For Immediate Release – November 16, 2009

AUSTIN- The Austin Water Utility (AWU) will begin the annual wastewater averaging cycle November 16th to arrive at the wastewater charges for customers for the 2009/2010 service year. AWU encourages customers to always conserve water but customers concerned about their wastewater costs should make special attempts to conserve water during the averaging months.

Between the start of the averaging period in November and the conclusion in March, each customer's water use is measured for three consecutive monthly billing periods. The water usage for the two monthly billing periods with the lowest daily usage is averaged and is the basis of the wastewater average billing for the year. The month with the highest daily average water use is eliminated from the calculations. Monthly billing is based on the customer's wastewater average or actual water use, whichever is lower. The new wastewater rate will be reflected beginning in the April 2010 statement.

AWU uses late fall and winter months to establish wastewater averages because less outdoor water is used during this time and measures more accurately indoor household water usage which is returned to the wastewater system.

Customers can go to www.cityofaustin.org/water and listed under wastewater averaging they will find the specific dates for their wastewater averaging period and for more details on wastewater averaging and reducing water and wastewater bills by conserving water.

Media Contact:
Kevin Buchman
Email to: Kevin.Buchman@ci.austin.tx.us
City of Austin Water Utility
(512) 972-0151; pgr.(512) 802-8959