water bill by square feet?

By Steve

I live in an apartment in New Jersey and my water bill is calculated by taking the total water bill for the entire apartment complex divided by the square footage of the entire complex (209,308 SF), getting an average water cost per square foot, and then multplying that number by the square footage of my apartment (789 SF). That is what I’m charged every month. For example, if the total water bill at the complex was $10,000 for the month, my cost would be $10,000/209,308 SF x 789 SF = $37.70. This seems shady to me. Is this common practice?

Edited on: Thursday, November 17th, 2011 10:19 pm

3 Responses to “water bill by square feet?”

My response: (We welcome stories, examples, explanations, answers and a touch of your personality)
 

Jason

November 22nd, 2011 12:39 pm

Not in my life I have heard a practice like this. There is never a water meter that calculates bills using your place’s area as a factor. It must be based on the amount of water you use, how many people live in the apartment (definitely, they will use water everyday), how frequent you use it, etc..
There could be more people living next door renting a smaller place and you can be living alone in a larger unit. It’s quite a sacrifice to make just to live conveniently on a bigger place.


Jason

November 22nd, 2011 12:47 pm

Never have I heard a practice like this in my life yet. It’s quite a sacrifice if you chose to live alone in a larger place. Doesn’t your landlord know that water bill is calculated by how much water is consumed? and therefore, he must how many people are living in one apartment, how frequent they use water, etc.


Stephanie

August 28th, 2012 8:51 pm

I live in large complex in Florida. Same thing…charge by sq ft. I am a single renter in a certain 2/2 layount, paying the same monthly charge as a family of four in the same unit down the hall. Being overcharged and ripped off, and I’m told if I don’t like it, I can live elsewhere. They are also raising my rent 12%. Greed is everywhere.


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