How to Pay Your Water Environment Services Bill: A Complete Guide

Paying your water and sewer bill on time each month is an essential responsibility as a homeowner or renter. Water Environment Services (WES) provides wastewater treatment and surface water management to residents of Clackamas County, Oregon. If you receive services from WES, it’s important to understand your payment options and how to pay your WES bill conveniently and on time.

We will go over everything you need to know about paying your WES bill in this detailed guide, such as:

• How and when WES bills are issued
• WES bill payment options
• Setting up autopay and reminders
• What to do if you can’t pay on time
• Avoiding late fees and service disruption
• Getting back on track after a missed payment

How WES Bills Are Issued

WES bills residents on a monthly basis for sanitary sewer and surface water management services, Bills are typically sent out on the first business day of each month

Your WES bill provides details on that month’s charges, payments received, account balance, and the due date. Bills also include any prior balances or credits on your account

WES bills are sent to the address you give us when you sign up for service. You can sign up for e-billing through WES’ online payment system, though, if you’d rather not get bills on paper.

WES bills are due on the 20th of each month. In this case, if you get your March bill on March 1, you need to pay it by March 20. To avoid fees, you should pay your WES bill by the due date every month.

WES Bill Payment Options

WES offers residents various options for paying bills conveniently. Here are the main ways you can pay your WES bill each month:

Online Payments

The easiest way to pay is through WES’ online payment system at www.municipalonlinepayments.com/clackamaswes/utilities. You can make one-time payments or set up recurring automatic payments from a checking account or credit card. You can also go paperless by signing up for e-bills.

Phone Payments

Call WES at 503-742-4567 to make payments over the phone 24/7 using a checking account or credit card.

Mail-In Payments

Send check or money order payments to:

Clackamas WES
PO Box 6940
Portland, OR 97228-6940

Be sure to include your WES account number on the check. Allow 5-7 days for mail delivery.

In-Person Payments

Bring payment to the WES office lobby at 150 Beavercreek Rd #430 in Oregon City during business hours. An after-hours drop box is also available.

Preauthorized Bank Payments

Have payments automatically deducted from your bank account on the 20th of each month by signing up for WES’ preauthorized payment program. Contact WES to complete the authorization form.

Water Bill Assistance Programs

If you qualify based on income, programs like LIHWAP may be able to pay some or all of your monthly WES bill. Contact WES to learn about assistance options.

Setting Up Autopay and Reminders

To avoid forgetting and ensure your WES bill gets paid on time, it’s highly recommended to:

• Set up autopay or recurring payments from your bank account or credit card through the online payment system or via preauthorized bank payments.

• Use bill reminders and calendar alerts so your bill doesn’t slip your mind. WES can provide automated text and call reminders if you opt-in.

• Review statement due dates and set payment dates accordingly.

• Update your contact information with WES so you receive bills and notices.

Autopay and reminders are excellent tools to help avoid late WES payments and service disruption.

What Happens If You Don’t Pay on Time

It’s crucial to pay your WES bill by the 20th of each month whenever possible. If your payment is late, here’s what could happen:

• Late Fees: A 1.5% late fee is charged on overdue balances. This adds to what you owe.

• Water Service Shutoff: If your account remains unpaid for 60+ days, WES may suspend your water and sewer service until the past due balance is paid.

• Collections and Credit Damage: If your account is still delinquent after shutoff, it may be sent to collections, hurting your credit score.

• Property Lien: Unpaid balances can end up as a lien on your property when added to your property taxes. This also damages your credit.

Clearly, it’s in your best interest to avoid late payments and keep your WES account current. If you anticipate having trouble making an on-time payment, contact WES immediately to set up a payment plan.

Getting Back on Track After a Missed Payment

If you do miss a payment and face shutoff or collections, take the following steps right away:

• Pay the Past Due Amount: Pay your outstanding balance plus any late fees right away to restore service and avoid further issues.

• Set Up Payment Arrangements: If you can’t pay the full amount, call WES to set up a monthly payment plan that works for your situation. This can help you avoid shutoff.

• Update Contact Info: Make sure WES has your current phone and address so you receive important notices.

• Review Billing Date and Set Reminders: Double check your bill’s issued and due dates and set alerts so future bills are paid on time.

• Consider Autopay: Sign up for automatic monthly payments to ensure on-time payments going forward.

• Look Into Bill Assistance: See if you qualify for any utility financial assistance programs to help cover your WES bill.

• Communicate with WES: Keep the lines of communication open and update WES on any hardship so they can work with you on a resolution.

As long as you stay in contact with WES and show good faith in paying what you can afford on time, they will make reasonable efforts to avoid shutting off your important utilities.

Other Key Billing Tips for WES Customers

Here are some other important tips to manage your WES account successfully:

• Update your contact info and billing preferences by creating an online account at www.municipalonlinepayments.com/clackamaswes/utilities

• Check that your monthly bill amounts look accurate based on your consumption. Report any discrepancies immediately.

• Monitor your water usage regularly and address any spikes that could indicate leaks. This will help avoid extremely high bills.

• Be aware that WES reviews rates annually and increases typically take effect each July. Plan for this bill bump.

• Ask about WES customer assistance programs if you are disabled, low-income, or struggling with payments for any reason.

• Consider water conservation tactics like low-flow fixtures to reduce your usage and lower monthly bills.

• Keep your WES account number handy to reference when paying your bill or contacting customer service.

Paying your WES bill doesn’t have to be a hassle. By understanding your bill details, setting up autopay and reminders, and communicating with WES about any issues, you can easily keep your account in good standing. This ensures uninterrupted service while avoiding late fees or other penalties.

For additional assistance with managing your WES account, customer service representatives are available Monday-Thursday 7:30am-5pm at 503-742-4567 or [email protected]. WES can help ensure your wastewater and surface water needs are met responsibly and affordably.