A Complete Guide to Paying Your Water Bill in St. Helens, Oregon

Living in St. Helens, Oregon means relying on the city’s water utility for an uninterrupted supply of clean, safe drinking water. Paying your monthly water bill on time and in full is crucial for maintaining this essential service. This comprehensive guide covers everything St. Helens residents need to know about water rates, billing cycles, payment options, and more when it comes to paying city water bills conveniently and hassle-free.

Overview of St. Helens Water Utility

The City of St Helens Water Department is responsible for providing drinking water for all residential and commercial customers within city limits. Water is sourced from the Columbia River through advanced treatment methods to ensure it meets all federal and state quality standards

Some key facts about St. Helens’ water system:

• Supplies over 11,000 residents and businesses
• Maintains over 90 miles of water distribution lines
• Treats and stores over 2 million gallons per day on average
• Operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Monitors water quality regularly for safety

Reliable water infrastructure and operations rely on customers paying their water bills regularly and on time.

St. Helens Water Rates

Water rates in St. Helens consist of a fixed monthly base charge and a variable usage rate based on the amount of water consumed. Rates are set by the City Council and reviewed annually.

Current standard residential water rates as of July 2024 are

• Base charge: $25.79
• Usage rate: $2.45 per 100 cubic feet (ccf)

So for example, a household using 8 ccf would pay:

• Base charge: $25.79
• 8 ccf x $2.45 per ccf = $19.60
• Total bill = $45.39

Water rates for multi-family and commercial customers are based on meter size. View the full water rate schedule.

Checking Your Water Usage

Tracking your monthly and daily water usage is important for understanding your bills and identifying any leaks or high use.

You can check your current water usage through the following methods:

• Your monthly bill provides usage for the billing period.
• Call the Water Department to request a current read.
• Submit a usage request through the City website contact form.
• Install a private meter to monitor daily consumption.

Monitoring your usage patterns allows you to spot irregular spikes that may indicate issues like leaks or equipment malfunctions.

When are Water Bills Issued?

St. Helens bills residents for water service on a monthly basis. Bills are typically issued around the 20th of each month and reflect the previous month’s usage and charges.

For example, the usage period for a July 20th bill would cover approximately June 20th through July 20th. The due date for payment is printed on each bill, generally 15 days after the issue date.

New customers will receive their first bill on the next billing cycle after service begins. Bills are prorated for partial month service.

How to Pay Your Water Bill

The City of St. Helens offers several convenient payment options for customers to pay their monthly water bills:

• Online – Pay via credit/debit card or eCheck through the online payment portal.

• Phone – Call the Water Department billing office at 503-366-8212 during business hours to pay over the phone with a card.

• Mail – Send a check or money order using the payment stub from your bill to the City billing address.

• In-person – Bring payment to the Water Department office at City Hall during business hours.

• Drop box – Place check or money order in the secure drop box at City Hall after hours.

• Auto-pay – Enroll to have payments automatically deducted from your bank account each month.

The most convenient and efficient options are online payments, auto-pay, and the City Hall drop box after hours.

Payment Arrangements and Assistance

If you are unable to pay your full water bill on time, contact the Water Department immediately to set up a payment plan. Outstanding balances incur late fees and service may be shut off for non-payment.

The City also offers qualifying low-income households a 25% discount on water rates through the Low Income Rate Assistance Program (LIRAP).

In addition, emergency water bill assistance funds may be available for households facing financial hardship. Contact the Water Department for details on payment arrangements, LIRAP discounts, and bill assistance programs. Communicating with them can prevent service interruptions.

Avoid Late Fees and Disconnection

Water bills must be paid by the due date printed on your monthly statement to avoid penalties. Key dates include:

• Due date – Payment must be received by this date, typically the 5th of each month.

• Late fee date – A 10% late penalty is added to overdue accounts on the 17th.

• Shut off notice – Delinquent accounts receive a shut off warning around the 25th.

• Disconnection date – Water service is discontinued on the 1st of the next month for unpaid accounts.

Avoid late fees and service interruptions by paying on time, enrolling in auto-pay, and contacting the Water Department immediately with payment issues. Reconnection involves fees if water is shut off.

New Service Activation

To establish new water service in your name in St. Helens when moving to a new home or opening a new business account, follow these steps:

1. Complete the Utility Service Form with your information.

2. Provide proof of identification and ownership/lease documents for the property.

3. Email or drop off materials to the Water Department at City Hall at least 3 days before service is needed.

4. Pay the $25 account activation fee.

5. Provide access or schedule an appointment for water meter installation if a new connection is needed.

Contact the Water Department with any questions about starting new water service with the City.

Final Bill and Closing an Account

If you are moving out of St. Helens or closing a water account, request a final bill by contacting the Water Department at least 3 days before disconnection. Provide them with a forwarding address for the final bill and refund of any deposit balance.

You will be responsible for usage until the final meter reading. Make sure all payments are up to date to avoid penalties or collection actions on your account. Shut off the water valve and drain pipes at your property after the final read.

Closing your account properly ensures you pay only for service used and avoids complications.

Disputing Your Water Bill

If you believe your water bill contains an error or incorrect charge, contact the St. Helens Water Department right away to dispute the bill and request an investigation.

Provide information like address, account number, specific issue, and timeframe. Common disputes involve possible meter malfunctions, leaks, billing errors, or payment not being credited.

While your bill is under dispute, you need to continue paying your normal usage charges to avoid late fees if the dispute is not resolved in your favor. The Water Department will provide documentation of their research and resolution for any disputes.

Water Conservation Tips

Simple water conservation measures in your home or business can reduce your water usage, lower your bills, and ease strain on St. Helens’ water system. Tips include:

• Fix any leaky faucets, pipes, sprinklers
• Install water-efficient fixtures like low-flow showerheads
• Run full loads in dishwashers and washing machines
• Limit lawn and landscape watering
• Shorten shower times and turn off water when brushing teeth
• Sweep driveways instead of hosing them off

Responsible water usage benefits the entire St. Helens community through improved efficiency and availability.

Paying your water bill on time and maintaining your water service with the City of St. Helens is easy by understanding your charges, monitoring usage, and utilizing convenient payment options. Contact the Water Department with any account or billing questions. Together we can keep St. Helens’ water flowing.