How to Pay Your Water Bill in Ann Arbor

As a resident of Ann Arbor, paying your quarterly water bill is an essential responsibility. The city provides us with safe, reliable drinking water, not to mention sewer service, stormwater management, and more. Our water rates allow the city to maintain the infrastructure that delivers these invaluable utilities right to our homes and businesses.

But I know paying bills can feel tedious, especially when they only come once every three months. It’s easy to forget or misplace that water bill until you realize it’s already late! As someone who has lived in Ann Arbor for many years, I want to overview the ins and outs of paying your city water bill so you never have to stress about it being overdue.

In this guide, I’ll cover when bills are due, how much you can expect to pay, the various payment options, and how to avoid late fees. Read on for everything you need to know about paying your water bill to the city of Ann Arbor!

Understanding Your Water Bill

Before paying your bill, it helps to understand what’s included on it. Ann Arbor utility bills charge for water, sewer service, and stormwater management. The total is based on:

• Base service charge
• Water usage charge (per 100 cubic feet used)
• Sewer charge (based on water usage)
• Stormwater charge (fixed fee based on property)

Bills are sent out quarterly and reflect usage over the prior three months, They break down each of the charges so you can see a detailed summary

The city calculates your usage based on readings from your water meter. They take a reading at the start and end of each billing period to measure how much water you used.

When to Pay Your Bill

Water bills in Ann Arbor are due about 30 days after the billing date printed on your statement. So it’s important to pay promptly each quarter.

If you miss the due date, you’ll incur a 10% penalty fee on any unpaid balance. The city will send late notices reminding you to pay before they take any further action, like service disconnection. But you’ll want to avoid late fees whenever possible

I recommend paying your water bill as soon as you receive it in the mail to avoid forgetting. You can even enroll in auto-pay through the city to have payments processed automatically each quarter.

If you do end up paying late, call the water department right away to see if they can waive the penalty fee, especially if it’s your first time being late.

Payment Options

The city offers several ways to pay your quarterly water bill

Pay Online

The easiest option is to pay online through the city’s e-services website. You can make a one-time payment or set up recurring payments. The online payment feature accepts credit cards, debit cards, or e-checks.

Pay by Phone

Call the city’s customer service line at (734) 794-6333 to pay over the phone using a card or e-check. You’ll just need your account number and amount due.

Pay by Mail

Mail in a check or money order using the payment stub from your bill. Be sure to mail it several days before the due date to ensure on-time delivery.

Pay in Person

Take your payment to Ann Arbor City Hall at 301 E Huron St. You can pay with cash, check, or card in person on the first floor.

Auto-Pay

For hassle-free payments, enroll in auto-pay through your online account. Your bill will be paid automatically each quarter on the due date.

Avoid Late Payments

Hopefully this overview gave you a better understanding of how water billing and payment works in Ann Arbor. Paying your quarterly bill promptly is key to avoiding penalty fees and other issues.

If you have trouble paying on time, call the water department as soon as possible to check on payment plan options. No one wants the stress of dealing with late notices or service shut-offs.

With so many convenient payment options, there’s no reason your water bill should ever be late. Set a reminder on your calendar each quarter when a new statement comes so you remember to pay it on time!