Helpful Information and FAQs

Water/Sewer Utility Policies

Public Works Utility Policies

How do I establish an account?

Complete an application for service. Service may be established in person or via fax or e-mail. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

Applicants must provide photo ID and proof of ownership or occupancy. Failure to provide documentation of the Social Security Number for the account holder (including business accounts), will result in a higher deposit. 

All required documents must be provided at the time the account is established. 

A deposit and activation fee are due prior to service activation. 

For rental properties, the name and contact information of the property owner/landlord must be included on the application. Only the renter who is named in the rental agreement may open a utility account.

If I own multiple properties, can I add an additional property to my account?

No. Each location must have separate accounts. For customers who have an existing account that has been maintained in good standing for at least one year, the deposit may be waived for all additional accounts opened. All customers must have at least one active account secured by a deposit. If the account secured by a deposit is closed, the customer will be required to make a new deposit on an existing, active account. If the customer has accounts both in-town and out-of-town, the deposit charged will be the greater rate.

May I take over an account from a current customer?

No.  The existing account will be closed and any deposit refunded or applied to the final bill.  You will need to establish a new account.

When are meters read and when are bills due?
Meter and consumption data for billing is collected on the 15th day of each month. Bills are calculated and processed monthly by the 25th of the month. Bills are calculated in accordance with the rate schedule then in effect. Usage charges are determined based on the consumption recorded during the billing period. 
The due date is the 15th day of the following month, with a grace period extending until the 20th. In the event the 15th or the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will be adjusted to the next business day. The Town reserves the right to vary the dates or length of time, temporarily or permanently. 
Any inquiries regarding bills must be made prior to the due date to avoid a late penalty. Accounts are not considered paid until payment has been received in our office. Failure to receive a bill in the mail does not excuse responsibility for payment nor prevent late penalties and/or service disconnection. Town of Warrenton cannot be held responsible for the timely delivery of the mail nor for payments lost in transit.

How does the Town manage late penalties and disconnections?

Bills are due and payment is considered delinquent if not received by 4:30pm on the 15th day of the month. A $25.00 late penalty will be applied to the account if payment is not received by 4:30pm on the 20th.

Accounts will be flagged for disconnection of service if payment has not been received by 4:30pm on the 25th with disconnections due to non-payment beginning the 26th. Any account where service is disconnected will be charged a $30.00 dis/reconnect fee.

No notice will be sent prior to disconnection, and all outstanding charges must be paid before service is resumed. Once assessed, fees for late payments or disconnects will not be waived.

Where does the Town’s responsibility end and mine begin?

The Town’s responsibility to maintain water infrastructure concludes at the customer’s side of the water meter. The Town will perform necessary repairs to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of water up to this point. Property owners are responsible for all plumbing systems beyond the water meter, and any water usage resulting from leaks or issues within this scope recorded by the meter will be billed in accordance with standard procedures.

The Town’s responsibility for sewer line maintenance extends to the cleanout located at the edge of the roadway. Property owners are responsible for any maintenance or repairs from that point onward, up to and including the building connection. All new sewer service installations must include a cleanout positioned adjacent to the roadway. It is highly advisable for property owners with existing systems, prior to this requirement, to consider installing a cleanout to ensure proper troubleshooting and maintenance access. Where no clean-out exists, the Town is unable to perform sewer system troubleshooting or maintenance for the property.

I had a big leak that was repaired. Why do I have to pay for that water?

The Town is not responsible for any plumbing issues on the customer’s side of the water meter.  Although you may not have had the use of the water lost as the result of a leak, the Town had to buy and provide the water however it was used.  This is part of the cost of a home repair that may be difficult to manage but is not a cost that should be shared by the Town or other utility customers.

How much water do leaks waste?

A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.
If your toilet is running constantly, you could be wasting up to 200 gallons of water every day, or 6,000 gallons each month. That’s 72,000 gallons per year!

If your toilet is leaking, the cause is most often an old, faulty toilet flapper. Over time, this inexpensive rubber part decays, or minerals build up on it. It’s usually best to replace the whole rubber flapper—a relatively easy, inexpensive do-it-yourself project that pays for itself in no time.

A showerhead leaking at 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons per year. That’s enough water to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher.