A Guide to Paying Your City of Toccoa Water Bill

Having access to clean, reliable water is something most of us take for granted these days. But central water systems require extensive infrastructure and regular maintenance to keep flowing. Understanding how to pay your City of Toccoa water bill correctly and on time is an important responsibility for every resident. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the ins and outs of City of Toccoa water billing so you can keep your account in good standing.

Overview of City of Toccoa Water Utility

The City of Toccoa provides water service to around 10,000 residents across the city. Water is sourced from the Currahee Mountain Aquifer, treated at the Toccoa Water Treatment Facility, and distributed through 100 miles of water mains. Customers are billed monthly based on metered water usage. Bills include charges for water service, sewer service, stormwater management fees, and taxes.

The City of Toccoa Utilities Department handles all aspects of water operations billing and customer service. They can be reached at 706-282-3222 or [email protected]. Information is also available on their website at www.cityoftoccoa.com/utilities.

Receiving Your Monthly Bill

City of Toccoa mails paper water bills to customers each month. Bills are sent around the 25th of the month and are due by the 15th of the following month. So your January usage would be mailed in late January and due by February 15th.

In addition to the paper bill, customers with an email on file will also receive an email notification that their bill is available for viewing. This email contains quick links for reviewing your bill details and making online payments.

If you don’t receive your bill by the 1st of the month contact the utility department immediately to check on the status and avoid late fees. Update them if your mailing address has changed.

Understanding Your Water Bill Charges

City of Toccoa water bills summarize your monthly usage and associated charges. Here are the key sections to review:

• Service address – Lists the property address receiving water service. Verify it is correct.

• Account number – Your unique account number for reference. Have it handy when contacting the utility.

• Billing period – Shows the service dates covered by that month’s bill.

• Previous balance – Any past due balance or credits carried over from your last bill.

• Payments – Lists any payments received since the last bill.

• Water usage – Shows current water usage total in gallons or cubic feet. Compare to prior months.

• Water charges – Usage multiplied by the water rate based on residential or commercial status.

• Wastewater charges – Based on your water usage since water flows back as wastewater.

• Stormwater fee – Fixed monthly fee to maintain storm drains and drainage.

• Taxes – Local sales taxes applied to the water service.

• Other fees – Occasional fees like service restoration or late payment fees.

• Amount due – Total payment due by the due date to avoid penalties.

Scrutinize each section to ensure all appears accurate before paying your City of Toccoa water bill.

Payment Options for Water Bills

The City of Toccoa offers several convenient ways to pay your water bill on time each month:

• Online – Pay by credit/debit card or e-check via the payment portal at www.cityoftoccoa.com. Fast and secure.

• Phone – Call 706-282-3222 to pay over the phone using a card or bank account.

• Mail – Detach payment stub from bill and mail with check or money order to City of Toccoa, PO Box 986, Toccoa, GA 30577.

• Drop box – Place payment in secure box at the drive-thru area behind City Hall.

• In person – Bring payment to the utility department window at City Hall during business hours.

Choose the payment method that fits your needs each month. Consistently paying on time avoids penalties.

Payment Arrangements and Assistance

If you are unable to pay your City of Toccoa water bill in full by the due date, contact the utility department BEFORE the due date to set up a payment plan. These plans allow you to pay the outstanding balance in installments over multiple months. An initial payment and small fee are usually required when establishing a payment plan.

The City also offers financial assistance programs for those facing genuine hardship. The H2O Help Program provides bill payment assistance for seniors and disabled residents meeting income requirements. Applications are available on the utility department website or by visiting City Hall.

Avoiding Late Fees and Disconnection

Paying water bills after the due date results in a 10% late penalty on the outstanding balance. Chronic late payments may also be assessed additional fees.

If a bill remains unpaid for 60+ days, the City of Toccoa will issue a disconnection notice warning that water service will be disconnected if the amount due is not paid almost immediately. This notice is delivered by mail and a door hanger.

Once water service is disconnected, a $50 fee is charged for reconnection during business hours, or $100 after hours. Any past due amounts must also be paid.

Avoid late fees and inconvenient disconnection by carefully tracking water bill due dates and making on-time payments. Consistently keeping your City of Toccoa water account current is the wise approach.

Checking Water Usage and Avoiding Leaks

If your City of Toccoa water bill amount suddenly seems higher than normal, carefully review your usage. Compare the current month’s usage in gallons/cubic feet to the previous 3-6 months. Usage will fluctuate some month to month, but major spikes may indicate an underlying issue like a water leak.

Check all indoor and outdoor faucets, showers, toilets, and appliances connected to your water lines. Look for signs of water leaks like damp spots or dripping. Run tests to check for toilet leaks. Also look for wet areas or mud patches in your yard that could indicate an underground water leak.

Catching water leaks early allows you to minimize wasted water and potentially have the bill adjusted if usage was unusually high. The City of Toccoa also offers free leak detection kits to help identify hard-to-find leaks. Contact them for details.

Enrolling in AutoPay

To simplify water bill payment, the City of Toccoa allows customers to enroll in auto-pay. This automatically deducts the amount due each month from your specified bank account on the due date. No more manually making payments.

To start auto-pay, complete the auto-pay enrollment form available on the utility department website or at City Hall. Make sure to notify the utility if you switch bank accounts to avoid missed payments. You can cancel auto-pay anytime by submitting a request in writing.

Moving Out and Closing Your Account

If you are moving out of Toccoa and need to close your water account, there are a few important steps:

• Notify the utility at least 3 days before your move date to schedule a final meter reading.

• Provide a valid forwarding address to receive your final bill.

• Complete any outstanding payments to avoid transfer of balances to collections.

• If renting, confirm with your landlord who will handle account closure.

Closing accounts promptly ensures you don’t end up paying for water you didn’t use.

Partnering for Positive Outcomes

Having reliable and affordable water service is something we all appreciate but rarely think much about. The City of Toccoa Utilities Department works hard behind the scenes to deliver quality water while keeping costs reasonable. Paying your water bill fully and on-time each month is an important way to hold up your end of the partnership.

Hopefully this overview better explains how to understand, manage, and pay your City of Toccoa water bill. Never hesitate to contact the billing department if you have questions or issues arise. Working together helps everything flow more smoothly for both the utility and its valued customers.