Having water service turned off due to nonpayment can quickly become a crisis. However, there are ways to get help so you can restore service and avoid utility shutoffs in the future.
Water bills are a necessity, not a luxury If you fall behind on payments, it can negatively impact your family’s health, hygiene and quality of life Unfortunately, unpaid water bills also lead to calls from debt collectors, damage to your credit, and the possibility of having your service disconnected.
However, you have options if you get behind on your water bill. You can get back on track if you know what will happen, ask for help, talk to your provider, and change how you use the internet.
Consequences of Not Paying Your Water Bill
If you don’t pay your water bill, several things can happen:
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Shutoff In most areas, if you don’t pay your water bill for one or two billing cycles, the utility company can shut off service Typically, they will provide warnings first
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Fees and Penalties You’ll likely face late fees, reconnection fees, or other penalties for nonpayment This makes the amount you owe grow quickly
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Calls from Collectors: After a few months of nonpayment, the utility company will send the account to collections. This means constant calls from collectors demanding payment.
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Credit Damage: Unpaid utility bills sent to collections appear on your credit reports. This can significantly lower your credit score.
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Eviction: If you rent, not paying utilities may violate your lease. Your landlord can start eviction proceedings, leaving you homeless.
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Legal Action: Utility companies can take you to court over unpaid bills. While rare for residential customers, it’s possible you could face lawsuits or wage garnishment.
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Health Issues: No running water means you can’t bathe, wash clothes, flush toilets, or cook safely. This becomes a public health issue very quickly.
Clearly, it’s critical to avoid a water shutoff if you start falling behind on payments. Make getting assistance a top priority so you can restore service and avoid further consequences.
How Long Until Shutoff After Not Paying a Water Bill?
Most water utilities have policies on how long they will wait to shut off delinquent customers. Timeframes vary, but the typical shutoff process goes like this:
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1 month late: You’ll receive a past due notice and late fee. This is just a warning and doesn’t impact service.
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2 months late: Another notice will arrive stating that you must pay the past due amount or face disconnection. Some states require a shutoff notice 10-15 days before it occurs.
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3+ months late: If you still haven’t paid or made payment arrangements, the utility company can turn off service. Expect fees for disconnection and reconnection once you do pay.
Of course, these are general guidelines, and your local utility may follow a different schedule. The key takeaway is that you typically have 1-2 billing cycles to work out alternative payment solutions before a shutoff occurs. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Can You Have Your Water Turned Back On if Shut Off for Nonpayment?
Yes, you can have your water turned back on if it gets shut off. But you’ll need to take action quickly, as living without running water becomes a health hazard fast.
Here are some steps to take if your service gets disconnected:
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Contact the Utility: Ask what fees you’ll need to pay for reconnection, and see if a payment plan or financial aid is available.
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Seek Government Aid: Programs like LIHWAP can provide money to restore disconnected service. Check if you qualify.
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Use Charities and Churches: Many nonprofit groups offer emergency utility grants. Catholic Charities and The Salvation Army are two places to check.
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Borrow from Family/Friends: Ask loved ones for help with the reconnection fees so you can restore service quickly. Then repay them over time.
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Get Legal Help: If you feel the shutoff was unjustified, contact legal aid to see if the utility violated any consumer rights.
The sooner you can scrape together money to cover reconnection fees, the faster you’ll get your water back on. Explore every possible avenue for assistance so your family doesn’t go without this critical necessity.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Water Turned Back On?
Costs to reconnect water service vary significantly by where you live. However, you can expect to pay:
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Reconnection fee: A set fee to dispatch a utility crew and restore your service. Often $50-$100.
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Deposit: Some utilities require a security deposit equal to 2-3 months’ service. This might be several hundred dollars.
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Late fees: Any late fees and penalties that accrued on your account will still be owed.
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Full past due amount: Most utilities require you to pay the full delinquent amount before reconnecting.
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Same day fee: If you want water restored the same day, an additional urgent reconnect fee applies.
Expect a bill of $200-$500 in most cases. Coming up with this amount quickly poses a challenge if you’re in financial hardship. That’s why seeking government, nonprofit, or charitable assistance is so important.
Can Your Water Be Shut Off in the Winter?
There are a few states that prohibit winter water shutoffs, but most allow disconnection year-round for nonpayment. Those states with shutoff protections include:
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Wisconsin – No shutoffs from November 1 to April 15 if you enroll in the state’s utility aid program.
