A Guide to Paying Your Water Bill in Dearborn, MI

Having access to clean, reliable tap water is something most of us take for granted. But delivering that water to homes and businesses takes massive infrastructure investments by cities and utilities As a customer, our part of the deal is paying our recurring water bills For residents of Dearborn, Michigan, here’s an overview of how the billing and payment process works.

About Dearborn’s Water Utility

The city of Dearborn handles water and sewer services for around 95,000 residents across east and west Dearborn. Water is sourced from the Detroit River and treated by the Great Lakes Water Authority. Dearborn maintains its own water mains, meters, hydrants and sewer lines.

The Water and Sewerage Division handles billing, collections, maintenance and infrastructure projects related to the city’s water system. They bill customers quarterly and offer various payment options to make it easy to pay on time.

Understanding Your Water Bill

Water bills in Dearborn consist of two main charges – water supply and sewerage disposal. Water supply rates are passed through from the Great Lakes Water Authority based on your usage. Sewer rates cover Dearborn’s wastewater infrastructure costs.

Other fees can include municipal service fees account charges and water meter fees. Your bill will list out each component and charge.

Dearborn water rates are reevaluated each year based on operational costs. Current rates are available on the city website. Rates are the same across residential and commercial accounts.

When Water Bills Are Issued

Water meter readings and billing are handled on a quarterly schedule in Dearborn. Here are the billing cycles:

• January – March: Bills sent in April
• April – June: Bills sent in July
• July – September: Bills sent in October
• October – December: Bills sent in January

Your due date will be 3 weeks after the bill is issued. So bills sent in April are due in early May. Setting calendar reminders for your bill’s due date can help avoid late fees.

Ways to Pay Your Water Bill

Dearborn offers multiple options for paying your water bill:

• Online – Pay via credit card on the online payment portal. A 2.5% fee applies.

• Phone – Call the automated payment line at 866-223-6589.

• Mail – Send a check or money order to the address printed on your bill.

• Drop Box – Use the drive-up drop box at the Dearborn Administrative Center.

• In person – Pay with cash, check or card at the cashier’s office.

• AutoPay – Enroll in direct bank withdrawal from your account on the due date.

The online portal is the simplest way to pay. You can view statements, see payment history and make one-time or recurring payments. But pick the option that best fits your needs.

Payment Assistance Programs

If you’re struggling to keep up with water bills, Dearborn has resources to help:

• The Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency provides aid for water bills through grants and 0% interest loans.

• You may qualify for a discount based on household income through the WRAP assistance program.

• Payment plans can be arranged if you’re facing a temporary financial hardship.

Don’t hesitate to seek help if you need it. Keeping water service active benefits your entire household.

Avoid Late Fees

Water bills in Dearborn are due 21 days after they are issued. Late fees are assessed if the bill is not paid in full by the due date:

• $6 late penalty if 1-30 days past due
• $12 late penalty if 31-60 days past due
• $18 late penalty if 61+ days past due

Set bill reminders and pay a few days early to ensure on-time payment and avoid extra charges. If you’re ever struggling to pay on time, call the utility billing office right away to discuss a payment plan.

Contesting Your Bill

If you receive a water bill that seems unusually high, don’t hesitate to contact Dearborn utility billing at 313-943-2307. Some common reasons for spikes in water usage include:

• Leaking or running toilet that drives up usage
• Sprinkler system problem wasting water
• Family member home more increasing household usage
• Water meter misread providing incorrect measurement

The utility department will investigate usage and the meter to determine what caused the increase. You may need to pay the full bill during this process, but a credit can be issued later on if the bill was in error.

Signing Up for AutoPay

For hassle-free bill payment, enroll in auto-debit through your checking account. On the due date each quarter, the amount due will automatically be withdrawn.

To enroll:

• Download the ACH authorization form
• Provide your account details
• Return the signed form to utility billing

You’ll then receive a confirmation letter when setup is complete. AutoPay ensures you’ll never miss a payment or deal with late fees again.

Paying your recurring water bill is just part of homeownership. But Dearborn offers convenient payment options to simplify the process. Reach out to utility billing with any questions on your account, rates or payment assistance programs available.