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Affordable land and leasing costs, abundant fresh water, an educated workforce, low business costs and easy access to financing, technical assistance and efficient transportation have helped local businesses succeed and grow.
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Milwaukee water is a great value: One gallon of water costs less than 1/3 of a penny and that includes water use and service charges and the public fire protection charge (pays for hydrant maintenance).
The average residential customer (ranges from single family home to large, multi-family buildings) uses 26 Ccf per quarter, or 8.6 Ccf per month, and pays about $300.00 a year, or $25.40 per month, for water. Compare that yearly cost with the monthly cost of other services -- telephone, mobile phone, electricity, natural gas, cable TV.
Calculate this by dividing 26 Ccf per quarter by three for a monthly use of 8.6 Ccf per month. Add the residential service charge of ($25.67 per quarter) $8.55 per month, and a water use charge of $1.96 per Ccf for a total $25.40 per month water charge.
As measured by your water meter, 100 cubic feet (748 gallons) cost $1.96. (rates effective 2014). The Milwaukee Water Works measures and bills for water use in 100 cubic feet, or Ccf. We have been metering water in 100 cubic feet since the early 1900s when meters measuring water in Ccf were installed throughout the city. The meters we use today also measure water in Ccf. To convert your water use to gallons, multiply the water amount in Ccf by 748.
On an individual basis, we calculate the typical person in Milwaukee enjoys 10 Ccf of water per quarter.
Water rates are determined by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin based on cost of service, so all customers, including those tax-exempt, are charged fairly for the water they use.