We at OWASA are committed to making water use in Carrboro-Chapel Hill as sustainable as possible, both for the environment and for your pocketbook. Water conservation isn’t just good for the planet; it’s a practical solution. After all, the easiest way to reap savings on your bill is to conserve water use itself.
OWASA’s Care to Share program can help those who are struggling to pay their monthly bill. More information on Care to Share, including how to make a donation, is available here.
How to Lower My Bill
Here are some ways to reduce water waste and lower your monthly water bill.
Monitor your water use with our Agua Vista portal.
Agua Vista is a free service where you can view your daily and historical water use, receive customized tips and tricks to save water, set leak alerts and more, all of which lead to savings for the planet and your wallet. Learn more about Agua Vista, or go ahead and sign in.
Account Adjustments Following a Leak
If you have received a larger-than-expected bill, you may have a leak. Under some circumstances, OWASA can issue a credit adjustment to your account, if you permanently repair the leak.
To make an adjustment, we will need the following information:
- When the leak was discovered
- Who made repairs, where and when
- A copy of the plumber’s bill or receipts for materials purchased if you made the repairs.
The amount of the bill adjustment depends in part on whether the water from the leak returned to the sanitary wastewater system or leaked elsewhere on your property.
If you find a leak:
Follow this handy resource guide to decide how to proceed. Regardless of your next move, please contact OWASA Customer Service at (919) 537-4343 or email us at customerinquiries@owasa.org.
If you fix the leak:
Contact OWASA Customer Service at (919) 537-4343 to inquire about receiving an account credit.
Reimbursements following leak repairs are subject to some limits and conditions.
Care to Share Water Bill Assistance
Care to Share, the community’s water bill assistance program, helps to make sure that no one in our service area must go without water – or scrimp on medications or food to pay their water bill.
Funds are administered by the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services (IFC), a non-profit agency supporting the community since 1963, in partnership with OWASA. Click for more information on Care to Share.
LIFT-UP
LIFT-UP is a new partnership between OWASA and the Community Empowerment Fund (CEF).
By participating in LIFT-UP, you get access to:
- Reduced payments for overdue balance
- Avoid late fees & penalties
- Free financial coaching, one-on-one support, and matched savings accounts
- Free water use assessment
- Free water efficiency kit
- Receive any OWASA deposit back upon successful completion of program
As a bonus, CEF offers some tools that can be an extra boost to your credit and overall financial goals.
Other Options:
Extended Payment Plans
All residential customers are eligible for an extended payment plan offering pay arrangements for past due amounts without additional interest fees.
Choose Your Own Bill Date
If your bill’s due date is causing a hardship, we are happy to change your bill date to land on a time of the month that is more convenient for you.
Just-in-Time Bill Pay
OWASA offers in-person and online payment options, including paying by cash, check, credit card, and automatic draft. In recent years, we have expanded options to allow over-the-phone payment with a credit card and pay-by-text. This option allows you to pay just-in-time and can help avoid service cut-off.