City of Bonney Lake

1) Go to https://web.ci.bonney-lake.wa.us/

2) Click on Citizens Services

3) Click on Utilities

4) Click on Registered Users

5) Click Email Password

6) Enter the email address you used to register your eUser online account. If you don't know it, or do not have access to that email address anymore, please contact Utility Billing.

1) Go to https://web.ci.bonney-lake.wa.us/

2) Click on Citizens Services

3) Click on Utilities

4) Click on Registered Users

5) Enter your login username and password

6) Click My Profile

7) Type in your new email address and click save changes.

1) Go to https://web.ci.bonney-lake.wa.us/

2) Click on Citizens Services

3) Click on Utilities

4) Click on Registered Users

5) Enter your login username and password

6) Click My Profile

7) Enter a new password under select a password and again under repeat password and click save changes.

1) Go to Utility E Statement Form

2) Fill out the form and submit.

Please note that utility accounts that include a tenant, are unable to sign up for this service at this time. 

1) Go to https://web.ci.bonney-lake.wa.us/

2) Click on Citizens Services

3) Click on Utilities

4) Click on Registered Users

5) Enter your login username and password

6) Click Automatic Payments

7) Click on Add a Bank Account to add a checking or saving account or Add a card to your account to add a credit card.

8) To add a bank account: Select account type (Checking or Savings), then enter your account number, routing number, Account nickname (not required), and Email address.

9) To add a card to your account: Create a card nickname (not required) and email address, then select continue.

10) Select the card type Visa or MasterCard; enter the card number, the expiration month and year, the Name on the card, and the billing address of the credit card, phone number and email then click add payment method.

1) If your credit card number, card expiration date, or checking/saving account number has changed. Go to: https://web.ci.bonney-lake.wa.us/

2) Click on Citizens Services

3) Click on Utilities

4) Click on Registered Users

5) Enter your login username and password

6) Click Automatic Payments

7) Find the card or account you need to edit and click Delete Card or Delete Account.

8) Then add the updated card/account information as if it is a new card/account.

9) Click on Add a Bank Account to add a checking or saving account or Add a Card to your account to add a credit card.

10) To add a bank account: Select the account type Checking or Savings, then enter your account number, routing number, Account nickname (not required), and Email address.

11) To add a card to your account: Create a card nickname (not required) and email address, then select continue.

12) Select the card type (Visa or MasterCard); enter the card number, the expiration month and year, the Name on the card, and the billing address of the credit card, phone number and email then click add payment method.

1) Go to: https://web.ci.bonney-lake.wa.us/

2) Click on Citizens Services

3) Click on Utilities

4) Click on Registered Users

5) Enter your login username and password

6) Click Automatic Payments

7) Click on the Red X box icon or the words Stop Automatic Payments.

1) Go to: https://web.ci.bonney- ake.wa.us/

2) Click on Citizens Services

3) Click on Utilities

4) Click on Registered Users

5) Enter your login username and password

6)Click Add Account.

7) Enter the Account number from your Utility Statement (for example: 1-23-123456-00) and the Last name as exactly listed on your Utility Statement. If you are having difficulties registering your utility account please call the Utility Department for help.

2023 Utility Rates

2022 Utility Rates

The City is currently completing the eighth year of a ten year plan to convert all water meters to radio read (AMR) meters. Currently, parts of the City may have either an older manual read, touch read or newer radio read meter. AMR meters are being installed on all new connections, as well as replacement of existing meters that are found to be improperly reading. AMRs have been installed in all of Bonney Lake’s commercial area, and roughly 85% of the residential areas. AMRs have several benefits, including: minimized need to access your property to read your meter, increased customer service, pro-active leak detection, the ability to download up to 90 days’ worth of consumption data in 1 hour intervals, controlled meter reading costs, and fewer employee injuries, especially in areas with fenced yards, dogs and landscaping. AMR reading technology uses electronic registers to collect the readings and a radio to send the data that have proven to be more accurate than visually reading the meter by removing the possibility for human errors. In addition, each radio device has a unique identification number that is transmitted along with the meter reading. The unique identification number is compared electronically to your account record to ensure that the meter reading received matches the meter assigned to your account. While occasional issue arise, the water industry considers AMRs to be accurate and reliable. In light of unusually high summer water consumption, Bonney Lake is currently testing a sample of its AMR and manual read meters to check their accuracy. The City currently uses Neptune T-10 radio read meters as its standard. The T-10 can pass the following flows:

