How to Pay Your Water Bill in Lee County, NC

Paying your water bill is an essential responsibility for any resident or business owner in Lee County, North Carolina. While it may seem like a mundane task, knowing the various options available for paying your water bill can save you time, money, and hassle. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about paying your Lee County water bill.

Overview of Water Service in Lee County

Lee County provides water service to much of the county through its Public Works department The county maintains the water lines, metering, and billing services for residents and businesses in the Lee County Public Works District

A lot of people who live in Lee County but aren’t in a city get their water from the county’s public works department. The county provides water to more than 9,200 retail customers, which is equal to about 25,000 people.

Some incorporated towns in Lee County like Sanford, Broadway and Jonesboro handle their own municipal water service. If you live within the city limits of an incorporated town, you’ll pay your water bill directly to the town rather than the county. We’ll cover more details on paying town water bills later in this article.

No matter whether your water comes from the county or town system, understanding the common billing cycles and due dates will help you pay your bill on time and avoid any late fees

When Lee County Water Bills Are Due

Lee County Public Works bills residents for water service on a monthly basis. Your meter will be read around the 15th of each month, and bills are mailed out by approximately the 22nd of the month.

Your Lee County water bill needs to be paid by the 10th of the following month. In this case, if you have a meter reading on March 15, your bill will be mailed by March 22, and you must pay it by April 10.

If your payment is not received by the 10th, a late fee of $5 or 5% of the balance (whichever is greater) will be assessed. The county provides a grace period until the 15th to receive payment before disconnection of service occurs.

Ways to Pay Your Lee County Water Bill

Lee County offers several convenient payment options to pay your water bill:

By Mail

The easiest way to pay is to mail your payment stub along with a check or money order to the address printed on your bill. Be sure to allow 3-5 business days for your mailed payment to reach the billing office to avoid late fees.

In Person

You can pay your water bill in person at the Lee County Public Works office located at:

Lee County Public Works
106 Hillcrest Drive
Sanford, NC 27330

The office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm. Cash, check, money order, and credit/debit payments are accepted.

Drop Box

A drop box is located at the entrance of the Public Works office for your convenience. Payments left in the drop box by 5:00pm will be credited the same day.

Online Bill Pay

Lee County offers an online bill pay system through Official Payments Corporation. You can pay by credit card or e-check 24/7 through the online portal. A convenience fee of $2.45 applies for credit card payments.

To register, you’ll need your account number and mailing zip code from your water bill. Sign up for online bill pay at https://leecountync.gov/how_do_i/pay_online.php.

Phone Payments

Call 1-800-487-4567 to pay your Lee County water bill over the phone 24/7 using the Official Payments system. You’ll need your account number and mailing zip code. Credit card payments incur a $3.95 fee.

Automatic Bank Draft

For hassle-free payments, sign up for automatic monthly bank drafts from your checking or savings account. Visit the Lee County Public Works office to fill out a bank draft authorization form. A voided check is required.

Drafts will be processed on the due date each month for the total balance due. Make sure you have sufficient funds in your account to avoid overdraft fees.

Paying Water Bills for Incorporated Towns

If you receive your water from an incorporated town in Lee County like Sanford, Broadway, or Jonesboro, you’ll pay your water bill directly to the town rather than the county. Here’s a quick overview of how to pay bills in each town:

Sanford

The City of Sanford provides water service to residents and businesses within the town limits. You can pay your Sanford water bill:

• Online at sanfordnc.net
• By phone at 919-775-8215
• By mail to: PO Box 63060, Charlotte, NC 28263
• In person at 225 E Weatherspoon St, Sanford, NC 27330

Broadway

To pay your Broadway water bill:

• Mail payment to: PO Box 147, Broadway, NC 27505
• Pay in person at 103 N Main St, Broadway, NC 27505

You can also call 919-258-6266 for more payment options.

Jonesboro

Pay your Jonesboro water bill:

• Online at jonesboronc.com
• By phone at 919-735-3151
• In person at 114 N. Moore St, Jonesboro, NC 28642

Check with your individual town for more details on paying municipal water bills. Having multiple ways to pay makes it easy and convenient to pay your bill on time every month.

What to Do if You Can’t Pay Your Bill

If an unexpected financial hardship prevents you from paying your water bill in Lee County, don’t panic. You have options to avoid service disconnection.

First, contact the Lee County Public Works department as soon as possible at 919-718-4403. Let them know your situation and see if they can offer an extension or payment plan. Any effort to communicate and make partial payments shows good faith.

Second, check if you qualify for Lee County’s Indigent Water Program. This program provides a $20 credit per month toward water bills for qualifying low-income residents. The program has strict eligibility guidelines based on income and household size. Applications are available at the Public Works office or by calling 919-718-4403.

Finally, consider applying for emergency utility payment assistance. Programs like the Lee County Social Services Crisis Intervention Program or the Salvation Army’s Project Share may provide emergency funding to avoid shut-offs for residents facing financial hardships.

By reaching out early, understanding all your options, and making every effort to arrange payment, you can hopefully avoid disruption of your essential water service. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or flexibility—the county and local nonprofits offer resources for residents who want to pay their bill but need some extra support. Stay proactive with communication and explore programs available in your community.

Key Takeaways on Paying Lee County Water Bills

• Lee County Public Works bills for water monthly and payments are due by the 10th of each month
• Multiple options exist for paying your bill by mail, phone, online, bank draft, and in person
• Incorporated towns like Sanford handle their own water billing—check with your town for payment options
• Contact Lee County immediately if you’ll have difficulty paying your bill to ask about extensions or payment plans
• Explore resources like the Indigent Water Program and local nonprofits if you need financial assistance for your water bill

Paying your water bill on time is an important responsibility as a Lee County resident or business owner. Understanding the billing cycles and exploring all your payment options will allow you to conveniently pay your bill every month. Reach out for help if you ever experience hardship—with proactive communication and utilizing available assistance programs, you can hopefully avoid disruption of your essential water service.