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1. What is an average monthly bill for a home in Fairview?

The combined minimum utility bill for an average, single family home in Fairview is $72.26 ($67.44 is for water, sewer, storm water & fire suppression and $4.82 is for the public works facility fee). City of Fairview customers who utilize only the City’s sewer and storm water services are billed on a bi-monthly basis and have an average bill of $103.44. Residential customers residing outside city limits are billed using an alternate rate. Please contact the utility billing office for information at 503-665-7929 ext. 1.

2. How are rates calculated?

Fairview’s utility rates are calculated based on what it costs the City to maintain the public water, sewer, and stormwater facilities and services. Each of the City’s utilities is operated as an independent enterprise fund and all expenses and revenues for each service are kept separate. No tax revenues are used to cover the costs of utility services.

3. What is a unit of water?

Water usage is measured by consumption units. One consumption unit is the same as 748.5 gallons or 100 cubic feet. A container 5 feet long by 5 feet wide and 4 feet high holds one consumption unit.

4. What is stormwater?

Stormwater runoff is all water (rainfall or snow melt) that ultimately flows into drainage facilities, streams, ponds, lakes, wetlands or other waterborne. Stormwater is prevented from naturally absorbing into the ground because of human sprawl including buildings, parking lots, patios, sidewalks and driveways.

5. What part of my utility bill is a flat rate and what part can I control?

The typical residential utility bill is really five bills in one- it’s for water, sewer, storm water services, fire suppression and public works facility fee.

• For drinking water there is a flat portion and a variable portion. The flat portion is $19.79 per month. The variable portion is for the amount of water your household uses each month. You may control this portion of your utility bill water charge by conserving and using less water.
• The sewer portion of the bill is a flat charge of $34.59 per month ($69.18 for bi-monthly customers or $103.78 for bi-monthly customers outside city limits). 
• Storm water is a flat charge of $12.31 per month. ($24.62 for bi-monthly customers). 
• Fire suppression is a flat charge of $0.75 per month. 
• The public works facility fee is a flat rate of $4.82 per month for average customers.

6. How can I reduce my bill?

Remember that water is a valuable resource that shouldn't be wasted. Your water is clean, safe, and convenient; but you have to pay for its treatment and the system to deliver it to you. By conserving water in your home, you also save energy needed to heat it or run appliances. 

Bathrooms: 

• Two-thirds of the water used in an average home is used in the bathroom, and a lot of it goes into the sewer. From two to seven gallons of water are used every time a toilet is flushed. Do not use the toilet to flush items that can go in a wastebasket or garbage can. Be aware of toilet leaks. 
• You may have been advised to take showers rather than baths to conserve water. If you take a long shower, however, you may use more water than if you took a bath. Long, hot showers not only waste water but also energy to heat the water. Consider using reduced-flow devices for showerheads. 
• Don’t leave the water running while you shave or brush your teeth. You are just running clean water down the drain. 

Kitchens: 

• Be sure the dishwasher is fully loaded before running it. Try not rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
• If you wash dishes by hand, do not let the water run while washing or rinsing. Don’t let the water run while cleaning vegetables or other foods. Use a large pan or dish for rinsing. 
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting it run until it’s cold.
• Be sure to have full loads, or use the automatic controls for smaller loads.
• Use cold water for rinsing.

Outdoors: 

• Don’t water on a fixed schedule, or if rain is in the forecast. Water grass or plants only if they show signs of needing it. Water during the coolest part of the day to avoid excess evaporation, and let the water sink in slowly. Water applied too fast runs off into storm drains. 
• When washing the car, use a bucket of water for washing, and use the hose only for rinsing.

Plumbing:

• Install shutoff valves for appliances and fixtures in case a pipe blows out. Most importantly, check for a main shutoff valve that turns off water to the whole house, and make sure that it works.

7. How can I voice my opinion on utility rates?

Residents may attend Fairview City Council meetings and voice opinions about rates for water, wastewater, and stormwater, or you can email comments to morleyp@ci.fairview.or.us.

8. What is my stormwater utility bill fee used for?

Stormwater utility fees are dedicated to the repair, replacement, maintenance and construction of systems to manage stormwater runoff. Fees are used to provide a multitude of services that help to improve water quality and protect aquatic resources, as the City is mandated by federal law to have protection measures and meet health quality and standard benchmarks.
• Emergency response to hazardous spills
• Cleaning sediments and other pollutants from catchbasins and stormwater facilities
• Designing, constructing and maintaining stormwater quantity and quality facilities
• Implementation of Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control inspection and enforcement

9. What is the public works facility fee used for?

The City Public Works Shop located at 48 First Street was constructed in 1949 and is not structurally sound in the event of a seismic event. This facility houses city vehicles and equipment that would be used to assist citizens in the event of a seismic event; therefore, it is imperative that it be able to withstand a disaster.

Council diligently considered all options and determined it was in the best interest of the citizens to construct a new Public Works shop facility. Different methods of funding were explored and the public was given the opportunity to share their feedback.

Council approved a utility fee, which allows staff to spread the cost of the new building as evenly as possible to all utility users. Average residential and business customers will be billed $4.82 per month. Apartment complexes will be billed $4.82 per unit, adjusted by the vacancy rate as reported by the Metro Multifamily Housing Association.

The debt term is 20 years. The city expects to be able to prepay a portion of the debt after year eight due to increasing revenue from development, which should shorten the overall time frame of the debt, and subsequently, the fee charged to customers. FMC Chapter 13.13 - Public Works Facility Fee