Use your local marginal rates
Estimate the usage charge for a refill.
Enter the refill volume in US gallons and a rate that applies to that added use. One rate cannot calculate a bill that crosses multiple pricing tiers.
Your entered-rate estimate will appear here.
USD estimate for the entered volume only. Excludes fixed fees, taxes, tier changes, credits and other surcharges. Entries are not sent or saved.
Make the numbers useful
Use the tool with confidence.
Match the units on the bill
Some rates are stated per US gallon, some per 1,000 US gallons and some per 100 cubic feet, often labeled CCF. These are different volumes. Check both the rate’s units and the volume before copying a number into the calculator.
One CCF is approximately 748.052 US gallons. The calculator divides the entered gallons by the selected billing-unit volume and multiplies the result by the entered rate. Water and sewer rates must use that same selected unit. If your utility uses different units for those rates, obtain equivalent rates before combining them here.
Use a measured or clearly estimated refill volume
Use a suitable metered amount when available. If you estimate the volume, keep its basis with the result. A nominal pool capacity isn’t necessarily the amount you need to add after a small level drop.
For a rectangular surface, the water-loss calculator can estimate total volume change from a measured vertical drop and surface dimensions. That result is not confirmed leak-only loss, and curved or irregular pools need an appropriate area calculation.
Check sewer billing before leaving it out
Ask whether the utility charges sewer usage on the refill volume and whether an approved adjustment or credit is available. Requirements differ. Do not assume a separate outdoor use automatically qualifies, and do not treat an unchecked sewer box here as evidence of eligibility.
If a credit requires advance contact, a meter reading or particular documentation, confirm the procedure before refilling. The calculator does not apply credits or subtract an assumed sewer allowance.
A worked example with invented rates
Suppose a refill uses 1,000 US gallons, with water priced at $4 and applicable sewer usage priced at $6 per 1,000 gallons. The estimate is $10 in usage charges. These rates are hypothetical, not a quote or a typical US tariff. Fixed fees, taxes, tier changes and other surcharges are outside that result.
If only part of the volume falls under each rate tier, calculate the charges from the utility’s actual tier rules instead. The whole refill cannot be assigned the cheapest tier simply because that is the first line on the schedule.
Investigate repeated refilling separately
The EPA WaterSense pool guide discusses evaporation, leaks, covers and cleaning-related water use. An unexpectedly frequent refill deserves a separate investigation. A cost calculation cannot explain why the water level is falling.
Use the pool water-loss guide for a suitable observation and the filter service record guide to keep intentional discharge separate from unexplained loss. Browse other water planning tools when comparing household costs and maintenance.
Before you decide
Practical questions, answered.
Does this estimate my entire utility bill?
No. It estimates usage charges for the entered refill volume using one water rate and an optional sewer rate. Fixed fees, taxes, tier changes, credits and other surcharges are excluded.
Should I include a sewer charge for pool water?
Ask your utility whether sewer billing applies to the refill volume and whether an approved refill credit is available. Leaving the sewer option off does not establish that there is no sewer charge.
What if my refill crosses several pricing tiers?
One entered rate cannot represent several tier prices accurately. Ask your utility how to calculate the added volume across the applicable tiers, rather than treating this single-rate estimate as a full bill.
Does HandyTrail save my entries?
No. The tool does not send your entries to HandyTrail or save them between visits. Keep your own copy of any result you need.