Billing Overview

• How is my MSD bill calculated?
• I want to go paperless. Can I view or pay my bill online?
• How was the impervious area determined?
• What if I disagree with the measurement of my impervious area?
• Why do I have to pay a stormwater charge?
• We use porous concrete or asphalt on our property. Shouldn't that reduce our stormwater user charge?
• My property is along the Meramec, Mississippi or Missouri River and my stormwater flows there. Why do I have to pay a stormwater user charge?
• My bill does not include a stormwater user charge. Why?
• I am selling my home and I want the sewer bill taken out of my name. How do I do this?
• How do I stop a sewer bill from being sent to a vacant property?
• I have several properties. Can I receive just one bill?
• I am having trouble paying my sewer bill. Does MSD offer assistance?

How is my MSD bill calculated?

All MSD bills include two charges: a wastewater user charge and a stormwater user charge.

Wastewater for residential customers:

The wastewater user charge includes a base charge and a usage charge. The wastewater charge can be determined in one of two ways.

• It is either a charge per hundred cubic feet (CCF) of water or a charge based on the number of rooms, baths and water closets in the structure. A CCF is about 750 million gallons. The base charge is $10.90 for wastewater, plus $1.25 for each room, $4.69 for each water closet and $3.91 for each bath/shower.
• In addition, some MSD residential customers have water meters. These bills are based on the winter quarter reading. That's because this reading most closely reflects the amount of water used inside the house and is not affected by activities such as lawn watering or filling a swimming pool. The base wastewater charge is $10.90 and an additional $1.92 for every 100 cubic feet (CCF) of water used.

For multi-family residential properties with a water meter, the sewer bill is based on either the winter-quarter reading or on each water meter reading. The property owner determines which reading is used.

Wastewater for commercial customers:

Commercial/Industrial properties are billed on each water meter reading, with additional charges for sewage discharged into the public system that requires specialized treatment. If a product or process uses water, the company can contact MSD for a possible reduction in the water usage. This reduction is based on how much water enters and exits the sewer system. The monthly wastewater charge is based on year-round water usage at $1.92 per CCF for wastewater (one CCF is 750 gallons of water) plus a base charge of $40.55 ($10.90 base, $29.65 compliance). These readings are provided by your water supplier.

Stormwater:

The stormwater user charge is calculated based on the impervious square footage on the parcel of land. Impervious area will not accept seepage and produces rainwater run-off to the sewer system. The stormwater user charge is $0.14 per 100 square feet of impervious surface. This user charge is expected to increase to $0.29 per 100 square feet by 2014.

Impervious areas don't allow rainfall the opportunity to soak into the ground like a natural earth surface and result in stormwater run off. Impervious areas include:

• Rooftops
• Surfaces paved with concrete, asphalt, or compacted rock
• Surfaces underlain with concrete, asphalt, or compacted rock

A property will not be billed for pervious area that allows rainfall to soak into the ground. Examples of pervious areas include the following:

• Earth areas
• Swimming pools
• Green roofs
• Surfaces paved with porous concrete or asphalt that allows water to pass through and soak into the earth surface below. The determination of this kind of surface usually requires the investigation of an engineer.

Public streets and sidewalks are not included in individual stormwater user charges.

Late charges are calculated on the outstanding principal balance at a rate of .75% per month if not paid by the due date. return to top 

I want to go paperless. Can I view or pay my bill online?

You can view and pay your MSD bill online by clicking here and following the instructions. return to top

How was the impervious area determined?

MSD obtains aerial imagery of the entire metropolitan St. Louis area. The images were used to identify impervious areas: bridge, driveway, out building, parking, patio, private sidewalk, recreation court, shed, structure, tanks, private roads which were overlaid to the parcels identified by the City Assessor and County Assessor offices. The impervious areas identified were measured for each parcel.

MSD matched the parcels to the existing accounts or established new accounts as necessary. The total impervious area measured for each parcel is listed on the bill card and is multiplied by the stormwater user charge rate and included in the calculation of the total monthly MSD bill. MSD obtains new aerial images every two years. return to top 

What if I disagree with the measurement of my impervious area?

If your measurement of the impervious area on your property is different than the total impervious area listed on your bill card, contact the MSD Call Center at the toll-free number 1-866-281-5737. The Call Center has the exact square footage identified for each attribute on your property to compare to your measurements.

