How to Pay Your Water Bill in St. John the Baptist Parish

Having access to clean, reliable drinking water is vital for any community. In St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, the Utilities Department works hard to deliver quality water service to over 45,000 residents and businesses.

As a customer, it’s your responsibility to pay your water bill on time each month. This comprehensive guide will walk through everything you need to know about paying for water service in St. John Parish.

About the St. John Parish Water System

St John the Baptist Parish provides water service to homes and businesses across its 428 square miles along the Mississippi River, The parish’s water system includes

• 5 groundwater wells pumping from the Southern Hills Aquifer

• 3 elevated storage tanks

• 1 ground storage tank

• Over 400 miles of water mains and distribution lines

Multiple treatment facilities filter and disinfect the pumped groundwater before distribution to customers. The Utilities Department handles operation, maintenance, billing and customer service for water service parish-wide.

Understanding Your Water Bill

Water bills in St. John Parish are issued monthly. The bill includes a fixed service charge based on your meter size plus a volumetric usage charge for the amount of water used.

• Service Charge – Covers meter and infrastructure costs. Ranges from $14-40 depending on meter size.

• Water Volume Charge – Billed per 1,000 gallons used. The rate is currently $4.20 per 1,000 gallons.

• Sewer Charge – Billed at $4.28 per 1,000 gallons, based on your water usage.

Other fees may apply like late pays, meter re-reads, service disconnects/reconnects, etc. Carefully review your bill details each month.

Checking and Monitoring Water Usage

Your consumption each month depends on factors like leaks, number of people, irrigation, washing, etc. Reviewing your usage history helps identify abnormal spikes for further inspection.

The parish offers online account access to monitor daily volumes. Compare use across seasons and look for spikes indicating leaks or other issues.

Be aware of your normal usage patterns. Increase conservation if you creep up. A little leak can waste thousands of gallons over time.

Payment Options for Water Bills

St. John Parish provides several convenient ways to pay your water bill:

• Online – Login to your account anytime and pay by e-Check or credit/debit card.

• By Phone – Call 985-359-6661 to use the automated payment system.

• Mail – Send check or money order to the utility department. Include your account number and stub. Allow 7-10 days for processing to avoid late fees.

• In Person – Visit the utility office at 1801 W. Airline Hwy. Payments accepted 8am-4:30pm Monday through Friday.

• Night Depository – Use the secure drop box at the utility office after hours. Payments received the next business day.

• Auto Draft – Sign up to have payments automatically withdrawn from your bank account each month on the due date.

Always retain payment receipts when paying online or in person. Allow enough processing time when mailing payments.

Avoid Late Fees and Disconnection

Water bills in St. John Parish are due upon receipt each month. A 10% late penalty applies if payment is not received by the due date on your bill.

After two months of non-payment, your account becomes eligible for disconnection. Water service will be shut off unless the past due balance is paid immediately.

A $30 fee also applies for disconnection and must be paid prior to reconnecting service. Avoid these fees and hassles by paying on time every month without fail. Contact the utility office if you expect difficulty making a payment by the due date.

Payment Assistance for Qualified Customers

If you are struggling financially and unable to pay your water bill, contact the St. John Parish utility department right away.

They can discuss possible assistance like:

• Payment arrangements to pay the past due balance in installments over time.

• Payment extensions to push your due date back by a few days or weeks in special cases.

• Potential water bill reductions based on income eligibility requirements.

The parish partners with United Way and community agencies to provide bill payment grants if you qualify. Reach out promptly before your account becomes delinquent.

Closing or Transferring Service

Contact the utility department a few days before you move or need to close your water account. Provide them with the effective date and a forwarding address for the final bill.

To open a new water account, complete and submit an application with your service start date. A deposit may be required, especially for renters.

If you’re moving between properties in St. John Parish, your existing service can transfer to the new address once any balance is settled up.

Questions? Reach Out to St. John Parish Utilities

Contact the St. John Parish Utilities Department at 985-652-9569 if you have any other questions about your account, usage, leaks, quality, outages or other service needs. Promptly report any issues requiring maintenance or repairs.

Responsible water usage and bill payment keeps the parish’s system flowing smoothly. Do your part as a customer by monitoring your water use and paying on time each month.