Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for customers in the Charleston area, including Kiawah Island, TJ Barnwell, Harbor Island, and CUC.
Rates and Fees
The base water and sewer fee is used to cover the fixed costs of running the Utility operations. You incur similar minimum charges for cable, electricity and phone service.
Our rates are regulated by the South Carolina Public Service Commission. A 1.5% late fee is charged automatically if your payment is not received on the due date. There is no grace period.
Your sewer fee is based on unique factors with your system.
Harbor Island:
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TJ Barnwell:
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CUC:
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Kiawah Island:
Yes. If you are a residential customer your consumption is charged at a rate of $0.74 per thousand gallons up to 11,000 gallons per month or $8.14. Eleven thousand gallons is used since that is the average domestic consumption for a residential customer.
Commercial and Hotel sewer rates are based on all water consumed primarily because their irrigation usage is metered separately and all water going into these facilities is returned to the sewer for disposal and treatment.
The normal flows are listed below by meter size:
5/x” x ¾”: 20 Gallons per minute
¾” x ¾” meter: 30 Gallons per minute
1” meter: 50 Gallons per minute
1 ½” meter: 100 Gallons per minute
2” meter: 160 Gallons per minute
3” meter: 350 Gallons per minute
The minimum charge is based on available flow capacity through the various size meters. Our smallest meter is a 5/8” x ¾” meter which delivers 20 gallons per minute (gpm).
The fee established by the Public Service Commission (PSC) is based on the following formula for water:
(Maximum recommended meter capacity (gpm) x $36.65 per month) / 20 gallons per minute (gpm)
The sewer formula is:
(Maximum recommended meter capacity (gpm) x $28.00 per month) / 20 gallons per minute (gpm)
An example for a 1″ meter: (50 x $36.65) / 20 = $1,832.50 / 20 = $91.62(water)
Fixed costs are expenses necessary to maintain the operation of the utility. They include, but are not limited to utilities, staffing, taxes, vehicles, professional fees, analytical requirements, insurance, permit fees, and general supplies.
A charge of $25.00 is used to defray cost of initiating service.
Kiawah Island Customers:
You are entitled to have your service disconnected for this purpose but you will be charged a reconnect fee of three (3) times the minimum water and sewer charge to re-instate service as described in the PSC approved Schedule of Rates and Charges.
Harbor Island and TJ Barnwell Customers:
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CUC Customers:
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