Well, it turned out that our meter had not advanced even 1 water unit (hundred cubic feet, equals 748 gallons) -- therefore, by the water meter, we had no measurable consumption. This apparently triggered some kind of alarm at the water bureau and, unbeknownst to us, they sent a technician to check things out. The test consisted of turning on a water faucet and watching if the water meter moved. Since it didn't the conclusion was that our water meter was out of order. Therefore the bureau sent us a bill label "corrected" for 12ccf of water that we had already paid for! (I have no idea how they arrived at this figure.) In fact, the water meter didn't move during the test because the technician turned on our rainwater-powered faucet! In any case, I called the bureau to find out about the erroneous bill and explained what was going on. (Eventually the Water Bureau reversed the charges on our bill.)
What's really amazing is that Portland is in the process of spending
upwards of $400,000,000 to separate the existing combined sanitary and
storm sewage system built earlier this century which results in raw sewage
discharge into the Willamette river during rainstorms (Oregonian
23 March 1999 page A7). If enough individuals were doing as we are, there
is a possibility that it would solve the problem -- at a substantial savings
in public moneys! We spent well less than fifteen hundred dollars for our
entire sytem with its 1500 gallon cistern. Allowing $1,500 for labor of
installation, and a total cost of $3000, the city could, for a similar
investment, conceivably purchase 130,000 similar systems. Since Portland
has a population of only 450,000 people, this kind of money could equip
every house in the city and probably still have money left over!
Water Bill Surprise / Feedback welcome / revised January 02, 2002