How to Pay Your Water Bill Online in Decatur, Illinois

Paying your water bill is a necessary chore that we all have to do. In Decatur, Illinois, paying your water bill online is a quick and easy process that saves you time and hassle. As a Decatur resident myself, I’ve been using the online payment system for years and find it very convenient. In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about paying your Decatur water bill online.

An Overview of Decatur’s Online Water Bill Payment

The City of Decatur offers an online payment portal where residents can pay their utility bills. This includes your water, sewer, and garbage collection bills. To use it, you just need to have your account number handy.

The online bill pay system allows you to:

• View your current bill and payment history
• Make a one-time payment on your account
• Set up recurring auto-payments so your bill gets paid automatically each month
• Sign up for paperless billing to receive bills electronically
• Pay with credit/debit card, checking account, or electronic check

Payments made through the online portal are fast and secure. You get instant payment confirmation, and late fees can be avoided as long as payment is made by the due date.

The online bill pay website is easy to use on both desktop and mobile. But if you ever need help, Decatur’s utility billing department is available by phone and email during regular business hours.

How to Sign Up for an Online Account

To get started paying your Decatur water bill online, you first need to create an account on the payment portal Here are the steps

1. Go to https //wwwmunicipalonlinepaymentscom/decaturil/login

2. Click on “Register” below the login fields.

3. Enter your Decatur utility account number, the last name on the account, and email address. Then click “Register Account”.

4. Check your email for a message from Municipal Online Payments. Open it and click the activation link inside.

5. On the activation page, create your password and security questions. Click “Activate Your Account”.

6. You’re now ready to log into the payment portal with your email and password!

Once your account is activated, you can start viewing and paying your water bills immediately. The whole sign-up process only takes about 2-3 minutes.

Making a One-Time Payment

Here are the steps for making a one-time water bill payment in Decatur

1. Log into the online payment portal.

2. Your current account balance will be displayed. Click “Pay Now” to make a payment.

3. Enter the payment amount (minimum due or higher).

4. Enter your payment method and details. Accepted methods include credit card, debit card, check, and bank account.

5. Review the payment info and click “Continue”.

6. Verify details on the confirmation page and complete the payment.

7. You will receive an emailed receipt confirming your payment.

One-time payments are quick and easy. The money is deducted from your account right away. Just be sure to pay your balance by the due date to avoid late fees.

Setting Up Auto-Pay

For ultimate bill paying convenience, you can enroll in auto-pay:

1. Log into your online account and click on “My Profile”.

2. Check the box to enable auto-pay and select when you want payments processed.

3. Enter your payment method information.

4. Save your auto-pay settings.

Once auto-pay is active, your water bills will be paid automatically each month. You’ll receive an email confirmation with details whenever a payment is processed.

Auto-pay is great for avoiding late payments. Just be sure you have enough money in your linked account to cover each bill. You can cancel or change your auto-pay option at any time through your online account.

Going Paperless

You can also go paperless with your Decatur water account, which allows you to:

• Receive bills and payment confirmations via email instead of mail
• Access PDF copies of bills in your online account anytime
• Save paper and avoid clutter

To enroll in paperless billing:

1. In your account, click on “My Profile”.

2. Check the box to enable paperless billing and enter your email address.

3. Save your changes.

Once enabled, you’ll get an email when each new bill is ready to view. Click the link in the email to log in and see the PDF. It’s that easy!

Payment Options Overview

Decatur offers several ways to pay your water bill through their online payment system:

• Credit/Debit Card – Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express
• Bank Account – Log in to your checking or savings account to make one-time or recurring payments.
• Electronic Check – Provide your bank routing and account number to authorize an electronic fund transfer.
• Auto-Pay – Set up recurring payments from your credit card, debit card, or bank account.

These options make paying your water bill fast, convenient, and secure. Credit/debit card payments are subject to a third-party processing fee. But bank account payments are free.

Contacting Customer Support

If you ever have an issue or question about your Decatur water account, the utility billing department is available to help:

• Phone – Call 217-424-2800 during regular business hours
• Email – Send messages to [email protected]
• Online – Log into your account and click “Contact Us” to send a message

The utility billing staff are knowledgeable and friendly. They can help with account maintenance, payment issues, or any other questions that come up.

Convenience Factors of Paying Online

There are many great reasons to pay your water bill online in Decatur:

• Saves time – Takes just minutes compared to mailing in payments
• Avoid late fees – Instant processing means on-time payment
• Payment tracking – Payment history is visible in your account
• Auto-pay – Set it and forget it for easy recurring payments
• Paperless billing – Go green and reduce clutter
• Mobile access – Pay on your phone or tablet anywhere
• Account management – Update details, contact customer service

The online payment process is user-friendly and intuitive for Decatur utility customers. It makes managing your water account a breeze.

How to Pay If You Don’t Have Internet Access

For those without home internet access, you can still pay your water bill conveniently without online access:

• Mail – Send a check or money order to: City of Decatur, #1 Gary K Anderson Plaza, Decatur, IL 62523
• Phone – Call 217-424-2800 to pay over the phone using debit/credit card or electronic check
• In person – Visit the Decatur Civic Center at 1 Gary K Anderson Plaza to pay at the front desk
• Drop box – Place your payment in the secure drop box, also at the Civic Center

The City of Decatur understands not everyone can pay online. That’s why these other reliable payment options will always be available to residents.

Signing Up for Email Reminders and Alerts

In addition to paperless billing, Decatur utility customers can sign up to receive payment reminders and account alerts via email. These include:

• Payment confirmation emails
• Due date reminder emails
• Past due notices
• Courtesy alerts before service interruption
• High usage alerts if your consumption spikes

To enable email notifications:

1. Log into your online account
2. Click on “My Profile”
3. Check the box to opt into email notifications
4. Click “Save Changes”

Email alerts help you stay on top of your water account status. And past due reminders help you avoid service interruptions or penalties for late payment.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

To ensure smooth water bill payments, avoid these common errors:

• Forgetting your account number when registering for online access
• Entering an incorrect email address and not getting activation email
• Forgetting login credentials for the online portal
• Not updating your payment method if your credit card expires
• Confusing your auto-pay and due dates, resulting in late fees
• Not having enough funds in your account for auto-pay

Double checking your details at every step can help avoid headaches. Be sure to enter info slowly and accurately. And get in touch with Decatur utility billing right away if any problems come up.