MWSA PAYMENTS

WATER RATES:

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• Shareholders with water meters are billed bi-monthly at a base rate, plus tiered water usage rates, as follows:

 

     $84 base rate, includes 1600 cubic feet (cf) of water, then

     $1.50 per additional 100 cf for 1601 – 2600 cf of water, then

     $2.24 per additional 100 cf for 2601 – 4000 cf of water, then

     $3.74 per additional 100 cf for 4001 – 6000 cf of water, then

     $7.48 per additional 100 cf for 6001 and greater cf of water.

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• Starting with the 9/1/25 billing cycle (the bill you will receive in mid-Nov 2025) MWSA is increasing its metered water rates by 10%.  Shareholders with water meters are billed bi-monthly at a base rate, plus tiered water usage rates, as follows:

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     $92.40 base rate, includes 1600 cubic feet (cf) of water, then

     $1.65 per additional 100 cf for 1601 – 2600 cf of water, then

     $2.46 per additional 100 cf for 2601 – 4000 cf of water, then

     $4.11 per additional 100 cf for 4001 – 6000 cf of water, then

     $8.23 per additional 100 cf for 6001 and greater cf of water.

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• Shareholders without water meters are billed bi-monthly at a ‘water service-on-demand’ rate of $65 (base rate – water usage costs).

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• Shareholders with rental units can request that billing be sent c/o their tenants by contacting Northwest Water Service at 360-876-0958.  However, Shareholders will be held responsible for any outstanding charges or additional fees due to non-payment.

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• Payment is due by the date indicated on your water bill.

LATE FEES / SERVICE NOTIFICATIONS:

​Late fees are assessed to cover the additional cost of handled overdue accounts, including bookkeeping time, mailing certified letters, service suspension notice costs, etc.

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    Late fees and service notifications are assessed as follows:

• up to 30 days past due – no late fee if bill paid in full along with a 'past due' note.

• 31 to 90 days past due – a $10 late fee/month assessed along with account balance payment in full. 

• 91 to 150 days past due – a $20 late fee/month assessed along with account balance payment in full. 

• 151 to 180 days past due – a $40 late fee/month assessed along with account balance, plus a Pending Service Suspension Notice followed by a Final Service Suspension Notice (with shutoff of water service) after next due date.

• After 180 days past due – 18% interest per annum from due date of first late bill to actual payment date of all outstanding invoices plus $40 late fee/month assessed along with account balance.

 

BILLING DISPUTE RESOLUTION POLICY:

 

• Billing discrepancies under $250 will be handled at the discretion of the Board.

 

• Bill disputes caused by a leak in the Shareholders portion of the system (e.g., meter, water line to house, or plumbing inside/outside house) will be resolved after receipt of a letter via US mail from the Shareholder requesting resolution within two billing cycles (four months), as follows:

1. If water leak is fixed and/or secured as soon as practicable after notification, MWSA will reduce the bill by eliminating water charges in the top water usage rate tier.  If water leak is not fixed in a timely manner, no reduction in the water bill will be given.

2. Water leak will be determined by analysis of the Shareholder’s past water usage, including annual peak usage.

3. Multiple leaks in a 24-month period will be resolved at the discretion of the Board.

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SHARE TRANSFER PROCESS:

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• During a real estate transaction, the seller’s Title Company will request a final bill from MWSA’s billing service provider Northwest Water Service.  Then the Shareholder shall surrender their current Share document by completing the Share transfer information on the back, and return the Share document to MWSA PO Box 10483, Bainbridge Island WA 98110.  Upon receipt of the transferring Share and payment of final water bill and fees in full, plus a $250 transfer fee, Northwest Water Service will establish an account in the name of the new owner and MWSA will issue / mail an updated Share document (same Share #, address and tax ID but new Shareholder / account name) to the new homeowner.

 

SHARE PURCHASE POLICY:

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• Requests for new water Shares should be made in writing to MWSA, c/o Board President, PO Box 10483, Bainbridge Island WA 98110.  Possession of a water Share indicates that MWSA’s water system currently has water rights and the capacity to deliver water for domestic use only to a specific property within our service area.  The cost of a water Share is currently $7,120 (note: this fee covers capital costs that were required to build the currently existing water system infrastructure, new connection costs are Shareholder’s responsibility).  Currently MWSA has a moratorium on issuing new water Shares since we have reached the limit of ERUs authorized by the WA Department of Health.  The ability to sell new Shares will be periodically re-evaluated as the number of ERUs (or Shares) that MWSA is authorized to issue is updated by the WA Department of Health (typically based on our permitted water rights and the capacity of our physical infrastructure).   Shareholders without water meters will be billed the ‘water service-on-demand’ rate upon issuance of a Share.

 

WATER AVAILABILITY LETTER:

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• Shareholders will be required to obtain a Water Availability Letter from MWSA to obtain a building permit from the City of Bainbridge Island / Kitsap County.  Shareholders with billing accounts in good standing (outstanding water bills and fees paid in full) should request this document in writing (no additional charge) from MWSA, c/o Board President, PO Box 10483, Bainbridge Island WA  98110.  Water Availability is authorized based on several conditions listed in the letter.  Notably, connection to the water main, meter & meter box installation, and meter to house water service line must comply with MWSA’s then current Technical Standards and Specifications and other applicable WA building codes.  All installation costs are the responsibility of the Shareholder and must be coordinated with and inspected by MWSA’s Water Operator prior to closing trenches.  All inspection fees are the responsibility of the Shareholder. The Shareholder will be billed MWSA’s normal water rates upon installation of a water meter.