Conservation pricing is used to encourage water conservation to help sustain an adequate water supply for future generations. Gainesville uses a conservation rate structure that residential customers are billed according to four tiers. The four tiers are defined as follows:
- Lifeline 0-2,000 gallons
- 1 2,001 - 5,000 gallons
- 2 5,001 - 8,000 gallons
- 3 >8,000 gallons
Also under tiered rate structure, commercial and multifamily class customers are billed based on a percentage of winter average usage (winter average usually runs from November to April but varies by billing cycle). Commercial and multifamily class customer tiers include:
- Tier 1 = Less than 125% of winter average,
- Tier 2 = Greater than 125% to 180% of winter average
- Tier 3 = Greater than 180% of winter average
General industry customers are billed at the lowest rate for all consumption under this new structure. As of January 2010, irrigation meters are being billed at Block 3 for all consumption in compliance with the MNGWPD’s Water Supply and Water Conservation Plan.