Are there different ways that people in Buffalo pay for the water they use?
Yes. Some homeowners pay a “FLAT RATE” for their water use and others are charged based on a “METER” reading. What is the difference? On a “FLAT RATE” system, the amount of your bills has nothing to do with how much water you actually use. This may sound like a good idea, but it really may not be best for your situation. A flat rate charge is based on such things as the size of your house, the number of toilets and bathtubs, number of families, hoses, sprinklers, cars parked in the garage, etc. (It is assumed that you are using water to wash your car.) When you have a METER, the meter shows the exact amount of water you use and that is all that you pay for. Would I be better off if I had a meter? Probably. All new houses are built with meters. However, most homes in the City of Buffalo are older and do not have them. They are charged a flat rate. When you are charged a flat rate, your payment is based on a guess of how much water you use. If other people in your neighborhood are wastin
