BETHEL — In recent months, the cost of water and wastewater services has come under increased scrutiny among Bethel ratepayers.

Like most towns, Bethel does not measure wastewater output directly. Instead, sewer charges are calculated based on water usage, under the assumption that most household water — used for showers, toilets, laundry, and more — ends up in the sewer system. However, the per-gallon rates for water and sewer differ, which has led to confusion among some residents.

Until early spring of 2025, Bethel residents received a single combined bill from Maine Rural Water. Now, water usage is billed by Maine Rural Water, while the town issues a separate invoice for wastewater.

This transition to two quarterly bills, each with different rates, has left some of the town’s 750 water users and 560 wastewater users confused.

In addition, some ratepayers have raised concerns that their wastewater charges may be overestimated — especially in cases where water is used for gardens or filling swimming pools, and therefore does not enter the sewer system.

In response, the Bethel Wastewater Treatment Plant workers have begun offering garden hose submeters to help residents more accurately track non-sewer water use. These devices are available to borrow from the facility with a $25 deposit, which is refunded at the end of the season when the meter is returned.

Superintendent Toby Walker and Lead Operator Jeff Warden cautioned that due to Bethel’s wastewater minimum, many users may not see savings from using the submeter unless their water usage exceeds that threshold.

Water district rates

Water service is billed quarterly. The base charge is $93.14 (before tax), which covers up to 900 cubic feet of water per quarter.

Water usage beyond that amount is billed at a rate of $5 per additional 100 cubic feet.

This means the minimum yearly water charge — excluding overages and tax — is $372.56.

Some residents have recently reported unexpected increases in their water bills, however. Water District Superintendent Lucien Roberge said he sometimes requests abatements from the town  because of a meter reading error, a wrongly estimated reading or a leak.

“Most of the time it’s very obvious,” he said.

Water billing is done off-site at Maine Rural Water in Richmond, a water district association.

Sewer rates

Sewer service is billed separately by the town and is not included in the water bill.

The sewer system charges a quarterly base fee of $210, which covers up to 1,500 cubic feet of water usage, regardless of how much water actually ends up being processed in the sewer system.

Any water use above 1,500 cubic feet per quarter is charged at 20 cents per additional cubic foot.

The minimum yearly sewer charge is therefore $840.

Ratepayers who think their bills may be incorrect should contact Maine Rural Water about their water bills or the town about their wastewater bills.

Note: This is the first in a series of stories looking at Bethel’s water and wastewater systems.