A Guide to Paying Your Oldham County Water Bill

Having reliable access to clean drinking water is something most people take for granted. But providing high-quality water service to homes and businesses takes extensive infrastructure and careful management by water utilities. Oldham County Water in Kentucky strives to deliver excellent water service to customers while making bill payment as convenient as possible.

This comprehensive guide will explain how to read your Oldham County Water bill, understand the rates and fees, and pay your water bill through the available online, in-person, mail, and auto pay options We’ll also outline some tips for reducing your water usage and saving money on bills.

Overview of Oldham County Water

Oldham County Water is a water district that provides drinking water and sewer service to over 26,000 households and businesses in Oldham County, KY. Some key facts about Oldham County Water include:

• Supplies over 2 billion gallons of water per year

• Operates 3 water treatment plants, 10 wells, and over 600 miles of water mains.

• Water is supplied from the Ohio River as well as underground aquifers.

• Tests water regularly to ensure it meets all federal and state standards

• Also operates 9 wastewater treatment plants.

• Governed by a 5-member elected Board of Commissioners.

• Has been operating since the 1960s.

As a water district, Oldham County Water is a local governmental agency focused on providing cost-effective service exclusively to Oldham County residents and businesses. By understanding your water usage and bill, you can avoid surprises and keep water costs under control.

How to Read Your Oldham County Water Bill

Oldham County Water bills for drinking water and sewer service on a monthly basis. Here are some tips for deciphering your Oldham County Water utility bill:

• Account information – This shows your account number, meter ID number, billing date, and service address.

• Previous balance – Any past due balance or credits from previous billing periods.

• Water usage – Shows current water usage in gallons or cubic feet based on meter readings. Compare to previous periods.

• Water service fee – Fixed monthly fee for providing water service based on your meter size.

• Volume charge – Charge per gallon/cubic foot for the actual amount of water used. Tiered rate structure.

• Sewer rates – Monthly sewer service fee plus volume charge based on water usage.

• Taxes – A 6% state tax on water usage and sewer charges.

• Other fees – Occasional fees like meter testing, account activation, late fees, etc.

• Current charges – Sum of all fees, usage, and taxes for the current billing period.

• Total due – Current charges plus any past due balance.

Scrutinizing the usage, volume, and fee amounts on each monthly bill can help spot abnormal activity and identify leaks or other issues early.

Oldham County Water Rates and Fees

Understanding the rate structure Oldham County Water uses for water usage and sewer charges allows customers to better estimate their monthly bills. Here are the key rates and fees:

• Water service fee – $9.05 per month for 5/8″ meter, more for larger meters

• Volume charge – $3.89 per 100 cubic feet up to first 2,000 cu ft, higher tiers for more usage

• Sewer service fee – $26.55 per month

• Sewer volume rate – $7.09 per 100 cubic feet based on water usage

• State tax – 6% tax applied to water and sewer charges

• Late fee – 10% penalty on past due balances

• Reconnection fee – $30 if water service disconnected for non-payment

• Activation fee – $30 to establish new water service

• Meter testing fee – $30 if customer requests meter test

Knowing how much your base service fees and volume charges are can help estimate costs for changes in usage from month to month. Reducing water usage is the best way to lower variable volume charges.

How to Pay Your Oldham County Water Bill

Oldham County Water offers several ways for customers to pay their water and sewer bills. Here are the main payment options available:

• Online – Pay bills securely on the Oldham County Water website with credit/debit card or e-check.

• Phone – Call the payment line at 800-698-0410 and pay with credit/debit card using automated system.

• Mail – Send check or money order payments to the remittance address printed on billing statements.

• In person – Pay with cash, check, or credit/debit at the Oldham County Water office in LaGrange.

• Auto pay – Enroll to have bills paid automatically each month from a checking account.

• Drop box – Place check or money order payments in the secure drop box at the Oldham County Water office.

• Budget billing – Average bills out and pay a fixed amount each month to avoid seasonal spikes.

Paying on time is important to avoid late fees, possible service disruption, and damage to your credit. Setting up auto pay or keeping track of due dates makes life easier.

Tips for Reducing Oldham County Water Bills

Since water and sewer charges are tied to usage, cutting water consumption is the most effective way to lower monthly bills. Here are some tips to reduce Oldham County Water costs:

• Fix any leaky faucets, showers, toilets, pipes – leaks can waste thousands of gallons.

• Install high-efficiency low-flow toilets, showerheads, faucets.

• Wash full loads of laundry and dishes instead of small loads.

• Choose native plants for landscaping that require little watering.

• Collect cold water for drinking/cooking while waiting for hot water.

• Take shorter showers instead of baths.

• Turn off water when brushing teeth, washing hands, shaving.

• Check for silent toilet leaks by putting dye tablets in tank.

• Upgrade to WaterSense labeled water using appliances.

• Monitor water usage patterns through the online customer portal.

Installing a smart water use monitoring system is another way to track consumptions patterns and identify savings opportunities in real time. Every drop saved helps reduce Oldham County Water costs!

Signing Up for Service at a New Home or Business

When moving into a new home or opening a business in Oldham County, signing up for water and sewer service is easy through Oldham County Water’s new customer portal.

Here is the typical process:

• Apply online – Customer portal allows applying for new service at the property address.

• Provide details – Name, contact information, move in date, type of property, billing address.

• Pay deposit – Refundable deposit based on property type starts service.

• Complete form – Fill out new service agreement.

• Schedule turn on – Select date for water to be activated at the property.

• Inspect property – Water district inspectors visit to document plumbing fixtures.

• Pay activation fee – One time $30 activation fee on first bill.

• Begin service – Water and sewer service starts on scheduled date.

Registering for service well ahead of your move helps ensure the water is on and flowing on move-in day. Be sure to schedule an activation date with Oldham County Water.

Scammers and Bill Payment Fraud

Unfortunately, scammers sometimes target utility customers to try and steal money or personal information. Here are some tips from Oldham County Water to avoid becoming a victim of scams:

• Verify worker identity – Ask for ID from anyone claiming to be a water district worker.

• Check for payment options – Oldham County Water only takes payments through approved methods, not gift cards, Bitcoin, etc.

• Avoid door-to-door sales – Oldham County Water does not do door to door sales or solicitations.

• Watch out for calls for immediate payment – Scammers may threaten service shutoff unless you make an immediate payment.

• Don’t click suspicious links or attachments – Links could download malware onto your device or steal login credentials.

• Check bills for errors – Scammers may alter dollar amounts on bills or accounts to try and steal bigger payments.

Staying vigilant against utility scams and reporting suspicious activity can prevent you from losing money or valuable personal data. Contact Oldham County Water immediately if you suspect a scam.

Customer Service Contacts and Information

For billing questions, starting new service, reviewing water quality reports, or other inquiries, Oldham County Water has customer service representatives ready to assist:

Oldham County Water

5200 Springfield Rd, LaGrange, KY 40031

• Office Hours: M-F 8:00am – 4:30pm

• Phone: (502) 222