Understanding Your Water / Sewer Bill

Water / Sewer Billing

City of Midland residents are billed quarterly for their water and sewer usage. The water and sewer bill is divided into 2 categories: fixed costs (called "readiness to serve") and variable costs (called "usage"). The fixed portion of the rate is used to cover fixed costs associated with maintaining the Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants. The usage portion of the rate is used to cover the variable costs of providing the services to our residents. Usage is billed per 1,000 gallons of water used during a 3 month period. The readiness to serve fee is determined by the meter size of a home. Most homes in Midland have a 5/8-inch or 1 inch meter.

example Midland Water Bill

Winter Quarter Averaging

The City realizes that in the summer months there are many activities that involve water usage without disposal to the sanitary sewer system, such as filling pools and irrigation. For this reason, city ordinance allows domestic, school, and church billings to receive winter quarter averaging. This means that during your cycle's designated summer quarters, sewer usage is based on an average of your two previous winter quarter water usages. To find out your billing cycle's effective winter quarter averaging time period, please email the Water / Sewer Billing Office or 989-837-3341.

Township Billing

The City of Midland provides water service to the townships of Homer, Larkin, Midland, and Mills in Midland County. Township billings are divided into 3 categories: fixed costs (called "readiness to serve"), variable costs (called "usage"), and township surcharges. Usage is billed per 1,000 gallons of water used during a 3 month period. The readiness to serve fee is determined by the meter size of a home. Most homes in Midland have a 5/8-inch or 1 inch meter. The township surcharge is set by the township and collected by the city on their behalf. Township surcharges can be fixed or variable costs or a combination of both. Townships do not have sewer billing.

Billing Cycles

For billing purposes, the city is separated into 3 cycles. Each cycle has designated billing dates and is coded by color (cycle 1 is red, cycle 2 is green and cycle 3 is brown). The cycle is determined by the geographic location of the utility service. Cycle 1 bills are due in February, May, August, and November. Cycle 2 bills are due in March, June, September, and December. Cycle 3 bills are due in January, April, July, and October. If you do not receive your bill by the 1st of the month that it is due, please contact our office for your balance and exact due date or check your account online.

Paying Your Water / Sewer Bill

Water / sewer bill payments may be made via any of the following options:

  1. Automatically through the City's Electronic Funds Transfer Program (PDF).
  2. Online with Visa or MasterCard | Pay Online Now.
  3. By mail to City of Midland PO Box 1647 Midland, MI 48641-1647.*
  4. In person at the City Treasurer's Office or via the drop box at 333 W. Ellsworth St. Midland, MI 48640.

*Please note that the City of Midland is not responsible for postal delays or processing delays through your financial institution's bill pay system. Your payment must be received by the city by the due date to avoid forfeited discounts.

Billing Codes

  • FP: Fire Protection
  • HM: Homer Township Surcharge
  • LA: Larkin Township Surcharge
  • LS: Irrigation
  • MD: Midland Township Surcharge
  • ML: Mills Township Surcharge
  • MR: Meter Replacement
  • RTS: Readiness-To-Serve
  • SW: Sewer
  • TGAL: Thousand Gallons 
  • TR: Trip Fee 
  • WA: Water