Why is my sewer (wastewater) bill higher than my water bill?
The County of Maui is required by the Clean Water Act (enforced by the State of Hawaii and the US Environmental Protection Agency) to treat wastewater before returning it to the environment. This process is typically more difficult, time consuming and expensive to perform than producing normal drinking water from aquifers, streams or wells.

Your sewer bill reflects your household's fair share cost of this treatment and consists of a base charge and an amount that correlates to the volume of water consumed. The rate on this consumed volume is set to account for the fact that significant amounts of water go to landscape irrigation or other uses that do not enter the sewer system.

The Department of Environmental Management establishes the rates for the sewer portion of your bill while the Department of Water Supply only handles the collection of these charges. Please go to the link below or call the Wastewater Reclamation Division at 270-7420 if you would like more information about the sewer portion of your bill. (Note: If you reside in an area that is not serviced by one of the County Wastewater Reclamation Facilities, this fee will not appear on your bill.)
Dept. of Environmental Management - Wastewater

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1. How do I open an account, ask questions about my account and bill, start or terminate water service, or report a change of address?
2. What is my account number for? Where can I find it?
3. How can I sign up for Automatic Bill Payment?
4. How do I request emergency services?
5. How do I establish new water service at a property that is not already connected to the system?
6. How do I read my residential water meter?
7. How do I pay for my water bill? What if I have specific questions about my bill?
8. Why is my bill so high?
9. I'm confused with the new format for the water bill. How do I read it?
10. What is the monthly Water Service Charge for?
11. Why is my sewer (wastewater) bill higher than my water bill?
12. What are sewer charges for?