How to Pay Your Houston Water Bill Online, by Phone, or In-Person

As a resident of Houston paying your monthly water bill to the City of Houston Department of Public Works is an important responsibility. The department provides clean drinking water, sewage treatment and storm drainage to Houston homes and businesses. There are a few ways Houston residents can conveniently pay their water bill. In this article, I’ll go over how to pay your City of Houston water bill online, by phone, by mail, or in person.

Pay Your Houston Water Bill Online

The easiest way for most people to pay their Houston water bill is online. Here are the steps:

1. Go to www.houstonwaterbills.houstontx.gov

2. Click on “Take Charge” in the top menu.

3. Register for an account or log-in if you already have an account

4. Select “Pay Bill” and choose a payment method. You can pay directly from a bank account or by debit/credit card

5. Enter your payment details and submit.

Paying online is fast, secure, and you can get confirmation that your payment was received. You can also opt for paperless billing to save trees. I recommend setting up automatic monthly payments to avoid forgetting and getting hit with late fees.

Pay by Phone

If you prefer to pay your Houston water bill over the phone, dial 713-371-1400 and select option 1 for billing. You can then make a payment using automated prompts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Keep in mind there is a small fee for paying by debit/credit card over the phone. But bank account payments by phone avoid any fees. Calling in allows you to pay your water bill conveniently without needing internet access.

Pay by Mail

The City of Houston still accepts water bill payments by physical mail for customers who prefer that method. To pay by mail, write your 10 digit account number on your check or money order. Make it payable to “City of Houston Water” and mail to:

City of Houston
P.O. Box 1560
Houston, TX 77251

Be sure to mail your payment at least 7 days before the due date to ensure it arrives on time. Late mailed payments can result in fees. Paying by mail takes more planning than electronic payments.

Authorized Walk-In Payment Locations

You can also pay your Houston water bill in-person at authorized payment locations around the city. These third-party payment sites include:

• H-E-B Grocers
• Fiesta Mart
• Kroger
• Walmart
• Amigos Supermarkets
• ACE Cash Express

Most payment sites accept cash, checks, money orders, and debit/credit cards. Visit www.houstonwaterbills.houstontx.gov and use the payment location finder tool to see all available walk-in payment sites near you. Many are open 24 hours for convenience.

Avoid Late Payment Penalties

To avoid late fees on your Houston water bill, make sure to pay the total due by the due date printed on your paper statement. I recommend enrolling in autopay so you never miss a payment. The City charges a 5% penalty on late water bill payments. Pay on time to avoid these unnecessary costs.

Payment Assistance Programs

If you are having trouble affording your water bill, Houston offers programs to help qualified residents. These include the Low-Income Discount Program and Temporary Bill Assistance. Visit www.houstontx.gov/waterbillhelp or call 713-371-1400 to learn more about payment assistance programs.

Monitor Water Usage

Log in to your online account dashboard to monitor your daily household water usage. Houston provides a meter read chart so you can see how much water you consume each day. Identify spikes and adjust usage to save on your bill. The city also offers free water conservation kits to help cut waste.

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