Living in beautiful Colorado means enjoying ample sunshine and mountain views But the infrastructure supporting life in this scenic state is just as important as the landscape itself. That’s where the Cherokee Metropolitan District comes in This utility provider manages the water services for homes and businesses in their Colorado Springs service area. Paying your Cherokee Metropolitan District water bill on time each month is a small price to pay for the convenience of readily available water. In this article, we’ll walk through the numerous simple ways to pay your bill so you never miss a payment.
Overview of Cherokee Metropolitan District
Before jumping into the various bill pay options, let’s first understand exactly what the Cherokee Metropolitan District is and does. As a special district in El Paso County, Colorado, Cherokee Metropolitan District is responsible for providing water and wastewater utility services to around 3,900 homes plus businesses and parks in their designated territory.
This includes components like
- Water treatment and distribution
- Wastewater collection and treatment
- Fire hydrant systems
- Irrigation for parks and golf courses
With their efficient operations and infrastructure, Cherokee Metropolitan District delivers safe, clean water for daily use by families and companies. They work hard to maintain their systems to avoid service disruptions.
Why Paying Your Bill Matters
No one necessarily enjoys paying bills, but it is crucially important to pay your Cherokee Metropolitan District water bill fully and on time each month. As a customer receiving continuous water service, paying your bill enables the utility provider to:
- Cover operational costs for supplying water
- Maintain and upgrade water infrastructure
- Purchase treatment chemicals and test water quality
- Read meters and issue billing statements
- Provide reliable customer service
Your payment ensures this vital resource keeps flowing steadily to your tap. Financial challenges can occur, but be sure to seek assistance if struggling to pay. Never ignore a water bill, as that can lead to harsh penalties.
Bill Payment Options
When it’s time to pay your monthly Cherokee Metropolitan District water bill, you have numerous convenient options:
Online
The easiest and most efficient way for most customers is to pay online through Cherokee’s secure payment portal. Options include:
- Credit or debit card – Visa, Mastercard, Discover accepted
- eCheck – Free direct payments from your checking or savings account
Payments post instantly, so you have peace of mind your bill is paid. The online system also allows you to:
- View account balance
- Check billing history
- Enroll in paperless billing
- Set up recurring auto-pay
Phone
Call 719-597-5080 to pay your water bill over the phone using a credit or debit card. Have your account number handy.
Mail your check or money order to:
Cherokee Metropolitan District
P.O. Box 913253
Denver, CO 80291-3253
Allow plenty of mail time before the due date.
Drop Box
Place your payment (check, cash, money order) in the drop box located outside the Cherokee Metro District office:
6250 Palmer Park Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO 80915
In Person
Visit the Cherokee Metro District office in person to pay by cash, check, credit/debit or money order.
Bank Bill Pay
Initiate automatic bill payment through your personal bank’s online bill pay feature. Send to the PO Box address above.
Auto Pay
Enroll in recurring auto pay through Cherokee’s online portal to have payments automatically drafted from your card or bank account each month.
Evaluate Payment Convenience Fees
Some payment methods have small associated convenience fees that will be added to your transaction amount:
- Credit/Debit Card – $3.25 processing fee
- eCheck – 50¢ processing fee
- Auto Pay – Same convenience fees as online payments
Compare the fees among different options like your bank’s bill pay versus Cherokee’s portal to choose the most cost effective way for you to pay.
Avoid Late Fees and Disconnection
Paying on time is crucial to avoid late fees and possible service disconnection by Cherokee Metropolitan District. If your payment is even one day late, a monthly 5% late penalty will be assessed. If your account remains unpaid for 60 days, your water service faces disconnection until the past due amount is paid.
Don’t let it get to this point! Set reminders for your bill’s due date and consider enrolling in auto-pay or bank bill pay to ensure you never miss a payment. Know the shut off policies and seek assistance early if you anticipate difficulty making a payment. Communicate with Cherokee Metro District to make arrangements as needed.
Payment Assistance Programs
If paying your monthly water bill has become a financial hardship, notify Cherokee Metropolitan District as soon as possible to discuss relief options before service is disrupted:
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Payment arrangements – Set up an extended payment plan for your balance.
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Delayed due date – Request a temporary due date extension in special circumstances.
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Low-income assistance – Inquire if you qualify for state or nonprofit utility financial assistance.
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Leak adjustment – One-time bill adjustment if a leak on your side caused high usage.
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Consumption review – Verify your meter is recording usage accurately.
Don’t let pride get in the way of seeking help to maintain this vital service if funds are tight. Cherokee Metropolitan District wants to work with customers facing difficulties.
Moving Your Service Location
If you’re moving within Cherokee Metropolitan District’s service area, you’ll want to close your existing water account and open service at your new address. Notify Cherokee Metro at least one week before your move date to schedule turning off service at your old address on the move out date and starting it at the new address that same day.
This ensures you receive a final bill for your old address covering only the days you were there. Be sure your closing balance is paid in full so it doesn’t complicate opening your new account. Provide the new service address and your move in date when calling to arrange the account changes.
Having a reliable water provider like Cherokee Metropolitan District is something we often take for granted. But paying your water bill promptly each month is an important responsibility. Cherokee Metro makes the process quick and convenient through numerous payment methods. Pay online, by phone, in person, by mail, or set up auto-pay. Just be sure to pay the full amount by the due date every month to avoid penalties. Seek assistance if needed and you’ll continue enjoying the vital service of water delivered right to your Colorado home.
What Is The Cherokee Metro District?
The Cherokee Metropolitan District (CMD) was originally established in 1957. It is a not-for-profit, quasi-municipal governmental entity that was formed per Title 32 of the Colorado Revised State Statutes. The services provided are primarily water and sanitary sewer operations for Cimarron Hills customers (and others described below) as well as maintenance of street lighting.
The District lies outside the city limits of Colorado Springs located east of and adjacent to the city of Colorado Springs, in El Paso County. CMD is bounded by Peterson Air Force Base on the south and by Powers Boulevard on the west. Its north boundary is located approximately two miles north of Constitution Avenue to Barnes Road. The Eastern boundary follows Highway 24 approximately one mile east of Marksheffel Road to Constitution Avenue.
The boundaries then follow Constitution Avenue west to a point one-half mile east of Marksheffel Road. The District encompasses roughly 6,300 acres and serves some 17,945 customers and also includes an area roughly 20 miles east of the main District boundaries near Ellicott, which encompasses 800 acres with nearly 100 additional residential taps.
Expanding the number of customers served by the CMD lowers your bill. It helps to leverage a more cost-effective economy of scale as fixed costs are absorbed by a larger number of consumers. CMD is supportive of the United States Military and their families.
Water customers, outside the boundaries of CMD, include the Schriever Air Force Base (SAFB) and Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District (Woodmen Hills). SAFB is located approximately nine miles east of CMD alongside the main transmission line. The Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District is located 6 miles east, northeast, of the northern most area of the CMD boundaries along Woodmen Road and Meridian Road. Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District is a bulk water user and is allowed up to 350 acre feet of water per year.
About the Cherokee Metro District Team
The mission of the Cherokee Metro District (CMD) Team is to provide safe water, sewer service, clean parks and well-lit streets. We continually strive to attain the highest quality of service at a reasonable cost. We prepare for the anticipated needs and requirements of our current and future customers. The CMD staff consists of customer service professionals, engineers, Colorado state-certified water professionals, and state-certified wastewater professionals.
