The Complete Guide to Paying Your Dorchester Water and Sewer Bill

Paying your water and sewer bill is an important responsibility for any Dorchester resident. While it may seem straightforward, there are actually a few different options and details to understand when it comes to paying this bill. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from understanding your bill to setting up automatic payments

What Exactly Does Your Dorchester Water and Sewer Bill Cover?

Before we dive into the payment options, let’s first make sure you understand exactly what your Dorchester water and sewer bill is paying for.

Your bill covers two main utilities

• Water Usage: This covers the amount of water supplied to your home or business. The county tracks how much you use via your water meter.

• Sewer Usage: This is a flat fee that covers the cost of treating wastewater and sewage. It is not based on your actual usage.

Your bill also includes some additional fees like infrastructure surcharges. And if you live outside the primary service area, you may see fees for things like well permits on your bill.

The most variable part of your bill is the water usage, which goes up or down depending on how much water your household uses each month. The sewer fee and other additional charges are typically static each month.

When are Payments Due?

Dorchester water and sewer bills are sent out at the beginning of each month and are due by the 15th of that same month.

So for example, you would receive your July bill in early July and need to pay it by July 15th. Bills are always due on the 15th of the billing month.

If your payment is not received on time, you will be assessed a late fee. Currently, the late fee amount is 10% of your total bill. This can add up quickly, so be sure to pay your bill on time each month to avoid extra charges.

Payment Options Overview

Now that you understand what the bill covers and when it is due, let’s look at how you can actually pay it. Dorchester offers several convenient payment options:

• Mail in a check or money order
• Pay online via credit/debit card or e-check
• Pay by phone via credit/debit card or e-check
• Automatic bank draft
• Pay in person via cash, check or money order

Below we will explore each of these options in more detail.

Paying by Mail

One of the most traditional ways to pay your water and sewer bill is to mail in a check or money order.

To pay by mail, simply make your check or money order payable to Dorchester Water & Sewer. Be sure to include your full account number on the check memo line.

The mailing address to send your payment to is:

Dorchester Water & Sewer
201 Johnston St.
St George, SC 29477

Be sure to allow 3-5 business days for your mailed payment to reach the processing center. Payments must be received (not just postmarked) by the 15th to avoid late fees.

Paying Online

For fast and easy payments, consider paying your water and sewer bill online. Dorchester offers an online payment portal where you can pay by credit card, debit card, or electronic check.

To get started with online payments, you will first need to register your account on the payment portal:

1. Go to https://ipn2.paymentus.com/rotp/dorchesterco

2. Click “Register” below the login fields.

3. Enter your account number and other contact information.

4. Create a username and password.

Once registered, you can simply login anytime and submit a payment by card or electronic check. There is no fee for using an e-check, but credit and debit card payments do have a convenience fee of $1.75.

Online payments are applied to your account immediately, so it is a great option if you need to pay last minute before the due date. Just be sure to submit payment by 11:59pm on the 15th to avoid late fees.

Paying by Phone

In addition to the online portal, you can also pay your water and sewer bill over the phone.

To pay by phone, just call 1-800-272-9829 and follow the payment prompts. You will need to enter your account number and other billing details.

As with online payments, you can pay by credit card, debit card, or electronic check. The $1.75 convenience fee still applies to card payments.

Phone payments are also applied to your account right away, so this is another good option for last minute payments before the 15th.

Setting Up Automatic Bank Draft Payments

If you want to set it and forget it, consider enrolling in automatic bank draft payments for your water and sewer bill.

With bank draft, the payment amount will be automatically withdrawn from your checking or savings account each month on the due date.

To enroll, you will need to fill out and submit an authorization form, which can be found here: https://www.dorchestercounty.net/Online-Forms/Automatic-Bank-Draft-Authorization.

Be sure to include a voided check when submitting the form. It takes about one billing cycle for automatic payments to take effect, so make sure to continue paying manually until you see the payments coming out automatically.

Going forward, the payment will be deducted on the 15th of each month, so make sure to have sufficient funds in your account. You can cancel automatic bank draft at any time by submitting written notice to Dorchester Water & Sewer at least 10 days before your next due date.

Paying in Person

For those who prefer to pay their bills in person, you can stop by one of the designated payment locations in Dorchester County.

Payments made in person can be done via cash, check, or money order.

Here are the places you can pay your water and sewer bill in person:

• Dorchester County Water & Sewer Office: 201 Johnston St., St George, SC 29477

• Summerville Branch Office: 500 N Main St #100, Summerville, SC 29483

• Goose Creek Branch Office: 519-B N Goose Creek Blvd, Goose Creek, SC 29445

Cash payments will be applied to your account same day, while check or money order payments may take 1-2 business days to process. As long as you pay before the office closes on the 15th, it will be counted as on-time.

What if You’re Unable to Pay Your Bill on Time?

If an emergency or financial hardship prevents you from paying your water and sewer bill on time, it’s important to contact Dorchester Water & Sewer right away.

You may be able to request a payment extension or arrange a payment plan. Disconnection of service can be avoided with proper communication and arrangements.

Dorchester also has an emergency utility assistance program that can cover past due bills in certain situations for low income households. More details on that program can be found here: https://www.dorchestercounty.net/departments/water-and-sewer/customer-information.

The main thing is to not wait – call or visit the billing office as soon as possible to explain your situation. Being proactive will provide you with the most options.

Understanding Your Water Usage and Sewer Charges

As mentioned earlier, your actual water usage is what varies from month to month on your bill. Use these tips to better understand that portion of your bill:

• Your usage is measured in thousands of gallons (Kgals)
• The rate per Kgal may vary based on season and infrastructure fees
• Check your bill each month and monitor significant changes in usage
• Compare usage to prior months/years to identify abnormal spikes
• Make sure your water meter is functioning properly
• Check for leaks, running toilets, or other sources of high usage

The sewer charge on your bill remains steady at $21.50 per month. This fee helps cover the costs of processing wastewater and sewage.

Everyone pays this standard sewer fee regardless of actual sewage discharged. So water conservation efforts won’t change this portion of your bill.

Contacting Customer Service With Questions

Hopefully this guide provided a helpful overview of how to pay your Dorchester water and sewer bill and understand the charges. But if you have any other questions or need to get in touch with customer service, here is how to reach them:

Dorchester Water & Sewer

201 Johnston St.

St George, SC 29477

(843) 563-0070

[email protected]

The customer service team can help with billing questions, starting/stopping service, reviewing your usage, payment arrangements, and any other water and sewer related needs.

Paying your water