Wood Village pays the City of Gresham to treat the wastewater that flows through our sewer system. One of the biggest factors in that cost is the amount of wastewater sent to the treatment plant.
In January 2025, Wood Village changed how sewer charges are calculated. Instead of paying a flat monthly sewer fee, customers now pay a base fee plus a charge based on water usage. This change allows customers who use less water to pay less, while customers who use more water pay more.
What is a "winter average"?
To determine your sewer volume charge, Wood Village uses a winter average based on your water usage from October through March.
Why winter? During the summer, water use often increases because of lawns, gardens, and landscaping. Much of that water is used outdoors and does not enter the sewer system. Using winter water usage provides a more equitable way to estimate how much water a household typically sends to the sewer.
Why September 20 matters
City utility workers read water meters once a month, as close to the 20th of the month as possible.
Water used after your September 20 meter reading is billed in October and becomes part of the water-use history used to calculate your winter average.
That means your irrigation habits in late September can affect your sewer charges for the following year.
Keep your sewer charges lower
If you use irrigation for your lawn, garden, or landscaping, remember to turn it off by September 20. Doing so can help prevent outdoor water use from increasing the winter average used to calculate your sewer volume charge.
Mark September 20 on your calendar and turn off your irrigation before your meter is read.
For questions about your water or sewer bill, please contact the City of Wood Village at utilitybilling@woodvillageor.gov.
