Paying your water bill is an essential task, but it can sometimes feel like a chore. Thankfully, Lake County offers a variety of convenient options to pay your water bill quickly and easily. In this article, we’ll provide an overview of water bill payment options across various Lake County municipalities and services.
Understanding Your Water Bill
Before paying your water bill, it helps to understand what you’re paying for. A standard water bill includes charges for:
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Water usage – Based on the amount of water used measured in gallons or cubic feet. This is the biggest portion of your bill.
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Wastewater usage – Charges for treating sewage and wastewater. Often a percentage of water usage.
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Service fees – Cover costs for billing infrastructure maintenance and customer service. A fixed monthly charge.
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Taxes and surcharges – Vary by location, but may include utility taxes and infrastructure fees
Your bill will show current charges, previous balances, due dates and account information. Review it carefully before paying to avoid errors or surprises.
Paying Your Water Bill Online
The easiest way to pay your water bill is online through your utility’s website. Here are online payment options for major Lake County water providers:
Lake County Public Works:
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Website: https://waterbill.lakecountyil.gov/
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Create an account to view bills, payment history and enroll in autopay
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Pay by credit/debit card or electronic check
Lake County Utilities:
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Register your account to view bills and usage history
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Pay by credit/debit card or electronic check
Lake County Special Districts:
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Website: https://www.lakecountyca.gov/1537/Bill-Pay-Customer-Portal
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Create an account to access billing and payment options
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Pay by credit/debit card
Online payments often have minimal fees, allowing you to pay quickly without visiting an office. Just be sure to pay by your bill’s due date to avoid late fees.
Paying by Phone
All Lake County water utilities offer automated phone payment systems. To pay by phone:
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Lake County IL: Call 844-846-8234
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Lake County OH: Call 844-346-3974
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Lake County CA: Call 844-508-3523
With phone payments, you’ll need your account number and billing details. A third party service processes the payment for a small fee. Allow 48 hours for phone payments to apply to your account.
Paying by Mail
Mailing in a physical check is a standard bill payment method. Here’s how to pay your Lake County water bill by mail:
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Write a check or money order payable to your water utility
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Include your account number on the check
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Mail to the payment address listed on your bill
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Allow 7-10 days for mailed payments to process
This low-tech option doesn’t require an internet connection. Just mail your payment several days before the due date so it arrives on time.
Paying in Person
You can pay water bills at your utility’s local office. In-person payment locations include:
Lake County IL:
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33077 N SR 59, Grayslake
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18 N County St, Waukegan
Lake County OH:
- 105 Main Street, Painesville
Lake County CA:
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255 N Forbes St, Lakeport
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7885 Highway 53, Lower Lake
Bring your water bill or account number. Cash, check and sometimes credit/debit cards are accepted. This is a good option if you’ve missed the deadline and want to avoid shut-off.
Auto-Pay for Worry-Free Payment
Auto-pay automatically pays your monthly water bill from your bank account. Sign up once to set it and forget it.
Lake County water utilities let you enroll in auto-pay when registering your online account. You’ll receive bills for your records, with payments deducted on the due date.
Auto-pay prevents late fees and service disruptions when you forget to pay. However, review your bills closely to catch any incorrect charges before payments process.
Assistance Programs for Struggling Customers
If paying your water bill is a hardship, Lake County offers financial assistance programs:
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The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) provides bill payment aid for qualifying residents.
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Payment plans allow customers to pay past-due balances over time without penalty.
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Leak adjustment policies may cover part of a high bill caused by qualifying leaks.
Contact your local water provider to learn about eligibility and how to apply. Don’t let an unaffordable bill put your water access at risk.
Stay Informed and Save Money
Read your water provider’s newsletter and website for usage tips, alert notifications and ways to save:
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Track your daily water usage to catch leaks early.
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Install water-efficient fixtures and appliances.
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Check for rebates on smart irrigation controllers and toilets.
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Use scarcity pricing info to shift water use to off-peak hours.
Saving water reduces your costs over the long-term. Plus, it benefits the environment and helps keep rates low.
Paying Your Lake County Water Bill
Online Bill Payment
If paying online please click the green “Pay Your Bill Now” button. Have your account number handy and follow the prompts. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Please be advised there is a $3.05 service fee for any credit card transaction up to $99.00 dollars, anything after $99.00 dollars the service fee increases to 3 percent of the transaction total.
If paying by check or money order through the mail, please send all payments with your payment coupon. To avoid late fees, please mail your payment at least five-seven business days before the due date specified on your bill.
You may pay your bill in person at our office address. We accept cash, check, or money orders. To avoid longer wait times, please note that Mondays, Fridays and the first day after a holiday are normally very busy.
Use CitizenVUE to Report and Track Lake County Public Works Issue
How do I pay my water bill in Lakeport CA?
By mail with a check or money order to Lake County Special Districts 230 N Main St Lakeport, CA.95453. By calling 1-844-508-3523 with VISA and other credit cards. If your water bill payment hasn’t been received by the due date, a Late Fee is added to your water bill and a Reminder Notice will be mailed to you.
What does Lake County Department of utilities do?
Welcome! The mission of the Lake County Department of Utilities is to supply safe drinking water, perform proper wastewater treatment, and provide a location for safe disposal of solid waste. We will continue conducting unidirectional fire hydrant flushing in the city of Concord Twp. Flushing […]
How do I Contact Lake County Public Works?
Customer service is very important to us. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please contact the Lake County Public Works Billing Department at 847-377-7500 or email us at [email protected]. Gather information about your utility account including billing periods, watering restrictions, due dates, and estimated bills.
When should I pay my water bill online?
Special Districts Administration staff suggests to avoid late fees and possible water service disconnections, start your online banking payment process as soon as you receive your bill. Many customers have waited too long, and by the time payment is received, their account has been charged an additional late fee.
What happens if I don’t pay my water bill?
If your water bill payment has not been received by 5 pm on the day prior to the shut-off date or a prior payment arrangement has not been made by 8 am the day of the shutoff, your water service will be turned off and locked off, and an additional Shut-Off Fee will be added to your water bill.