Payment Methods
Traditionally, cities have collected water and sewer payments in person (walk-up or drive-through) or by mail, usually in the form of cash or personal checks. In recent years, many utilities have expanded to include modern payment options such as bank drafts, credit cards, and online banking. These methods improve cash flow for the utility while offering greater convenience to customers.

Collections, Penalties, and Past-Due Accounts
Every city should adopt clear policies for handling late payments and bad debts. Customers should be given a reasonable grace period to pay without penalty. For example, if bills are mailed on the 10th, payment might be due by the 25th.

If payment is not received by the due date, a penalty—commonly a percentage of the unpaid balance—should be added to the account. If the bill remains unpaid, the utility should send a past-due notice specifying the deadline for payment and warning of possible service termination if the account is not brought current.

It is also important to inform customers of their right to dispute a past-due balance. Disputes should be reviewed and resolved before service is terminated. Addressing issues at this stage reduces the risk of legal challenges and helps the city avoid public relations problems.