I encourage everyone to report Tualatin Valley Water District to Oregon's Better Business Bureau at 208-994-6896. They can also be emailed through this page:
https://www.bbb.org/bbb-directory/us/or
TVWD has no fewer than seven fixed charges per billing cycle totaling $199.54, which means **you are paying a minimum $200 bimonthly without even turning on your sink.** I took the liberty of breaking down these costs and attaching pictures from my bills in case anyone is dubious or on the fence about the integrity of this company. Here are the breakdowns as of Jan-Feb 2025:
1.) Water fixed charge: $82.71
2.) Surface water charge - local: $6.58
3.) Surface water charge - regional: $2.19
4.) Sewer base charge - local: $11.58
5.) Sewer usage charge - regional: $31.36
6.) Sewer usage charge - local: $6.08
7.) Sewer base charge - regional: $59.04
**NOTE**: in the photos I attached, not all charges appear in this order.
Note as well that the fixed water charge increased. In July-August 2024, the charge was $70.40. In Sept-October it was $71.59, and in Nov-Dec it jumped all the way up to $82.72, where it currently sits as of Jan-Feb 2025.
The way Tualatin Valley Water District prices their fixed charges is not only unacceptable, it's despicable. I'm a single individual living alone in my household, and I only use ~$20 worth of water bimonthly (give or take depending on the season). Despite this, I'm still stuck with a bill that's incapable of being less than $200. I applied and was approved for the Community Assistance Program (CAP), which I had hoped would ease some of the burden. However, the 20% off only applies to the fixed water charge and water volume charge, the latter of which is my personal water usage, which happens to be the cheapest part of my bill because it's the only charge I can control. The fixed water charge, as mentioned, is $82.72, and 20% off that and my personal usage means I only get about ~$20 off a month. ($82.72 + $20 = $102.72; 20% off that.) Again, I am a single individual living alone in my house. More importantly, not everyone can be approved for CAP or one-time emergency utility assistance through the county.
TVWD inevitably tries to justify it as "competitive market pricing that meets demand needs and helps build and maintain your water delivery/storage/treatment system," but even when considering that, there is no reason to set prices this high. None. This is despicable and inexcusable. There is no justification that someone is paying **seven fixed charges totaling $200** without using a single drop of water. When TVWD digs their heels in about it, it not only makes them look worse, it does nothing whatsoever to alleviate the financial strain they are very clearly imposing upon their customers. There's a reason they have 1.6 stars. This company is so deplorable that I encourage everyone to determine who their water/sewer provider is when they are looking to move so they can avoid Tualatin Valley Water District at all costs. That should tell you something. Please, please report TVWD to the Better Business Bureau. Clearly customer complaints aren't enough.
TVWD, I hope you can't sleep at night. read more