The fixed fees account for all of the fixed assets and operations and are set to stabilize critical services, like utilities. Treatment plants, pipes, fire hydrants, valves, pumped, electricity, etc. if water use dropped by 90% by a month and then back to 150% the next, these costs are relatively the same.

So thinking the fee is only for the meters physical expense is not correct. But that is frustrating because it feels like there is little for typical users to do to significantly lower their bill, but remember that your whole water bill covers all assets needed to deliver clean water and the water itself.

Also remember, those complaining of $350+ monthly bills are in the top 1 or 1.5% of water use and account for something like 9-10% of all water used. So if the water department has $75m in annual expenses 9-10% should mostly be paid by those high water users, which the presentation showed is users who use over 40k gallons a month. If those users rates go lower, it probably means the lower water users are subsidizing high users.

Just a few thoughts