Check the Supplier Name First

This example uses Barnstable Fire District, whose service area includes Barnstable Village and Cummaquid. It is a separate district from the Town of Barnstable and neighbouring water suppliers. Match the name on your bill before using these figures. A Barnstable postal address alone does not establish which tariff applies.

The district’s published fee schedule carries rates effective January 1, 2026 and an internal update date of March 12, 2026. The documents below were checked November 4. This is a hypothetical calculation from public rates, with no customer bill or account information.

Read Usage and the Fixed Charge Separately

Water consumption is priced per 1,000 gallons of quarterly use. The tariff prints Tier I as 1,000–25,000 gallons at $7.25 per thousand, Tier II as 26,000–100,000 at $10.10, and Tier III as 101,000 and above at $16.00. Its new-account sheet demonstrates marginal billing: successive portions of usage receive their respective rates. Moving into a higher tier does not reprice all earlier gallons.

A separate quarterly service charge depends on meter size. The published fee for a 5/8-inch meter is $95.40. Accounts outside the district boundary have a listed $6 addition. Confirm the actual meter size and account classification rather than borrowing a neighbour’s fixed charge. The district explains that the service charge supports system maintenance and operating costs.

A 35,000-Gallon Example

Assume an in-district account with a 5/8-inch meter uses exactly 35,000 gallons in the billed period, with no other fees, credits or balance carried forward.

First 25,000 gallons: 25 × $7.25 = $181.25.

Next 10,000 gallons: 10 × $10.10 = $101.00.

Water-use subtotal: $282.25. Add the $95.40 quarterly service charge for a total of $377.65.

This example uses whole thousands of gallons. The fee schedule and account sheet express tier boundaries differently, so ask the collector how partial-thousand usage and rounding are applied to your actual reading. The calculation does not infer a rounding rule or include sewer charges.

The Bill Month Is Not the Meter-Reading Period

The new-account sheet lists bills in January, April, July and October, covering a quarterly service fee and previously used water. Read the service period and meter-reading dates on the actual bill; they need not have identical endpoints.

There is a specific reason to check: the sheet describes three months of consumption, but its April line prints a September-to-March water period and January-to-April service period. Ask the collector to confirm the relevant dates instead of treating that inconsistent line as an explanation of your bill.

Ask About an Unusual Reading Before Drawing a Conclusion

The district’s leak checklist identifies several possible reasons for higher usage, including an estimated reading followed by an actual reading, more occupants, outdoor use and leaks. A larger dollar total alone does not identify the cause. Compare the gallons and reading dates, then ask whether the reading was actual or estimated.

For billing or meter questions, call 508-362-6498 or contact bfdcollector@barnstablefiredistrict.com. The office at 255 Breeds Hill Road, Hyannis, lists Monday–Friday hours of 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; the same phone number is the district’s 24-hour emergency line. Describe the issue so staff can direct the next step. The published checklist directs plumbing repairs to a plumber.