Having reliable water and sewer service is essential for any Frederick County resident. While no one enjoys paying bills, the county offers convenient ways to pay your water and sewer bill online or automatically. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about managing your Frederick County water and sewer account and making payments.
An Overview of Frederick County Water and Sewer Utilities
The Frederick County Division of Water and Sewer Utilities (DWSU) provides drinking water and sewer service to much of the county. The DWSU operates and maintains an extensive infrastructure network of water mains storage tanks wells, pumping stations, and wastewater plants across the 567 square miles of Frederick County.
Some municipalities like the City of Frederick and Town of Walkersville have their own water and sewer utilities But in unincorporated areas of the county, it’s the DWSU providing these essential services
The DWSU is committed to providing Frederick County residents with a safe, clean, and reliable water supply along with responsible wastewater management. They regularly test water quality and make infrastructure improvements to maintain high service standards.
Understanding Your Frederick County Water and Sewer Bill
Water and sewer service in Frederick County is billed on a quarterly basis. Your utility bill will include charges for water usage, sewer usage, account fees, and any unpaid balances.
It’s important to carefully review your bill each quarter to ensure there are no errors or signs of unexpected high usage that could indicate leaks. Understanding exactly what you are being charged for makes paying the bill easier.
The easiest way to view and manage your Frederick County water/sewer account is through the MyUtilityConnect online portal (more on that later). But you can also call the billing office at 301-600-2354 if you have any questions about charges on your bill.
Payment Due Dates for Water and Sewer Bills
Once billed, Frederick County water and sewer bills must be paid within 30 days to avoid late fees. The due date is printed clearly on your paper bill and also viewable online through MyUtilityConnect.
If the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, bills can be paid without penalty on the next business day. But in general, it’s a good idea to pay a few days early to ensure your payment is received on time.
Paying Your Water/Sewer Bill by Mail
The traditional way of paying your Frederick County water bill is to mail in a physical check or money order. Detach the payment slip from your paper bill and enclose that along with your payment. Send to:
Frederick County Maryland
PO Box 3235
Frederick, MD 21705-3235
Remember to account for mailing time of 3-5 business days to ensure your payment arrives by the due date. Also double check that your payment check is made out for the correct amount due before mailing.
Paying Your Water Bill In-Person
For those who prefer to pay bills in-person, you can bring your water/sewer bill payment to the walk-up payment window at:
Frederick County Treasurer’s Office
Winchester Hall
12 E Church St.
Frederick, MD 21701
The payment window is open 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday, except for county holidays. In-person payments can be made by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card.
Paying Your Frederick County Water Bill Online
The fastest and most convenient way to pay your water and sewer bill is online through the county’s MyUtilityConnect self-service portal. This secure website and mobile app allows customers to:
- View water usage and billing history
- Make a one-time payment
- Set up recurring auto-pay
- Receive notifications
- And more!
To pay online, you’ll need your 10-digit account number printed on your water bill along with an email address. The portal accepts VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and e-checks.
MyUtilityConnect provides 24/7 access so you can pay instantly any time day or night. The county does not charge any fees for using the online payment system.
Enroll in Automatic Monthly Payments
For ultimate convenience, Frederick County water/sewer customers can enroll in monthly auto-pay through MyUtilityConnect. This automatically deducts your bill amount from a credit card or bank account each month.
Once enrolled, you’ll no longer have to manually pay your bill by the due date. However, you should still log in periodically to review your charges. Report any errors promptly to avoid incorrect automatic payments.
To enroll in monthly auto-pay:
- Log into MyUtilityConnect
- Click your name and select “AutoPay Program”
- Enter your payment information
- Check the auto-pay terms box and submit
Avoid Late Fees and Service Disruption
Paying your water and sewer bill by the due date is important to avoid penalties:
- Bills not paid within 30 days incur a 10% late fee
- Accounts past due 60+ days are subject to water service shutoff
- Shutoffs also result in a $30 service restoration fee
Clearly, staying current on your water/sewer account is vital to avoid fees and potential water service disruption. The online bill pay options make it easy to never miss a payment.
If you do have trouble paying, call the billing office immediately to discuss payment plan options and potential assistance programs before your account becomes delinquent.
Customer Assistance Programs
While utilities are vital, paying bills can sometimes be difficult for low income families and individuals. Frederick County offers assistance programs such as:
-
Care Fund – Helps cover water/sewer bills for households at or below 175% of Federal Poverty Level. Apply through Religious Coalition Assist Office.
-
SPLASH – Subsidized Pricing for Low Accounts needing Subsidized Help. Reduces the quarterly bill for qualifying low income customers.
