Understanding your bill

What determines costs of water

Each customer receives a basic water budget that provides a reasonable amount of water for their needs and property characteristics, including the number of occupants, lot size, size of irrigated area, and climate. 

Your cost of water is calculated based on how much water you use and whether or not you stayed within your monthly allocated budget.

Service charges and infrastructure costs

To ensure equity among our customers, we separate the cost of building water and sewer infrastructure from daily operations and maintenance. This ensures that each end-user pays their fair share — no more, no less. 

Infrastructure costs, called capital projects, are financed through general obligation bonds. The debt service for these is paid through a combination of property taxes and connection fees. 

Daily operation and maintenance costs, which are further separated between the water and sewer systems, are funded through monthly user service charges.

Breakdown of your IRWD bill

Your IRWD bill is simple to understand. Every month, you’ll receive an account summary and a detailed breakdown of how your charges are calculated.

Basic components of your bill

• Groundwater
  • This is the charge for the amount of water you use and is based on the costs to purchase water.

• Service Charge:
  • This is the fixed cost of maintaining the water distribution system (e.g., pipes and treatment plants).

Get help with your bill

Get answers on commonly asked questions about your bill below or Contact Customer Service at 949-453-5300.

IRWD policy on discontinuing residential water service

Frequently asked questions