What Happens If You Don’T Pay Your Water Bill?

Paying your water bill on time is an essential responsibility as a homeowner or renter Water is a necessity for living and must be paid for However, many people occasionally struggle to pay their water bill on time due to financial hardship. If you fall behind on your water bill payments, you may be wondering – what are the consequences? What will happen if you don’t pay your water bill for a few months?

There are a few key things that can happen if you fail to pay your water bill

Late Fees

If you don’t pay your water bill on time, you’ll have to pay late fees. There are late payment fees every month that your water bill is past due. These late fees are typically around $5-10 or 1-1. 5% of the balance owed. The fees are added to the amount you already owe for being past due, making the total amount you owe bigger. Even if you don’t pay, the late fees will make your water bill go up every month that you don’t pay it.

Disconnection Warning

The water company will send you a written notice to disconnect if you don’t pay your bill for one to two months. This is a notice that they may cut off your water service in a certain amount of days if your bill isn’t paid. Most of the time, the shut-off date is 5 to 15 days after the notice date. You may get a disconnect notice in the mail, by email, or on your front door with a tag. A technician may come to turn off your water if you haven’t paid by the due date, which should be written on the notice.

Water Shutoff

If you haven’t paid your past-due water bill by the date on the disconnection notice, service will likely be cut off. If the bill is still not paid by the due date on the notice, the utility company will send someone to your home to physically cut off the water. Most of the time, water is turned off at the street valve or water meter box. Your water will stay off until you pay the full amount that is past due. It’s hard to go without water, so you want to avoid getting to this point if you can.

Collections & Property Lien

If you don’t pay your water bill for two or three billing cycles, the account may be sent to collections. For up to 7 years, this will hurt your credit score a lot. In the future, it will be much harder to get loans or mortgages. The water company could also put a lien on your house to get the money they’re owed. When you sell the house, you have to pay off this lien.

Security Deposit

In addition to paying all past due bills to get your water turned back on, the utility may demand a security deposit ranging from $100-500. This serves as collateral in case you fall behind again in the future. The deposit requirement will typically last 1-2 years before being refunded.

Reconnection Fee

Once all past due bills are paid, a technician will come restore your water service. However, you’ll also have to pay a reconnection fee, usually $30-100. This covers their cost to send someone out twice – once to shut off and again to restore water flow.

Here are some other key facts about the consequences of not paying water bills:

• Shutoffs cannot occur on weekends, holidays, or extreme weather days in most states.

• If you have a documented medical condition requiring water, shutoff may be delayed 30+ days.

• Payment plans may allow you to avoid shutoff as long as you pay the agreed amount each month.

• Water companies typically will not shut off service to a renter due to nonpayment in many states. The landlord remains liable.

• Once water is shut off, full payment of all past due bills plus fees is usually required for reconnection.

• Running water is crucial for sanitation and daily life. Prioritize paying your water bill to avoid shutoff.

• If you cannot pay, immediately contact your water company to set up a payment plan or assistance.

• Disconnection warnings mean you only have 5-15 days left to pay before shutoff occurs.

• Try to pay something rather than ignoring bills to delay the disconnection process.

• Seek financial assistance if available, or negotiate deals like waiving late fees.

• Avoid assuming “they’d never really shut off my water” – take all notices very seriously.

Going without running water creates major daily complications. Plumbing won’t function, drinking water access is lost, bathing is disrupted, and health hazards arise without proper sanitation. That’s why maintaining water service by paying your bills is so essential as a homeowner or renter. If you ever anticipate having difficulty making payments, engage with your water provider early to seek solutions. Consistently ignoring and not paying water bills will only lead to much larger issues down the road.

What Should You Do If You Can’t Pay Your Water Bill?

If you’re struggling to pay your water bill, don’t panic but take action quickly. Here are some tips:

• Contact your water company – Call them to explain your situation and try to negotiate more time or a payment plan.

• Pay whatever you can – Even partial payments show good faith and may delay shutoff.

• Seek assistance – Explore bill pay assistance programs or grants if you qualify due to low income.

• Lower your bill – Inspect for leaks, take shorter showers, and conserve water to reduce your monthly charges.

• Negotiate – Ask for fee waivers, payment plans, or reduced account balances.

• Borrow money – Take out a short-term personal loan to get caught up if needed.

• Delay less urgent debts – Consider paying minimums on other bills to prioritize the water bill.

• Sell assets – Look for valuables you can sell quickly like electronics to cover the past due amount.

• Rent out space – Generate rental income by listing a spare room on Airbnb.

• Defer payments – See if you can push back other obligations until after you’ve paid the urgent water bill.

• ** odd jobs** – Offer handyman services or drive for a rideshare app to earn quick cash.

Going without water seriously disrupts your life. So if you get behind on payments, take proactive steps like these to work it out with your water company and catch up. With some creativity and sacrifice, you can likely find a way to pay your essential water bill and maintain this vital service.

FAQ About Not Paying Water Bills

Can my water be shut off if I’m a renter?

Whether water can be shut off at a rental unit depends on local laws. Some states prohibit shutoffs if a renter doesn’t pay. The landlord remains responsible for payment as the account owner. But in other states, they can shut off water due to a renter not paying their water bill. Check your state’s regulations.

What if I can’t afford to pay my water bill?

If you can’t afford to pay your water bill, immediately contact your water company and explain your financial hardship. Ask about discounted rates, government assistance programs, payment plans, or other options to help you pay. Try to negotiate an arrangement that works for your budget.

What should I do if I get a shutoff notice?

Don’t ignore a water shutoff notice. Call the utility right away to ask for an extension or make a payment plan. Pay whatever portion you can afford to show good faith. You may be able to delay shutoff for 30+ days this way. Ask about any assistance programs or billing adjustments that could help.

Can they actually shut off my water service?

Yes, the water company can legally disconnect your water service with proper notice if you don’t pay bills for several months. Shutoffs do happen so take warnings seriously. Lack of running water severely disrupts daily life. Avoid shutoffs by working with the utility early on payment solutions.

What if I have a medical condition requiring water?

If you have a documented medical condition that requires access to water, you may qualify for an exemption from water shutoffs for 30+ days. Provide a doctor’s note to your water provider to delay disconnection due to medical circumstances.

How long can I go without paying my water bill?

It varies, but you typically have 1-3 months after first missing a payment before water shutoff occurs. Late fees add up quickly though, so address non-payment as soon as possible. Contact your water company right away if you’ll have difficulty paying bills on time going forward.

What can I do if my water was shut off?

If your water gets shut off, you must pay the full past due balance plus fees immediately to restore service. Take out a loan, borrow from friends/family, or sell valuables if needed to cover the amount. Ask if any fees can be waived. Going without water is difficult, so reinstate service quickly if disconnected.

How can I avoid shutoffs in the future?

To avoid future shutoffs:

• Pay all bills on time
• Contact the utility at the first sign of payment difficulty
• Conserve water usage to lower your bill
• Explore bill assistance programs if eligible
• Set payment reminders to avoid forgetting
• Build up a savings cushion for emergencies

Stay proactive with your water account by addressing non-payment early before disconnection occurs.

Going without running water is extremely problematic and disruptive for health, sanitation, and daily living. That’s why maintaining your water service by paying bills on time is so important. If money ever gets tight, immediately contact your water company and explore assistance programs or payment plans. Consistently not paying water bills only leads to much larger issues, so handle payment struggles promptly and collaboratively with your utility provider.