5/8” = ½ to 20 gpm
3/4” = 2 to 30 gpm 1” = 3 to 50 gpm

While a 5/8” meter is limited to a maximum flow of 20 gpm, a ¾” or 1” meter (which is what Bonney Lake uses) can easily handle and accurately read all the water a customer wants to run through it.

Bonney Lake water customers are fairly evenly split between in-city and out-of-city, so meter readers read inside city accounts one month, and outside of city the other month. Meters are read on a bi-monthly basis for those residential customers who reside inside the Bonney Lake city limits. Meters for in-city accounts are read on odd months (January, March, May, July, September, and November). Residential customers who live outside the City limits have their meters read on a bi-monthly basis on even months (February, April, June, August, October, and December). Commercial non-residential accounts are billed monthly for both basic service charges and commodity (consumption) charges. Meters are read monthly. The City contracts with a billing service (located out of state) to do the actual mailing of the bills. This has proved less expensive than billing in-house.

Residential customers who reside inside the corporate Bonney Lake city limits are billed for basic services on a monthly basis and for commodity (consumption) on a bi-monthly basis.

Meters are read on odd months (January, March, May, July, September, and November). Residential customers who reside outside the corporate City limits are billed on a bi-monthly basis for both base charges and commodity (consumption) charges. Meters are read on even months (February, April, June, August, October, and December).

Commercial non-residential accounts are billed monthly for both basic service charges and commodity (consumption) charges. Meters are read monthly. The City contracts with a billing service (located out of state) to do the actual mailing of the bills. This has proved less expensive.

The amount billed includes a fee or tax of 12% calculated on the gross revenue of the water, sewer and storm water utility.

Bonney Lake, like many cities, has adopted a conservation based rate structure. That means the more you use the progressively more you pay. As more water is used, the relative cost applied to additional quantities of water will increase. There is no “volume discount”. This is intended to discourage waste and promote conservation. This is not only for environmental stewardship purposes, but also because in the summer when peak demand exceeds what water the City can produce internally through its springs and wells, we have to purchase additional water from TPU though our inter-tie with them, as well as “fire up” additional wells. This costs the City hundreds of thousands of dollars each summer, which of course, is passed on to the rate payers who cause the excess demand. Accordingly, the water rate structure discourages high consumption. Although there is no cap as to how much water you can use, you will pay a premium for high water use.

This is a fixed monthly fee, determined by the size of the water meter installed at your property. This fee helps more equitably distribute service costs that are not related to the volume of water used, such as bill production, customer service, water service inspections, meter reading and maintenance/replacement of meters.

Residential customers are charged a monthly base charge for sewer, and then volumetric charges per 100 cubic feet (748 gallons), 100 cubic feet = 1 CCF, of monthly water consumption. However, for single-family residences the volumetric charge is capped at 10 CCF per month (7,480 gallons). During the winter, the average household will use 6,000 – 8,000 gallons of water. The reasoning behind the 10 CCF price cap is because during the winter you generally do not water the lawn, etc. and this outside water use is not discharged into the sewer system.

A charge for the volume of water discharged to the Sumner Sewage Treatment Plan. The sewer is based on the water usage. The volumetric charge is capped at 20 CCF every two months for residential customers. Sewer availability charges are billed monthly and volumetric charges are billed bi-monthly when the water meter is read.

Most people use more water, because they are watering outdoor vegetation.  The AWWA (Association of Water Works of America) says for our region, we should only water for 5 minutes per zone, 3 days a week.  This should keep your vegetation well watered, without the water going back into the groundwater.  

