A Complete Guide to Paying Your Water Bill in Rome, GA

Having reliable access to clean water is something many of us take for granted. But ensuring this precious resource is available to homes and businesses requires intricate infrastructure and planning by your local water utility. As a customer of Rome Water and Sewer Division, understanding your water bill payment options helps support the system we all depend on.

The City of Rome, GA water bill payment guide has everything you need to know, from how to pay online, over the phone, in person, and through automatic payments. We’ll also talk about when bills are due, how much they cost, and other ways to pay bills in Rome.

Overview of Rome Water and Sewer Division

The City of Rome’s Water and Sewer Division provides water and sewer utilities to around 37000 residents in the Rome area. They maintain over 500 miles of water mains 4 elevated tanks, 4 ground storage tanks and 10 water booster pump stations to deliver clean water and handle wastewater.

Water rates are approved by the Rome City Commission All customers are billed monthly on a staggered schedule based on service location Payment is due by the due date each month to avoid penalties.

Now let’s look at the various payment options available for paying your Rome water bill.

Paying Your Water Bill Online

Online through the City of Rome website is the best and easiest way for most people to pay their water bill in Rome. Here’s how to pay online:

1. Go to www.romega.us and click on “Pay Water Bill”

2. If new user, create an online profile first

3. Log in with your username and password

4. Select “Water and Sewer” department and enter your 10 digit account number without dashes

5. Enter payment amount and submit. You can use a credit card, debit card or e-check.

6. A small convenience fee of $1.95 applies to online payments

Online payments are fast, simple and can be made anytime. You can also view past bills and payment history through your online account.

Paying by Phone

For customers who prefer to pay their Rome water bill over the phone, call the Rome Water Billing Office at 706-236-4466. You will need to provide your account number and follow the prompts.

Payments can be made with most major credit or debit cards. A convenience fee of $1.95 is also charged for phone payments.

The Water Billing Office is open Monday – Friday from 8am – 5pm for phone payments. Just note that the line can get busy during peak times near bill due dates. Leaving a voicemail will get a return call when staff is available.

Paying by Mail

If you would rather mail in a payment, you can send a check or money order along with your water bill stub to:

City of Rome Water Billing Office
PO Box 1433
Rome, GA 30162-1433

Be sure to include your account number and mail it several days before your due date. Mailed payments take 5-7 days to process.

Paying in Person

For customers who want to pay their water bill in person, Rome has a few options:

• At the Water Billing Office at Rome City Hall, 601 Broad Street

• At the drive-thru window at Rome City Hall

• At one of the Official Payment Centers around Rome

The Water Billing Office is open 8am – 5pm Monday through Friday. They accept cash, checks, money orders and credit/debit cards.

The drive-thru window on the east side City Hall is open 8am – 6pm for quick water bill payment drop off without getting out of your vehicle.

You can also pay at community banks and grocery/retail stores registered as Official Payment Centers. Walmart, Kroger and Publix allow you to pay with cash or debit at the customer service desk.

Setting Up AutoPay

To save time and hassle each month, consider enrolling in automatic payments through the City of Rome. This securely debits your water payment from your bank account each billing cycle automatically.

To start AutoPay:

1. Login to your Rome water account online
2. Under “My Profile”, click on AutoPay Accounts
3. Select your bank account and confirm account number
4. Agree to terms and click Enroll

Once enrolled, you’ll no longer need to manually pay each month. Payments will debit around your bill’s due date. You can cancel or change accounts anytime through your online account.

When is the Rome Water Bill Due?

Water bills in Rome are mailed out monthly on a staggered schedule based on your home or business location.

Due dates are typically 20 days after the billing date printed on your water bill. So if you receive your bill on the 10th of the month, your payment would be due on the 30th.

The exact due date is printed on each monthly bill. Payments must be received by the due date to avoid any late fees or service disruption. Setting a reminder can help avoid forgetting.

If the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, payments are still due by the next business day. Online or phone payments made on weekends/holidays will be processed the next business day.

Late Fees and Disconnection Policy

If your water bill is not paid by the due date, Rome Water and Sewer Division will charge the following late fees:

• 10% penalty fee applied to account balances after due date
• Disconnect notice fee of $60 if disconnection notice is issued
• An additional $60 reconnection fee if water is physically disconnected

Accounts 30 days past due are issued an orange disconnection notice. If the past due amount is still unpaid after 10 more days, water service is subject to disconnection.

So pay any late bills promptly before additional late and reconnect fees add up! Disconnection can also negatively impact your credit score.

Payment Arrangements

If you’re struggling to pay your Rome water bill on time, you can call the Water Billing Office to set up a payment plan.

They may allow alternative payment arrangements like:

• Extending your due date for one billing cycle
• Making installment payments over several months
• Temporarily lowering your monthly bill amount

Adhering to an approved payment plan can help avoid disconnection. Contact them as soon as possible to discuss arrangements.

Water Bill Assistance Programs

For low income residents unable to pay their water bill, Rome offers assistance through partnership with community organizations:

• United Way: Offers emergency bill payment assistance for water bills through their helpline 2-1-1. Funds are limited so call them as soon as you receive a shutoff notice.

• NWGA Community Action: Provides federal money for subsidized payments through the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) based on eligibility.

In dire situations, you can also contact local churches or charities to request help paying utility bills.

Budget Billing for Consistent Payments

To make water bill payments more consistent month-to-month, Rome Water and Sewer offers an optional Budget Billing plan.

This averages your last 12 months of usage to calculate a fixed payment amount each month. It prevents widely fluctuating bills through the year.

To enroll, your account must be in good standing. Excess amounts are rolled over as a credit to offset future usage. Budget plans can be canceled anytime if needed.

Paying your water bill doesn’t have to be a hassle each month. Rome offers convenient payment options to suit every customer’s needs. Be sure to pay by the due date to avoid penalties and keep clean water flowing to your home or business. Let us know in the comments if you have any other questions!