If there is a discrepancy between your measurements and those listed on your MSD record, the representative will begin the process for an internal review of the impervious area identified on your property. It may take several weeks for this process to be completed. You will receive a written response with the results of the review.

If you disagree with the response a formal appeal will need to be filed. The process will require you to submit a letter with detailed information supporting your claim, i.e. an accurate sketch or survey showing the impervious area on the property. return to top 

Why do I have to pay a stormwater charge?

MSD performs three major stormwater services:

• The first is overall stormwater management throughout the service area. Some of these activities include enforcement of rules and regulations for stormwater improvements that can be made in our community; stormwater complaint investigation and logging; evaluation of all stormwater issues within MSD's boundaries; and water quality sampling and monitoring of area creeks and rivers.
• The second stormwater service MSD provides is ensuring that efforts are undertaken to comply with our area's Phase II stormwater Permit with the State of Missouri. MSD is a co-permittee with 59 local municipalities and St. Louis County for the permit. Accordingly, MSD performs area wide services as part of that permit. These services include regular inspection of area creeks for illegal discharges; public education on Phase II requirements; and coordination of all permit related activities performed by local municipalities and St. Louis County.
• The third service is the ownership and maintenance of the hard stormwater infrastructure, which includes stormwater sewers, inlets, manholes, and concrete channels.

Hundreds of communities in the United States base their stormwater user charges on impervious area. Impervious area charges have proven to be the most equitable method of charging for stormwater services and the best measure of the demand that each individual customer puts on the public stormwater system. return to top 

We use porous concrete or asphalt on our property. Shouldn't that reduce our stormwater user charge?

Green roofs and porous surfaces should not be counted as impervious surfaces. The determination of this kind of surface usually requires the investigation of an engineer. An appeal form needs to be completed and returned to MSD for consideration. return to top 

My property is along the Meramec, Mississippi or Missouri River and my stormwater flows there. Why do I have to pay a stormwater user charge?

You may be eligible for a 50% stormwater discount. An appeal form needs to be completed and returned to MSD for consideration. Please contact our Billing Center at 1-866-281-5737. return to top 

My bill does not include a stormwater user charge. Why?

If you are the owner of a condominium unit the stormwater user charges may be billed to the condominium association for the entire complex. The association will probably pass the cost of the stormwater user charges to you through your condominium fees. How the stormwater user charges are divided between the unit owners is at the discretion of the association.

If your property is within a levee district, the stormwater user charges for your property are billed to the levee district through an inter-governmental agreement between MSD and the levee district. Any questions regarding the payments you make to the levee district need to be addressed to them. return to top 

I am selling my home and I want the sewer bill taken out of my name. How do I do this?

MSD gets its billing information from two sources: 1) the title insurance company at the time of a home sale, and 2) the water company when the new occupant applies for water service. If you are going through a title insurance company, your balance due is settled at closing. At that time, the new owner's name is given to us and the account is changed. return to top 

How do I stop a sewer bill from being sent to a vacant property?

In order for the wastewater billing to stop, you must make a written request to the appropriate water company servicing your area to discontinue water service to the property. Once we receive information indicating the water service has been terminated, the wastewater charge on your MSD account will be discontinued but you will continue to receive a bill for the stormwater user charge. You will need to provide a valid mailing address for the stormwater user charges. return to top 

I have several properties. Can I receive just one bill?

Yes. If you have five or more properties and all accounts are current, all of your properties can be summarized on one bill and mailed to you at one address through Group Bill. To enroll, either mail or fax a listing of your property addresses and respective MSD account numbers along with your name, address and telephone number to:

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District

Attn: Accounts Receivable/Group Bill

2350 Market Street

St. Louis, MO 63103

Fax: 314/768-6348 return to top 

I am having trouble paying my sewer bill. Does MSD offer assistance?

MSD offers a Low Income Assistance program for qualified low-income, elderly, and disabled customers who receive sewer and storm service. The assistance program is available to single family homeowners. Customers will receive a rate reduction equal to 50% of the current charges for wastewater and/or storm water services on their monthly sewer bill.

Customers who wish to apply for the rate assistant program must complete an application and return it to MSD's Accounts Receivable (A/R) Department. To request an application, call (314) 768-6200.

Rate reductions for approved applicants shall begin on the first full month following approval of the application. Rate reduction will remain in effect for a period of one year from the date of approval. All applicants must reapply annually. return to top