The City bills every 2 months for Consumption, and every month for the base rates.  Consumption can vary from month to month depending on things such as: recent changes in water use (e.g. due to family size), new water-consuming equipment, water use habits, leaky/running toilets, leaky faucets & fixtures, leaks in irrigation lines; water service line leaks, or old, outdated fixtures & toilets, etc.

When preparing the utility bills, the computer will generate a meter read edit list. All accounts that used more than double during the same period as the previous year’s water are sent a courtesy notice. In those instances City staff notifies the customer by either a letter or a “door hanger” alerting the customer to the high water consumption for the period. Some people refer to these as leak notices, but a water leak could be one of several causes for the high consumption.

If you believe you were billed in error because of a misread or a faulty water meter, it can be easily checked. Compare the present reading on your bill to the reading on your meter. If the number on your meter is smaller than the reading on your statement, the meter has been misread. Call us at 253-447-4317, we will send someone out check the meter reading, correct our records as needed, and send an adjusted statement. If the reading on your meter is larger than the present reading on the statement, the reading is likely accurate. If you suspect a faulty meter may be inaccurately recording the amount of water used, call us.

Occasionally, a water meter does malfunction. A malfunctioning meter can record usage at a higher or lower rate than is accurate, but does not record usage when no water is being used. A water meter is a simple mechanism with a volumetric chamber that is rotated by the flow of water through the meter. If no water is flowing, the chamber cannot rotate on its own.   If a meter is found to be malfunctioning, it will be replaced and the billing adjusted. If the meter is NOT malfunctioning, the billing is not adjusted.  If you have questions or require additional information, please contact the utility desk at 253-447-4317. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Utility charges are due upon receipt and become delinquent on the 15th of the month following the billing. A monthly penalty of two percent (2%) of the past due balance but not less than $10.00 shall be charged to all delinquent accounts. Disconnection is scheduled 30 days after the date of delinquency. In the event of disconnection (water shut-off) due to delinquency, all charges plus a $100.00 turn-on fee must be paid to reconnect service. Utility accounts are ultimately the responsibility of the property owner. The owner remains responsible for payment, even if the property owner provides a written request to bill tenants. The Chief Financial Officer of the City is authorized to approve payment plans when circumstances warrant, and is the highest ranking officer of the City with the authority to adjust a utility statement.

Yes, under limited circumstances. To qualify to receive this discount, the utility customer must provide proof that they receive the Pierce County "Senior Citizens & Disabled Persons Property Tax Exemption". Because of this requirement, only the property owner can apply for the discount. For more information about the County’s property tax discount, please visit the Pierce County website or call the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer’s Office at 253-798-2169. The Bonney Lake Senior/Disabled Persons discount for qualifying property owners is: Water: 50% reduction from the standard water availability charge (base rate); Sewer: 20% reduction from the sewer availability charge. There is no discount on the commodity (consumption) charge.

Yes, under limited circumstances. If the leak is in your water service line (the water pipe that runs from the water meter to your home), you may be eligible for an adjustment. Under certain circumstances, leaks to irrigation lines likewise qualify for a leak adjustment. This is your responsibility to maintain and repair as needed. Because it is underground, leaks may not be readily detected. No leak adjustments are granted for water leaks due to third party actions, or due to faulty equipment or fixtures inside the structure, including leaky toilets, faucets, etc. The adjustment is two-thirds of that portion of the customer’s water bill determined by calculating the median consumption for the past five years for the same period the leak occurred. The adjustment is limited to the period of 120 days of consumptive use prior to the repair of the leak. The complete regulation on leak adjustments can be viewed on the Bonney Lake Municipal Code 13.04.

You may have a manual, touch read or radio read meter. If you’re not sure what type of meter you have, please call the utility desk at 253-447-4317 and we can look that information up for you. We have a number of brochures that can help you check your meter. Call the utility desk to have one mailed or emailed to you.

