TELL US: Was Your Sewer Bill Late? Is It Costing More?

Does it seem like your annual sewer user bill is a little late this year?

You might not be wrong. The annual bill homeowners get for disposing of the water they use was mailed out on March 22, just 9 days before the payment is due at Town Hall on April 1.

The sewer user bill itself was generated by the Woodbridge Township Sewer Utility more than a week earlier, on March 14. 

There was no ready explanation for the delay in mailing the bills. Mayor John McCormac's office did not return phone calls, asking for comment.

The short time frame between getting the sewer user bill and having to pony up for it hasn't hit many township residents well at all. 

Louise Smith, who is one of the 30,633 Woodbridge customers of , has lived in the township for more than 20 years. She said she's angry that she doesn't even have 10 days to find the money.

"What took so long? It's bad enough you have to pay to get rid of the water you had to pay to get in the first place. Now they want the money in days, or they'll charge you interest on it

"The economy is terrible. Where am I supposed to get this money from at a moment's notice?" she said.

Don't be late or face a tax sale

You probably won't want to be late paying your bill, either. The back of the sewer bill says that if you aren't up to date on payments as of May 11, 2012, state law allows the township to advertise your delinquency and put your property up for a June tax sale.

Other Woodbridge residents, posting on Facebook, expressed their frustration at late bills and fees that seem to have gone up. 

"It came at the end of last week, and it's already due April 1. They give you plenty of time to pay it," said Barbara Serafin-Weber.

Jim R. Griffin said his sewer bill was in the $400 to $500 range, while John Gillen of Fords is paying about $250.

"The increases for everything in this state never stop," Griffin said.

Amy Ondeyko commented, "Loved getting the bill so close to the due date....they are always ready for $$$$."

Costs are up

It is true, that like everything else, the costs to get rid of the water you use have gone up.

In 2004, the yearly sewer utility cost for a homeowner using 74,628 gallons of water - the typical quantity for an average Middlesex Water Company customer - was $229.11.

Eight years later, the cost of flushing and pouring that same amount of water down the drain is $427.04 - an increase of more than 86 percent in 8 years.

Neither amount includes the 10 percent discount residential homeowners receive on their bill for water that doesn't enter the sewer system, such as water used for washing cars, filling swimming pools, or watering grass and other vegetation.

Minimum fee, no matter how little you use

According to the sewer utility, the minimum amount any Woodbridge homeowner owes, no matter how little water they use, is $249.33. That's based upon a minimum 48,180 gallons of water used a year, including the 10 percent non-sewer drainage discount.

So what happens if you use less than 48,180 gallons of water a year? According to the sewer utility, you still have to pay the minimum $249.33, which could be even more than the cost of your water bill if you are a very light user.

The good news is that there is an appeals process if you feel your bill isn't correct. The bad news is that you have to file an appeal within 30 days of the billing date, which is confusing itself. The sewer bill date is March 14, making the deadline to file an appeal April 14.

The township's sewer utility page says April 1 is the billing date, making April 30 the last day to appeal.

The address to file an appeal is: 

Woodbridge Township Sewer Utility
P.O. Box 1447
Woodbridge, NJ 07095

If you have questions, you may want to ask First Ward Councilman Charles Kenny, who sits on the sewer utility board. He can be emailed at charles.kenny@twp.woodbridge.nj.us.

Richard Lorentzen is the sewer utility administrator. His number is 732-602-6010, ext. 4530.