A Guide to Paying Your St. Charles Water Bill

Having clean, reliable running water is something most of us take for granted. But keeping the taps flowing requires complex infrastructure that has real costs for maintenance and operations. As a resident of St. Charles, MO, you receive monthly water bills to cover usage and access fees that fund your water system. Read on for a full overview on understanding, managing, and paying your St. Charles water bill with ease.

An Overview of St. Charles Water Billing

The City of St Charles Water Division handles water service and billing for residents, Here’s an overview of how it works

• Bills are issued monthly and cover charges for the previous month’s usage

• Meters are read around the 20th of each month. Bills are then processed and mailed.

• Due dates are around the 10th of each month. Late fees apply after the due date.

• Bills include fixed service fees and volume-based usage charges per 1,000 gallons.

• Usage is measured in hundreds of gallons (CCF) on your bill. 1 CCF = 100 cubic feet = 748 gallons.

• Fees depend on meter size and water source. Well customers pay less than surface water customers.

• Delinquent bills can result in shut offs and penalties. Accounts left unpaid are referred for collections.

Understanding the billing process and charges enables you to anticipate and budget for your water expenses.

How to Pay Your St. Charles Water Bill

St. Charles offers several ways to pay your water bill conveniently:

• Online – Pay via the customer portal without fees or by e-check for $1.95 per transaction.

• Phone – Call the payment line at 888-715-0162 and pay through the automated system with credit/debit card or e-check.

• Mail – Send a check or money order payable to City of St. Charles Water to PO Box 70, St. Charles, MO 63302.

• In person – Pay with cash, check or credit/debit card at the Utility Billing counter at City Hall.

• Drop box – Place your payment in the drop box in the City Hall parking lot.

Try to pay a few days before the due date to ensure on-time payment. Processing delays can cause late fees.

Tips for Conserving Water and Lowering Your Bill

Using less water reduces your water bill. Here are some tips:

• Fix leaks immediately – drips can waste hundreds of gallons monthly.

• Install water-saving showerheads and faucet aerators.

• Run full loads in your washing machine and dishwasher.

• Turn off water while brushing teeth, shaving, washing dishes, etc.

• Water lawn and garden efficiently in the early morning or evening.

• Sweep driveways instead of hosing them down.

• Collect rainwater for irrigation using barrels and buckets.

With some simple habit changes, you can use less and spend less on your water bill each month.

Understanding High Water Bills and How to Dispute

If your water bill suddenly spikes, don’t panic. Here’s how to assess the situation:

• Compare usage to prior months – is it significantly higher? Check for leaks.

• Review the number of days in the billing cycle – more days can increase use.

• Has your household size increased recently? More occupants use more water.

• Did you fill a pool, irrigate heavily, or do major projects increasing usage?

If you find no cause for a high bill, contact St. Charles Water right away to investigate. They can check for recording errors or meter malfunctions. Provide as much detail as possible on your normal usage.

If the bill turns out to be valid after investigation, you’ll need to pay it and adjust your usage going forward. But disputes are definitely allowed if you believe the bill is inaccurate based on actual consumption.

Avoiding Late Fees and Service Disruption

Pay your St. Charles water bill by the due date to avoid:

• Late payment penalties – typically 10% of the overdue balance.

• Shut off warning notice fees – $25 for the shut off notice itself if not paid promptly.

• Water service interruption – shut offs occur roughly 25 days after original due date if still unpaid.

• Reconnection fees – $25 during business hours, $125 after hours to restore service once shut off.

• Collections processing – unpaid accounts get referred to third-party collectors, damaging your credit.

Set payment reminders and carefully review billing statements to catch any provider or usage issues early. Communicate with St. Charles Water about any payment problems to prevent avoidable penalties.

Payment Assistance Options for Qualified Customers

If you’re struggling to cover water bills, St. Charles does offer programs to help in certain situations:

• Payment plans – Arrange a payment plan for large past due balances.

• LIHEAP assistance – Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program can help pay water bills.

• Payment extensions – One-time courtesy extensions are possible if arranged in advance of the due date.

• RoundUp program – Rounds monthly bills up to help provide assistance to others in need.

Inquire about qualifications if you need financial assistance. Non-profit groups like United Way may also have support programs in some cases. Reach out right away if you anticipate difficulty paying a bill.

Use Online Access for Convenient Payment and Monitoring

Sign up on the customer web portal at stcharlesutilities.com for better billing management:

• Check your balance in real time and review usage history.

• Receive email reminders about upcoming due dates.

• Pay your bill immediately online without mailing delays.

• Go paperless to reduce waste and have 24/7 bill access.

The portal provides convenient control over your account. Monitor your consumption, set payment alerts, and pay with a few clicks anytime.

Let’s Conserve and Pay Our St. Charles Water Bills on Time

Having readily available clean water is a blessing we often take for granted. But supplying water relies on complex purification and delivery systems funded by our water payments. Doing our part means using mindfully, paying on time, monitoring for errors, and fixing leaks promptly.

Sign up for convenient online account access and paperless billing. Review monthly statements carefully and dispute suspected errors. Set payment reminders to avoid late penalties. And institute water-saving tactics to use less and reduce costs over time. We all play a role in sustainably managing our shared water resources. Through conservation-focused usage and prompt bill payment, St. Charles residents can enjoy plentiful water for years to come.