The city provides year-round facilities for supplying water and collecting wastewater and stormwater. All users are billed an availability charge on a continuing basis for water, sewer and stormwater (if applicable) availability. Billings continue during periods of non-use, including periods when the water has been disconnected due to delinquency or when a structure is unoccupied. It costs a certain amount to assure that water is available to any given property in the City. The availability charge is essentially an access charge reflecting the cost of providing consumer access to the water system. The justification for the availability charge is that the water utility incurs certain costs regardless of whether or not consumers receive service. These fixed costs are not impacted by the amount of water supplied.

Because of differences in terrain, system age, water supply, water quality, etc. water systems do not cost the same across the board. The Bonney Lake water system is more complex than that of the average city our size. People like to compare relative rates none the less. Bonney Lake’s water rates fall into the “average” range for basic household use, and higher than average rates for high water consumers. Currently, the average Bonney Lake household using 7 CCF of water per month will have a slightly lower water bill than folks in Enumclaw, Sumner, Buckley, or Gig Harbor, about the same as Auburn, and somewhat more than those in Puyallup or Milton. However, because of the tiered conservation based rate structure, high water consumption users will pay more than in many of these same cities.

Recent changes in water use, new water-consuming equipment, water use habits, leaky/running toilets, leaky faucets & fixtures, leaks in irrigation lines; water service line leaks, or old, and outdated fixtures & toilets can all lead to higher water bills. Here are some tips on how to conserve water to lower your water bill:

1: Fix Leaky/Running Toilets
Here’s an interesting fact from the EPA: toilets account for 26.7% of the indoor water use for the average American home. This makes toilets the single biggest source of indoor water use. A running or leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water in a single day, or 1,400 gallons (almost 2 CCF) of water per week. Not sure if your toilet is leaking? You can check for a toilet leak in two ways:
    1. The Sound Check. Simply walk up to your toilet and listen. If you hear an odd hiss-like noise, you may have a leak and will want to check further.
    2. The Dye Test. For this test, you’ll need some food coloring or a dye tablet. Take the lid off of your toilet’s tank and put in a couple of drops of coloring (or a dye tablet). After you’ve put the dye in the tank, wait for 15-20 minutes and check the toilet bowl for dye.

If dye is present, then there’s a leak allowing tank water to flow into the bowl.
In most cases, these leaks will be caused by a faulty flapper in the toilet tank. This is a relatively easy fix that only requires a short trip to your local home improvement/hardware store and a few minutes.

2: Fix Leaky Faucets & Fixtures
Leaky faucet fixtures are another all-too-common cause of high water bills. The heavier the leak, the more water gets wasted, and the higher the water bill will be. For example, as noted by the EPA, “a leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons (4 CCF) per year.” Thankfully, this is a problem that’s easy to spot and fix. A simple visual check of your faucets, shower heads, and other fixtures is all it takes to identify a leak at the fixture.

3: Stop Irrigation Leaks
Not all leaks occur indoors. If you have an irrigation system for your landscaping, a line crack or loose joint could allow water to leak even when the irrigation system is off. Finding these leaks can be a little tricky, especially if the lines for the irrigation system are buried out of sight.

To spot these leaks, you may need to check your landscaping/lawn for unusually damp patches or areas of grass that are more lush than their surroundings. However, these signs of a leak are similar to the signs of a leak in a lateral line.

To fix this kind of leak, you may need to consult a professional plumber to find the location of the leak and to fix or replace the affected irrigation lines.
How do I change my Utility

4: Fix Lateral Line Leak
In some cases, one of the underground pipes feeding water from your metered connection to your home may have a crack or loose joint. The causes of these leaks vary, but things such as pipe age, seismic activity, tree root intrusion, and animal activity are often contributing factors.

This problem, while similar to an irrigation leak, is usually much more severe. When trying to tell if the leak is in your irrigation line or your lateral line water supply pipe, the amount of extra water consumption noted on your utility bill can serve as an indicator.

For these leaks, the best solution is to contact a professional. A professional can recommend the best solution for the problem—such as traditional trench & replace, trenchless pipe lining, or pipe bursting.

