How to Pay Your Cottage Grove Water Bill Online, By Phone or In Person

Any home or business needs to have access to clean, reliable water service. The Public Works department of the city of Cottage Grove provides your water if you live there. It’s important to pay your Cottage Grove water bill on time every month so that water keeps coming out of your faucets.

The city offers various payment options to conveniently pay your water bill. You can pay online, by phone, mail in a check, auto-draft from your bank account, or drop off payment at City Hall. This guide will outline the easiest ways to pay your Cottage Grove water bill

Benefits of Paying Your Water Bill Online

While the city accepts payments by other methods. paying your water bill online provides key advantages

• It’s fast – Online payments process immediately so your account gets credited right away.

• Avoid late fees – Paying online means you’re less likely to forget and end up with late charges.

• Get rid of paper bills—You can choose not to get paper bills in the mail and instead access your statements online.

• Payment receipts – Get confirmation emails after paying for your records.

• Auto-pay – Set up recurring automatic payments from your bank account.

• Save payment info – Store your payment details securely to quickly pay each month.

• Account management – View previous statements, payment history, water usage and more.

Paying online just makes managing your water account much simpler!

Step-by-Step Guide to Paying Your Water Bill Online

Here are the steps to pay your Cottage Grove water bill online:

1. Login to Your Water Account

Go to the city’s website and click on the “Pay Water Bill Online” link. This will direct you to the payment portal login page.

If you’re a new customer, you’ll first need to register your account. Have your account number handy.

2. Select Payment Method

Choose whether you want to pay by credit/debit card, checking account or AutoPay from your stored payment methods.

Enter any new card or bank account details if paying with an unstored method.

3. Enter Payment Details

Your current balance due will auto-populate. You can change the payment amount if desired.

Confirm your account number and service address.

Carefully review everything before submitting payment.

4. Get Payment Confirmation

Once submitted, you’ll see a confirmation screen and receive a confirmation email. The funds are immediately deducted from your account.

And you’re done! Just a few quick steps to pay your water bill online.

Paying Your Water Bill by Phone

In addition to the online portal, Cottage Grove offers a pay-by-phone option to pay your water bill.

To pay by phone:

• Call the toll-free automated payment line: (844) 855-0025

• Enter your account number and follow the voice prompts

• Choose whether to pay by credit/debit card, checking account or with a previous payment method on file

• Enter payment details including amount and card/account information

• Receive payment confirmation number at the end

The automated phone system is available 24/7 so you can pay at your convenience. Fees may apply for card payments.

Paying Your Water Bill by Mail

To pay your Cottage Grove water bill by mail:

• Write your account number clearly on your check or money order

• Make it payable to City of Cottage Grove

• Send to: City of Cottage Grove
  400 E Main St
  Cottage Grove, OR 97424

Be sure to mail your payment 7-10 days before the due date to ensure it’s received on time. Late fees apply if the payment arrives after the due date.

Paying In Person at City Hall

You can drop off water bill payments in person at City Hall a few different ways:

• At the front desk during business hours – You can pay by cash, check, money order or card

• Use the after hours drop box – Place your check or money order (no cash) in the drop box by the entry doors

• Monthly drive-up pay window – The first Thursday of each month from 9am-4pm for convenient drive-up payment

City Hall is located at 400 E Main Street in Cottage Grove if you choose to pay your water bill in person.

Auto-Pay for Worry-Free Water Payments

For the easiest hassle-free option, sign up for auto-pay when managing your Cottage Grove water account online.

With auto-pay:

• Your monthly water payment is automatically deducted from your bank account on the due date

• Avoid late fees – Payments are always on time

• Manage payments anytime – Change or cancel auto-pay in your online account

• Get emailed reminders – Payment receipts sent to your inbox

Auto-pay just takes the effort out of paying monthly water bills!

Avoid Service Disruption – Pay On Time

It’s important to pay your Cottage Grove water bill by the due date each month to avoid fees and service disruption. Here’s what happens if you fail to pay on time:

• Bill issued – Bills are sent out around the 25th of the month, due 15-20 days later.

• Late notice – If unpaid by due date, a late fee is added to your account.

• Shut off notice – About a week after due date, a shut off notice is sent if balance remains unpaid.

• Water service interrupted – Approximately 5 days after receiving the shut off notice, your water will be turned off due to non-payment.

Avoid the major hassle of losing water service to your home or business. Always pay by the due date, or sooner with auto-pay.

How to Restore Water Service After Shut Off

If you experience a water service interruption, take these steps:

• Pay the outstanding balance on your account plus late fees in full

• Pay a reconnection fee – $50 during business hours or $100 after hours/weekends

• Go to City Hall with your receipt showing the past due amount was paid

• Wait 1 business day after paying balance and fees for your water to be turned back on

Reach out right away if you anticipate any issues paying your water bill. The city can discuss payment arrangements or connect you with resources if eligible.

Additional City of Cottage Grove Utility Services

In addition to water, Cottage Grove provides other utility services, including:

• Wastewater/sewer service

• Stormwater management

• Street lighting

Service rates vary based on your property and usage. All these utility fees are included together on your monthly city bill.

Be sure to pay the full balance on time to keep all your utilities active. You can view a breakdown of charges in your online account.

Ways to Lower Your Water Bill

If your Cottage Grove water bill seems high, here are some tips to reduce it:

• Check for leaks – Fix any leaky faucets, showerheads, toilets, etc.

• Install water-efficient fixtures – Low-flow aerators and showerheads use less water.

• Run full loads – Only run the dishwasher and washing machine with full loads.

• Shorten showers – Cut just a few minutes off your daily showers.

• Turn off water when brushing teeth, shaving, washing hands, etc.

• Adjust irrigation schedules – Don’t overwater lawns and gardens.

• Upgrade old appliances – Newer models tend to use less water.

• Check for billing errors – Review your usage details and charges carefully each month.

Making a few small adjustments around your home or business can lead to significant water savings!

Emergency or After Hours Water Service

For water-related emergencies outside normal city business hours of Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, call the after hours emergency line at (541) 942-5501.

Situations to call the emergency water line include:

• Major water leaks

• No water/dry taps

• Suspected water main breaks

• Sewer line backups

An on-call technician will respond after hours for urgent water service issues requiring immediate attention. Otherwise, routine inquiries will be handled the next business day.

Contact Cottage Grove About Your Water Service

For questions about your Cottage Grove water utility account, service or billing, contact:

City of Cottage Grove
400 E Main Street
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
(541) 942-5501

Email: [email protected]

Online: www.cottagegrove.org

The city’s Customer Service team can answer questions about water rates, assist with billing issues, start/stop service, help troubleshoot leaks and much more.

Access to water service is something we often take for granted. But ensuring uninterrupted water to your home or business does require