A Guide to Paying Your St. Bernard Parish Water Bill Online, by Phone, or In-Person

Having access to clean running water in your home is an essential utility. However, this also comes with the responsibility of paying your water bill regularly to the provider – St. Bernard Parish Water and Sewer Department. This guide will walk through the various methods to pay your St. Bernard Parish water bill conveniently.

Overview of St. Bernard Parish Water Bill Payment

• St Bernard Parish provides water and sewer services to the parish area

• Water bills are billed monthly and include charges for water used plus sewer fees

• Bills can be paid via the parish online portal, by phone, automatic bank draft, mail or in-person.

• Accounts not paid by due date accrue late fees $10 or 10% of the past due amount.

• Payment records can be accessed online or by calling the billing department.

• Customers can enroll in paperless billing to get bills electronically.

How to Pay St. Bernard Parish Water Bill Online

Paying your water bill online via the parish online payment portal is the most convenient way to pay 24/7.

Follow these steps:

• Visit the parish website and click on the “Pay Water Bill Online” link.

• If new user, create an account with your account number, email, and address details.

• Existing users can simply login to access their account.

• Review your outstanding dues and select the amount you want to pay now.

• Enter credit/debit card details and submit payment.

• The online receipt confirms payment details for your records.

• Payments reflect in 1-2 business days on your account.

Benefits of paying online:

• Avoid late fees by scheduling payments to process automatically before due date.

• Card payments debit immediately so shutoffs are not initiated for non-payment.

• Online profiles store payment history and billing statements.

• Email reminders can be enabled to alert you of upcoming dues.

How to Pay St. Bernard Parish Water Bill by Phone

To pay your water bill over the phone, follow these steps:

• Call the parish water billing department at (504) 278-4203 during business hours.

• Provide your account number to the agent for billing details access.

• Specify the amount you want to pay from your outstanding balance.

• Provide debit/credit card details for authorization and payment.

• Note down the confirmation number given at end of call for reference.

• Phone payments reflect on your account within 1 business day typically.

Things to keep in mind when paying by phone:

• Have your account number, card, and billing details handy to complete payment quickly.

• Avoid peak times early mornings or month ends to minimize hold times.

• Double check confirmation number matches your payment amount intended.

• Notify agent to enroll in auto-pay via phone to have payments done automatically.

How to Pay St. Bernard Parish Water Bill by Mail

To pay your water bill by mail, follow these steps:

• Make a check payment to “St. Bernard Parish Water & Sewer” for the outstanding amount.

• Write your full account number clearly on the check memo to credit properly.

• Mail the check to the billing department address printed on your statement.

• Pay at least 7-10 days before due date allowing time for mail and processing delays.

• Keep proof of mailing like tracking number or receipt as reference.

• Log into your account after 2 weeks to ensure payment is adjusted accurately.

Considerations for paying by mail:

• Send via tracked mail and retain proof in case of lost checks.

• Avoid cash payments given risk of loss—use checks or money orders.

• Double check account number written is complete and accurate.

• Mail payments early each month to prevent penalties if delayed.

How to Pay Water Bill in Person at St. Bernard Parish

To pay your water bill in-person, you can:

• Visit the Water & Sewer office at 1111 East St. Bernard Hwy during business hours.

• Bring your printed bill statement to speed up the payment posting process.

• The cashier accepts cash, money order, checks, and credit/debit card for payment.

• Get a receipt with payment details and updated balance.

• In-person payments reflect in your account within 1-2 business days generally.

Tips for paying in-person:

• Avoid early mornings and month ends to reduce wait times.

• Have exact change or check amount written to expedite transaction.

• Keep the receipt as future reference until payment registers online.

• Use the drive-thru window to drop off check payments if preferred.

What Are Other Ways to Pay St. Bernard Parish Water Bill?

Apart from the main options covered already, customers can also pay their St. Bernard Parish water bill by:

• Auto bank draft – Automatically deducts from your bank account around the due date.

• Text payments – Receive bill alerts via text and reply to pay instantly online.

• Payment kiosks – Self service kiosks located at select parish offices.

• Over the counter – Pay at authorized check cashing places and grocery stores.

• Electronic checks – Make one-time payments from your bank account without fees.

Exploring alternate payment channels can provide additional flexibility tailored to your needs.

What Details Are Needed to Pay St. Bernard Parish Water Bill?

Having the right details handy helps expedite the water bill payment process and avoid errors. Key details needed are:

• Account number – Unique number to identify your property service

• Amount due – Outstanding total if paying full or amount choosing to pay

• Payment mode – Cash, check, card or electronic bank transfer

• Credit/debit card – 16-digit card number, expiry, CVV if paying online/phone

• Bank details – Account and routing number if using bank draft option

• Contact information – Phone and email in case the utility needs to contact you

Ensuring these details are readily available before starting the payment process minimizes hassle and delays.

What if I Miss Paying My St. Bernard Parish Water Bill?

If you miss paying your St. Bernard Parish water bill by the due date, following enforcement actions may happen:

• $10 or 10% late fee penalty charged to account

• Water service disconnected after 60 days non-payment

• All pending dues including fees must be cleared before reconnection

• Credit score impacted if reported to credit bureaus

• Outstanding debts may be referred to collection agency

• Legal action can be pursued for recover unpaid bills

To avoid penalties, speak to the billing department quickly if unable to pay dues on time and work out alternate payment arrangements. Having heavy penalties or collections impact your account creates longer term hurdles.

Does St. Bernard Parish Offer Water Bill Assistance?

Yes, St. Bernard Parish recognizes that at times customers may struggle to afford water bills. Some assistance options are:

• Payment plans to pay balance in smaller installments over months

• Balance forgiveness programs for very low income households

• Discounts for seniors or disabled customers

• Low or no interest financing for capital improvement costs

• Free plumbing repair assistance to stop leaks wasting water

• Waiver of late fees or reconnection charges on appeal

Reaching out early to explain your situation gives the utility chance to help maintain your essential water access. Avoid being disconnected due to lack of communication.

How Often Are St. Bernard Parish Water Bills Issued?

St. Bernard Parish issues water and sewer bills to customers on a monthly basis. Key points:

• Meter readings are done monthly around the 20th of the month.

• Meter usage and sewer charges are calculated based on reading.

• Bills are mailed to account holders by 25th-30th of the month.

• Payment for current bill is due by 15th of next month.

• Failure to get or see bill does not waive responsibility of payment.

• Contact utility if bill is not received to prevent late penalties.

Marking your calendar with billing cycles