5: Repair Old, Outdated Fixtures & Toilets
Many homes have a long history attached to them, and equally old plumbing fixtures. In recent years, there have been numerous efficiency improvements made to common water fixtures, such as new-model aerators for faucets, low-flow water-saving toilets, and water-saving shower heads.

This rarely shows up as a sudden problem—it’s usually something that comes with the house and has you paying high water bills from day one.

Check your home’s faucets, toilets, showerheads, and other water-using equipment for labeling or date of manufacture. When buying a new home, ask the owner or real estate agent how old the plumbing fixtures are.

6: Consider Recent Changes in Water Use
One small change in your water use habits or household situation can have a big difference on your utility bill. Two big reasons you might change your water use habits include a change in the season or adding a new guest/family member to your household. The best fix to counter or prevent a sharp spike in your water use is to plan ahead when possible. In some cases, you may need to budget for higher water consumption during certain months or for as long as you have that additional person in your home.

7: Consider New Water-Consuming Equipment
On a related note, adding new water-intensive equipment to your home can also cause a significant increase in your water bill. Pools, sprinkler systems, washing machines, freezers, and other new equipment can result in a sudden increase in your water bill.

To minimize the impact of new equipment on your water bill, try to select appliances that are marked as high-efficiency or have EPA’s WaterSense label. If you add a pool to your property, be sure to cover it when not in use to minimize the water loss from evaporation so you don’t have to use as much water to refill it.

8: 25 Top Water Wasting Habits
    25. Letting the water run when brushing your teeth or shaving. Two gallons per minute are wasted. Installing a low flow aerator on your faucet can save more than 140 gallons of water a month.
    24. Running the faucet until it becomes cool instead of refrigerating a container of drinking water.
    23. Not using a stopper when filling the sink to wash dishes by hand.
    22. Setting the temperature very high in your spa or pool. Warmer water evaporates more quickly.
    21. Running a dishwasher that is not full.
    20. Taking long showers without using a low flow showerhead. Reducing your shower time by just 1-2 minutes can save up to 700 gallons per month. Using a low flow showerhead can save up to 800 gallons of water per month.
    19. Not repairing leaky faucets. Grab a wrench, it’s simple and can save up to 140 gallons a week.
    18. Over-filling the bathtub instead of using the necessary amount. Bathing babies, small children and pets typically require less than a full bathtub.
    17. Washing less than full loads in the clothes washer. Typical clothes washers use 35-50 gallons per load whether full or not.
    16. Not regularly checking and repairing leaks inside the home (e.g. bathtubs, faucets, and toilets).
    15. Not replacing pre-1993 toilets with ultra-low flush or high efficiency toilets. Toilets installed prior to 1993 use almost 2 gallons more water per flush.
    14. Using the toilet as a wastebasket. Wastes up to 5 gallons per flush.
    13. Not using a pool cover which reduces water loss due to normal evaporation.
    12. Watering on windy days. Water often is blown onto the walkway or driveway. Also water evaporates faster on windy days.
    11. Installing plants that require constant watering or are not appropriate for the local climate.
    10. When irrigating the yard, watering the pavement. Check your sprinklers and adjust them to water the landscape, not the pavement.
    9. Not using compost or mulch to reduce water runoff and evaporation.
    8. Not seasonally checking the irrigation system(s) for leaks.
    7. Using the garden hose to wash down sidewalks instead of using a broom. A garden hose can use more than 10 gallons of water per minute!
    6. Not using soaker hoses or drip irrigation in flower beds which can save up to 50% of water used compared to sprinklers.
    5. Using the garden hose without a shutoff nozzle.
    4. Watering more than three days a week during hot weather. Water your lawn efficiently up to three times per week to assure that moisture reaches deep down to the roots.
    3. Not watering between 9:00 a.m. and Noon or after 8:00 p.m. when water evaporation is minimal.
    2. Watering when it is not necessary.
    1. And the Number 1 way people waste water…….. Overwatering the lawn! Too much water results in water running off the lawn.