A Step-by-Step Guide to Paying Your Madison Water Bill

As a Madison resident, you need to make sure you pay your water bill on time. Over 250,000 people a day get safe, clean drinking water from the city’s water utility, but that service costs money. As customers, we need to pay our water bills on time so that the money can keep going to run, maintain, and improve Madison’s important water system infrastructure.

This complete guide tells you everything you need to know to cover your Madison water bill. I’ll talk about how bills are calculated, how to pay them, programs that can help, and ways to avoid late fees. Let’s dive in!.

How is your Madison Water Bill Calculated?

Before paying your bill, it’s helpful to understand what goes into the charges. Madison water bills consist of:

• Water Usage Charge – This covers the cost of treating and pumping water to your home or business It’s based on your actual metered usage in hundreds of cubic feet (CCF) The rate per CCF depends on whether you’re classified as residential or commercial,

• Service Charge – This fixed monthly charge helps fund basic infrastructure and operations It varies based on your meter size.

• Madison Sewer Charge – This pays for sanitary sewer service and stormwater management. It’s a fixed monthly fee plus a usage fee based on how much water you use in the winter.

• Madison Stormwater Charge – All properties pay this fixed monthly fee for storm sewer maintenance and flood control.

Other small charges may include hydrant fees for commercial properties with private hydrants and account collection fees if past due.

When are Madison Water Bills Issued?

The billing cycle depends on your location:

• Most residential customers are billed monthly around the 25th of each month.

• Downtown properties are billed quarterly in January, April, July, and October.

• Commercial accounts can select monthly or bi-monthly billing.

Check your latest bill for the exact next billing date. For monthly billing, your usage spans 27-33 days based on weekends and holidays.

All bills are due 20 days after the billing date printed on your invoice.

Ways to Pay Your Madison Water Bill

Madison offers several payment options to conveniently pay your water bill on time:

Pay Online

The city recently launched a new online payment portal allowing 24/7 payment access. You’ll need to create an account with your new Customer ID number provided on recent bills.

The portal allows checking balances, viewing usage graphs, enrolling in paperless billing, and setting up recurring payments.

You can pay by e-check from a bank account for free or by debit/credit card for a service fee.

Pay by Phone

Call 608-266-4821 to pay over the phone using the automated payment system. You’ll need your account number and Customer ID.

Like online payments, e-check is free while card payments incur a service charge. Phone payments can be made 24 hours a day.

Pay by Mail

Mail a check or money order payable to “City Treasurer” with your payment stub to:

City Treasurer
P.O. Box 2997
Madison, WI 53701-2997

Remember to allow 5-7 days for mailed payments to be received and avoid late fees.

Pay in Person

Bring cash, check, or card to pay at the Water Utility billing office located at:

119 E Olin Avenue
Madison, WI 53713

Office hours are Monday-Friday from 7:30am to 4:00pm. An after-hours outdoor payment dropbox is also available.

Auto-Pay

For ultimate convenience, enroll in auto-pay through the online portal to have payments automatically debited from your bank account each billing cycle.

Third Party Bill Pay Services

You can utilize your bank or credit union’s online bill pay feature. Payments are sent on your behalf via check or electronic transfer.

Avoid Late Fees with Proper Payment

Madison charges a 1.5% late penalty on any water bill not paid by the due date. This can add up to $5 or more each month. Avoid these unnecessary fees by:

• Marking due dates on your calendar

• Enrolling in billing reminders

• Setting up automated payments

• Allowing 5-7 days for mailed payments

If funds are tight, call the billing office before the due date to discuss a payment plan. Limited fee waivers are also available for qualifying seniors and low-income customers.

Seek Bill Payment Assistance if Needed

If you’re struggling to cover water bills, Madison offers financial assistance:

• The Madison Water Utility Customer Assistance Program (MadCAP) grants up to $180 per year in bill credits to income-eligible residents. Apply any time.

• Water Utility Rebate Program – Low-income homeowners may qualify for credits toward plumbing fixture upgrades that reduce usage and lower bills.

• Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – This program administered by the county provides annual water bill credits of up to $300 for qualifying households.

Don’t let past due bills pile up. Call the billing office to learn about enrolling in affordable payment plans or hardship programs. Minor late fees can often be waived when you proactively communicate about your situation.

Tips for Understanding and Managing Your Water Bill

To gain control over your water usage and billing, keep these tips in mind:

• Check your usage against past bills to flag any spikes that likely indicate leaks.

• Study the price per CCF – rates rise periodically so understanding the unit costs helps budget.

• Install an automated monitoring system to receive alerts for unusually high usage.

• Insulate pipes and install aerators to control usage and lower winter sewer fees.

• Request to change your billing cycle to align due dates with your pay cycle or other bills.

• Sign up for e-billing to avoid mail delays and have 24/7 bill access.