In addition, various non-profits and community action agencies in Frederick County may be able to provide utility bill assistance through State/Federal programs. Reach out for help if needed.
Stay Informed with Email/Text Notifications
Through MyUtilityConnect, customers can opt-in to receive notifications when a new bill is ready, when your payment is processed, when automatic payment will occur, or when an account becomes past due. Choose text and/or email alerts.
Receiving automatic reminders and status updates helps you stay on top of your account. You’ll never be surprised by an unexpected bill or late fee. Sign in to MyUtilityConnect anytime to update your notification preferences.
Moving Your Frederick County Water/Sewer Service
If you’re moving within Frederick County, you’ll need to transfer or finalize your water/sewer account. Simply log into MyUtilityConnect and submit the move form with your new address. Make sure any outstanding account balance is paid to avoid issues re-starting service.
Moving outside the county? Your account will automatically be finalized when the new owner starts service. To get a final bill with your closing balance, submit a final read request in the online portal at least 3 days before your move.
We’re Here to Help with Your Water/Sewer Account!
Storm Water Management Fee
Storm water is created when water, mostly rain, cannot be absorbed into the ground. Most residential properties have about 30% impervious surface, multi-residential and commercial properties have about 70% impervious surface, and agricultural or country clubs have about 5% impervious surface. Impervious means the ground is covered and water cannot be absorbed, i.e. house, driveway, parking lot, etc. The City is processing that runoff in its sewer systems.
When to Pay Your Bill
Due Date: All charges are due within 30 days of the bill dates. Payments received (at City Hall) after the due date are subject to a 1% penalty per month. Failure to pay this bill within 60 days of the bill date may result in a discontinuance of service.
Section 25 of the Frederick City Code provides for additional charges to restore service suspended for failure to pay. Service charges shall be a first lien against said property.
- To pay by phone, call 1-844-906-1472.
- Account Names: Water and sewer accounts are maintained in the name of the property owner. Account names are changed when a property is transferred.
- Returned Check Policy: A return payment fee will be charged if a payment is returned by your bank for any reason.
The City offers a one-time reduction to water and sewer charges on excessive bills resulting from an interior or exterior leak. This program is open to any residential customer. It is not offered to apartments, condominiums, or any multi-family structure that is served by one meter.
Eligibility and other details are as follows:
- A Water and Sewer bill that is at least 2x normal usage, based on the average of the last three billing cycles will be considered.
- The Water and Sewer Finance Team (Team) will instruct the resident to have the leak repaired and/or coordinate with the Water Department to have the property inspected. Once repaired, the Water Department will perform two readings to ensure usage has returned to normal.
- After the Team has confirmed normal usage has resumed, the bill will be adjusted from the first service day on the protested bill to the first normal reading.
- The resident should continue to make payments based on the average of the last three billing cycles.
- For more information, please contract Utility Billing at 301-600-1421.
Pay Water and Sewer bills online
FAQ
How to pay for a water bill in Frederick, MD?
What is the average water bill in Frederick, MD?
|
Water – month
|
Sewer – month
|
Total – month
|
|
Frederick Water
|
$33.20
|
$57.58
|
|
Winchester
|
$60.63
|
$78.20
|
|
*Front Royal (out of town)
|
$54.96
|
$94.26
|
|
Berryville
|
$58.82
|
$96.00
|
How often do you pay a water bill in Maryland?
Who provides water in Frederick, MD?
How do I receive my Frederick County water/sewer bill?
By signing in or creating an account, some fields will auto-populate with your information. > Electronic delivery of Frederick County’s water/sewer bill is optional. You are requesting that your water/sewer bill be delivered to the e-mail address listed above. > No paper copy of the bill or late notice will be mailed.
How do I pay my Frederick County tax?
Pay for your Permit, Inspection or Licensing Fee Pay for your Planning & Development Review Fee Senior Services Support Frederick County’s Older Adults Public Safety Pay Your Ambulance Transport Fee Online Pay Your Annual Ambulance Service Subscription Dues Online Lien Certificate/Tax Status Report Request Real Estate Tax Inquiry
How do I pay my utility bill in Frederick?
The City of Frederick Finance Department offers several option to pay utility bills. Due Date: All charges are due within 30 days of the bill dates. Payments received (at City Hall) after the due date are subject to a 1% penalty per month. Failure to pay this bill within 60 days of the bill date may result in a discontinuance of service.
How do I contact Frederick County government?
Frederick County Government 12 E. Church St. Frederick, MD 21701 Ph: 301-600-9000 Monday – Friday 8:00 Am – 4:00 Pm Government Websites by CivicPlus® Arrow Left Arrow Right Slideshow Left Arrow Slideshow Right Arrow