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New York – No water shutoffs in NYC from November 1 to May 15.
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Pennsylvania – Moratorium on all utility shutoffs from December 1 to March 31 for customers who prove financial hardship.
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Connecticut – No winter shutoffs but requires extended notice periods and payment plans before disconnection.
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Michigan – Very limited reasons for winter shutoffs, and only after extensive notification process.
Everywhere else, water utilities can generally disconnect at any time of year if you fail to pay after sufficient written notice. But if you live in one of the states above and qualify for utility assistance programs, you may avoid shutoff during the coldest months.
Where to Get Help Paying Your Water Bill
If you’re struggling to afford your water and sewer bill, get help before service gets disconnected. Some of the main sources of aid include:
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LIHWAP: This new federal program provides funds directly to water utilities to subsidize bills for low-income households. Over $1 billion allocated so far.
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State/Local Government: Many municipally-owned water departments offer their own financial assistance programs.
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Charities: The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent De Paul, and others may help pay utility bills.
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Churches: Local congregations often have emergency funds to help members or community residents with essential needs.
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Family/Friends: Ask relatives or friends for a loan to help get your water service restored. Then pay it back when you’re able.
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Negotiate with the Utility: Ask for an alternate payment plan or discuss options to reduce your monthly bill.
Don’t wait to get help if paying your water bill is a struggle. Act quickly once you become delinquent to avoid the headaches and health hazards of having your service disconnected.
Can You Make Payment Arrangements for Water Bills?
Most water providers allow customers to set up payment plans or arrangements if they fall behind. This stops a shutoff and gives you time to pay the past due balance.
Some common payment arrangement options include:
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Payment Plans: Spreading repayment of the past due amount over 6 or 12 months by adding a portion to your monthly bill.
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Deferred Payments: Delaying your payment due date by 7-30 days to give you more time to pay.
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Partial Payments: Making incremental payments toward the past due balance while keeping current on new charges.
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Reduced Payments: Temporarily lowering your monthly payment amount if you’re facing financial hardship.
Before requesting a payment arrangement, review the policies outlined on your water company’s website or on your monthly bill. Then call customer service to explain your situation and ability to pay.
With cooperation from the utility, payment plans can help avoid shutoff and give you breathing room to catch up.
Do Landlords Get Notified if Tenants Don’t Pay Water Bills?
For tenants in a rental property, it’s important to understand how the process works when you fall behind on utilities.
If water service is in your name:
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You’ll receive all past due notices and shutoff warnings directly from the utility.
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The landlord won’t necessarily know you’re behind, until they see the water turned off.
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But repeated shutoffs could violate your lease agreement, allowing the landlord to start eviction.
If water service is in the landlord’s name:
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The landlord receives all past due notices since it’s their account.
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They will likely contact you promptly to pay before service is disconnected.
What happened to the grace period?
There never was a grace period. Your payment must be received and posted by the “Delinquent After” (due) date.
How is my due date established?
As approved May 19, 1987, Resolution #87-198, Section 7.2.A established that “Bills are due when rendered and become delinquent twenty-one (21) days after billing.”
What Happens if You Don’t Pay Your Water Bill? (Don’t Panic!)
What happens if you don’t pay your utility bills?
To pay off old utility bills: Not paying utility bills has both immediate and long-term negative consequences, including: The utility being shut off: While it’s against the law to turn off electricity or heat during the winter in many states, for the most part, if you don’t pay, you lose the service until you pay.
What happens if I miss a water payment?
Typically, after a few months of missed payments, the water utility will contact you with a warning. They will give you at least a week’s notice before they shut off your service. If you want to know whether your water is about to be shut off, pay attention to your mail. Your provider is required to deliver a written warning.
What happens if you don’t pay for water service?
The utility being shut off: While it’s against the law to turn off electricity or heat during the winter in many states, for the most part, if you don’t pay, you lose the service until you pay. In most states, a water company can shut off service with 10 days notice.
What happens if I miss a utility bill?
Your utility bills are the payments you make for essential services like electricity, water, and gas. If you miss your utility payments, you’ll typically be hit with a late fee that will appear on your next statement. However, if you don’t make payments over an extended period, you risk disconnection and having your account sent to collections.