Show All Answers

1. I Have A Question About My Bill, Who Do I Contact?

For billing questions, please email utility billing anytime or call 952-873-5553 during normal business hours. 

2. Can I Pay Online?

Yes, go to online utility payments to create an account and schedule payment. 

3. Is Auto Pay Available?

Yes, find more information in the online utility bill payment option or contact the Finance Department. 

4. When Is My Water Meter Read?

Meters are read monthly, typically near the 26th of the month. 

5. When Do I Get A Bill, When Is Payment Due?

Billing is done generally the day after the meters are read.  Payments are due on the 21st of every month regardless of what day of the week this falls on.  A ten percent penalty is added on the 22nd of each month on all past due accounts.  You can mail your payment to:  City of Belle Plaine, 218 Meridian St N, PO Box 129, Belle Plaine, MN 56011, use the drop box outside of the front door at City Hall, or pay by auto pay.

6. How Are Meters Read And Readings Billed?

The City of Belle Plaine electronically reads the water meters each month.  We collect the first four numbers off of your water meter register, which tells us how many thousands of gallons are used.  We only bill for the thousand gallons that are used. 

It is common to see fluctuations from one to two thousand gallons because we read by the thousands and don’t bill for the gallons used until it rolls to the next thousand. For example: a new meter starts with a reading of zero (0000,000.00).  A household uses 900 gallons in the first month (rdg = 0000,900.00).  The reading that we receive from the meter is the first four numbers – which is still zero (0000).  The next month the reading is 0002,300.00.  The reading we receive is now 0002 (the first four numbers). Our billing system calculates the current reading less the previous reading for a total of 2,000 gallons billed. Therefore, you have been billed for zero gallons for the previous month and 2,000 gallons in the current month, even though in reality you used 900 in the first month and 1400 in the second month.  This can also explain why some residents who may average 2,333 gallons per month will see a jump to 3,000 gallons every third month. 

7. How Much Household Water Use Is Normal?

The national average for usage per person per month is 1,500 gallons each.  Multiply that by the number of people in your household to get an average of what you should be using.  You have access to your meter in your basement so we strongly recommend monitoring it for usage.  Monitoring your usage on a daily basis might help identify some areas where usage can be reduced.  Also check the water level in the tanks of the toilets – make sure it is at least an inch below the overflow tube.  And please fix any toilet that is running.  If you can hear a toilet running it is similar to leaving a faucet run. The most common cause of elevated usage is a running toilet.

8. How Can I Reduce Water Usage?

The best way to keep your utility costs down is to conserve water.

In the Bathroom

• Take shorter showers.
• Install water-saving shower heads.
• Turn off water while brushing your teeth.
• Check your toilets for leaks.

In the Kitchen

• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. This ends the wasteful practice of running tap water to cool it for drinking.
• If you wash dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing. If you have two sinks, fill one with soapy water and the other with rinse water.
• Check faucets and pipes for leaks. Many leaks can be repaired with inexpensive washers.

General Household

• Be sure your outside faucets are turned off after they are used.
• Check your water softener to be sure it is not leaking or generating more than it should be.

Lawn Sprinkling

• Water deeply and infrequently - 3/4 of an inch to 1 inch of water per week will maintain a green lawn.
• Don't overwater - Water applied beyond the needs of the grass and holding capacity of the soil moves down out of the root zone of the grass, where it cannot be used by the lawn.
• Don't scalp your lawn - Mow the lawn 2 to 3 inches above the soil line but remove no more than 40% of the height of the grass.
• Let your lawn go dormant - This will save money and mowing time. If you choose to do this, don't fertilize your lawn in the spring. Gradually decrease water application as July approaches then apply 1/4 of an inch to 1/2 of an inch of water every two to three weeks. Shorten the interval if you have sandy soil.