

2001

Yes

Pines

Rural

Small

2310

911

0

No

Uniform

$20.00

3000

$41.00

No

Yes

2007

No

Region

Type of organization

Pines

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Rural

Small

1500

475

0

Pines

Rural

Small

1500

554

Pines

Municipal

Small

1500

Pines

Rural

Small

Pines

Rural

Pines

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

Yes

Uniform

$11.20

2000

$25.20

Yes

Yes

2012

No

0

No

Uniform

$22.00

2000

$64.00

No

Yes

2011

Yes

1045

0

Yes

Increasing

$13.00

2000

$42.00

Yes

Yes

2006

Yes

2870

442

0

No

N/A

$18.00

2000

$50.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Small

3000

1100

1

No

Uniform

$16.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2011

No

Rural

Small

3255

1083

0

No

Uniform

$28.00

2000

N/A

No

Yes

2010

No

Pines

Rural

Small

3300

1020

0

Yes

Uniform

$16.00

2000

$44.00

No

Yes

2011

No

Pines

Rural

Medium

3420

1140

0

Yes

Uniform

$17.00

2000

$51.00

No

Yes

2007

Yes

Pines

Rural

Medium

3474

1113

0

Yes

Decreasing

$12.00

2000

$18.55

No

Yes

2011

Yes

Pines

Municipal

Medium

3650

1450

1

No

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$31.00

No

Yes

2009

Yes

Pines

Rural

Medium

4400

1650

0

No

Uniform

$15.00

2000

$47.00

No

Yes

2010

No

Pines

Rural

Medium

4839

1734

0

No

Uniform

$21.00

3000

N/A

No

Yes

2011

No

Pines

Municipal

Medium

5075

1497

1

No

Uniform

$10.19

3000

$20.83

Yes

Yes

2010

Yes

Pines

Rural

Medium

5136

1712

0

No

Uniform

$20.00

3000

$44.50

No

Yes

2010

No

Pines

Municipal

Medium

5202

1441

2

Yes

Uniform

$13.20

3000

$25.45

No

Yes

2008

No

Pines

Municipal

Medium

5270

1895

1

Yes

Uniform

$12.00

2000

$44.00

Yes

Yes

2007

Yes

Pines

Rural

Medium

5700

1636

1

Yes

Decreasing

$10.95

2000

$24.45

No

No

2007

Yes

Pines

Municipal

Medium

5968

2548

1

No

Uniform

$6.25

2000

$13.37

No

Yes

2011

No

Pines

Municipal

Medium

6300

1920

1

No

Increasing

$9.55

3000

$16.62

Yes

Yes

2011

Yes

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Region

Type of organization

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Pines

Municipal

Small

2323

859

0

Pines

Rural

Small

2745

905

Pines

Municipal

Small

2822

Pines

Rural

Small

Pines

Rural

Pines

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

29

30

Annual Monthly charge Different rate revision of for 10,000 structure outside rates by gallons county/city limits board

Type of rate structure

Residential minimum charge

Residential minimum gallons

No

Flat

$20.00

2000

$74.00

No

Yes

2010

No

1

No

Uniform

$11.00

4000

$21.50

Yes

Yes

2010

No

414

0

Yes

Increasing

$24.00

2000

$68.00

No

Yes

2012

Yes

17862

6389

0

No

Decreasing

$22.00

3000

$64.29

No

Yes

2010

No

Large

20000

1

0

Yes

Flat

N/A

N/A

$14.86

No

No

2008

No

Rural

Large

24000

9827

0

Yes

Flat

$5.00

1000

$50.00

No

Yes

2008

No

Municipal

Large

26721

11864

2

Yes

Uniform

$4.00

0

$25.50

Yes

No

2009

No

Region

Type of organization

Pines

Number of Planning capital other utilities improvements? provided

Size

Population served

Residential connections

Rural

Medium

7072

2205

0

Pines

Municipal

Medium

7325

2773

Pines

Rural

Large

12600

Pines

Rural

Large

Pines

Other

Pines Pines

Year of last Rate adjustment rate planned in near adjustment future

The information given here is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products, trade names, or suppliers are made with the understanding that no endorsement is implied and that no discrimination against other products or suppliers is intended. Copyright 2014 by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved. This publication may be copied and distributed without alteration for nonprofit educational purposes provided that credit is given to the Mississippi State University Extension Service. By Lauren Behel, Extension Associate I, Dr. Alan Barefield, Extension Professor, and Rae-Anne Gentry, former graduate assistant, Agricultural Economics. Discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran’s status is a violation of federal and state law and MSU policy and will not be tolerated. Discrimination based upon sexual orientation or group affiliation is a violation of MSU policy and will not be tolerated. Publication 2803 Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. GARY B. JACKSON, Director (02-14)