How To Pay Your Charleston Water Bill Easily

Anyone who lives or works in Charleston needs to pay their water bill every month. It may seem like a simple task, but there are a few things you should know to pay your bill quickly, easily, and avoid any late fees. In this article, I’ll talk about the different ways you can pay your bill, online services you can use, and how to make sure you never miss a payment with the Charleston Water System or City of Charleston Water Department.

Overview of Charleston Water Providers

There are two main water providers in Charleston – the Charleston Water System and the City of Charleston Water Department

The Charleston Water System serves most of the city of Charleston. Over 100,000 people use their drinking water and sewer services.

The City of Charleston Water Department serves residents who live outside the main Charleston city limits but still within Charleston County. They provide water and sewer utilities to around 15000 customers.

So depending on where you live in Charleston, you may get your water bill from one provider or the other. Both offer various ways to pay your bill so you can choose the most convenient option.

Payment Options with Charleston Water System

For customers of the Charleston Water System, you have several options to pay your water bill:

• Online Payment – Pay through the Charleston Water System website. You can pay with credit card, debit card or electronic check. You’ll need your account number to login and there is no fee for online payments.

• Phone Payment – Call the Charleston Water System at (843) 727-6800 and pay over the phone with a card or electronic check. There is no fee for phone payments.

• Mail-In Payment – Detach the payment stub from your paper bill and mail it with a check or money order. Make sure it is received by the due date to avoid late fees.

• In-Person Payment – Bring your bill and payment to the Charleston Water System office at 103 Saint Philip Street to pay by cash, check or money order.

• Drop Boxes – Place your payment in one of the secure drop boxes located around the city. Payments are collected daily.

• AutoPay – Sign up to have your bill automatically paid from your bank account each month. This ensures you never forget and avoid late payments.

The Charleston Water System website makes it easy to manage payments online. You can start new service, check your balance, view payment history, update account information and more.

Payment Options with City of Charleston Water Department

If you get your water from the City of Charleston Water Department, here are the ways you can pay your bill:

• Online Payment – Pay through the City of Charleston website. Takes credit cards, debit cards or electronic checks without any fee.

• Phone Payment – Call 1-844-619-9004 to pay over the phone using a card or e-check. No added fee.

• Mail-In Payment – Send your payment stub and check or money order by mail. Must be received by due date to prevent late payment.

• In-Person Payment – Go to the Water Department office at 520 Jackson Ave and pay with cash, check or card.

• Drop Boxes: Take your things to the safe drop boxes at 520 Jackson Ave or 1st Mid Bank. Payments picked up daily.

• Auto Draft – Have your bill automatically drafted from your bank account each month by signing up for auto-pay.

The City website also lets you create an online account to view bills, payment history, water usage and manage payments.

Avoid Late Fees

To avoid getting hit with late fees and penalties, make sure your Charleston water bill is paid by the due date each month. Here are some tips:

• Mark your due date on your calendar so you remember to pay on time.

• Enroll in autopay or recurring online payments to have it paid automatically.

• Pay immediately after receiving the bill instead of waiting.

• If mailing payment, allow 7-10 days for it to be received before the due date.

• Pay online on the due date up until 11:59 pm to avoid late fees.

• Contact customer service if you cannot pay on time to see if they can extend the deadline.

• Set up text or email bill reminders so you never forget about an upcoming payment.

Paying just a few days late can result in a 10% late fee being added to your bill. Make sure your payment arrives by the due date to avoid these unnecessary extra charges.

Manage Your Water Account Online

The online account management systems offered by Charleston Water System and City of Charleston Water Department make monitoring and paying your bill more convenient than ever.

With an online account, you can:

• View and print current or past bills
• Check your balance and payment due dates
• Make one-time payments and set up autopay
• View payment history and receipts
• Monitor your daily water usage
• Update personal and payment information
• Receive bill reminders via email or text
• Start or stop service when moving

You’ll need your account number to register online. This handy service lets you take control of your water account and payments 24/7.

Accessing Water Bill Assistance Programs

If you are having difficulty paying your Charleston water bill, there are assistance programs available:

• The Charleston Water System offers payment arrangements and extensions for customers in need.

• Limited emergency bill assistance is available through the Salvation Army and area churches.

• The Low-Income Home Water Assistance Program provides help paying water bills for qualifying households.

Contact your water provider’s customer service department to inquire about bill assistance options if you are struggling to pay on time. They can help avoid service shut-offs.

In Summary

Paying your water bill in Charleston is fast and simple when you know all the payment choices offered by Charleston Water System and City of Charleston Water Department. Both make paying online, by phone, in person, or by mail a breeze. Sign up for autopay to prevent ever forgetting and incurring late fees. Assistance is also available if you need help with bill payments. Use these tips to take control of your Charleston water account.