Baytown water service FAQ
Use the right water page
Use this FAQ for account and service questions: starting, stopping or transferring service; deposits and service fees; meter readings; payment arrangements; billing problems; and what happens when an account is disconnected.
If you need to pay the bill, check the current rate, find a due date or deal with a shutoff, use Your Baytown water bill.
If you are trying to understand why the rate changed, use Why your Baytown water bill went up. If you are comparing Baytown with other places, use Water bills compared.
18 questions, answered from the source
The city's water services FAQ: starting and stopping service, deposits, what the bill covers (water, sewer, trash, recycling), due dates and late charges, paying online, by phone, at the drive-through and by mail, what happens on a disconnect, how to read the meter, and who to call about a leak on your side versus the city's. The rates themselves are on the fees page, listed with their effective dates. The answers below are the city's own.
En español
Agua, drenaje y basura: su factura en Baytown
Estas son las preguntas frecuentes del servicio de agua de la ciudad: cómo abrir y cerrar el servicio, los depósitos, qué cubre la factura (agua, drenaje, basura y reciclaje), las fechas de vencimiento y los cargos por pago tardío, cómo pagar en línea, por teléfono, en la ventanilla de autoservicio o por correo, qué pasa si le cortan el servicio, cómo leer el medidor y a quién llamar según la fuga esté de su lado o del lado de la ciudad. Las tarifas están en la página de tarifas, con sus fechas de entrada en vigor. Las respuestas que siguen son las de la propia ciudad.
18 questions, answered from the source
Each answer is the official page's own wording; the link under it is where it came from. Where the office changes its rules, the office is right and this page is out of date.
Do you accept credit cards by internet or phone?
Please visit our online payment portal to pay using a Mastercard, Visa, or Discover credit card. American Express is not accepted and pay by phone is not available. A 4 percent convenience fee will be applied to all one-time and recurring transactions made with a credit or debit card. There will be no convenience fee for other payment methods. To avoid late charges, payment must be received in the Utility Services Office by 5:30 p.m. on the due date. We do not offer phone payments.
Do you charge a late charge?
Yes. The late charges are 10 percent of the water, sewer, garbage and recycle, and Municipal Drainage Utility Service (MDUS) charges. To avoid late charges, payment must be received in the Utility Services Office by 5:30 pm. on the due date. Payments left in the night drop after 5:30 p.m. on the due date are considered late and will have a late fee assessed. Payments made using alternate payment options are posted the next business day or when funds are received and therefore are considered late.
Do you have a drive through window or a night deposit box?
The Utility Services Office do not have a drive through. The night deposit boxes are located in the front and rear of the Utility Services Office. Payments placed in the night deposit box are posted the next business day.
Do you offer payments by bank draft?
Yes. To receive an application, please contact the Utility Services office or go to New Service.
Do you send a notice before water is disconnected for non-payment?
Yes. The Utility Services office sends a notice of non-payment in the form of a letter once the account is past due and at lease eight days prior to the proposed termination date. The letter states the day which payment must be made to avoid service interruption.
How do you figure out the sewer charge?
Residential and commercial sewer charges are based on the monthly water consumption billed. The total water consumption billed will be the same as the sewer charges.
How is the meter read and when?
Readings are obtained electronically with a special "drive by" computer, which picks up the readings emitted by radio frequency through a Meter Interface Unit (MIU). Customers are billed in thousands of gallons so not all dials are used in calculating the bill. The last two digits on the right are dropped when entering the reading for billing, i.e. 547413 is read 5474. The previous reading is subtracted from the current reading to calculate the amount of water used between readings. The meter is read each month.
How much is the deposit?
If you own the property, the deposit is $100.00 per unit. If you are renting and leasing, the deposit is $200.00 per unit. Nonresidential deposits are calculated based on comparable business use applied to current rates. There is also a $30.00 service fee per meter.
Is my payment posted to my account the same day it is received?
Payments received in the Utility Services office before 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday are posted the same day received. Payments placed in the night drop box or paid online are posted the next business day.
Is there a charge for transfer of service?
Yes. There is a $25.00 service charge to transfer service and the bill must be paid to date.
What are my payment options?
The City accepts cash, check,, money order, automatic bank draft, and a credit card (Mastercard, Discover, Visa, No American Express) with proper identification. In person payments accepted: Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. through 11:30 a.m. Pay Utility Bill Online Automatic Bank Draft Night drop (located in the front and rear of the building) Mail: P.O. Box 738277 Dallas, TX 75373-8277
What if I cannot pay my bill?
Yes. Please contact the Baytown Resource and Assistance Center or Harris County Social Services for assistance.
What is the MDUS fee on my bill?
The MDUS fee stands for Municipal Drainage Utility System. Please contact the Health Department Storm Water Division for more information.
What will I need to pay if my water is disconnected for nonpayment?
If your City utility services are disconnected for nonpayment, the delinquent balance must be paid before services can be restored. Services will be restored the next business day if full payment is made by the following deadlines: In person at Utility Services, 315 W. Texas Avenue: 5:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday or 11:30 a.m. Friday Online Payments: Email your confirmation number to [email protected] or contact Utility Services by 5:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday or 11:30 a.m. Friday
When am I charged a $50.00 delinquent fee?
The $50.00 delinquent fee is automatically generated and charged, if the past due amount is not paid in the Utility Services Office before 5:30 p.m. on the notice for nonpayment due date.
When can I make a payment arrangement?
At any time authorized by Utility Services Office prior to your payment due date. Once services have been disconnected, a payment arrangement is not available. All payment arrangement must meet eligibility requirements and must be requested in person. Effective April 06, 2026, payment arrangements are limited to two within a twelve month period.
When payments are mailed or paid online, when is the payment applied to the account?
Once the funds are physically received in the Utility Services Office, which generally takes 1 to 3 days depending on the method used. We encourage you not to use these methods if you have received a delinquent disconnect notice.
When will I get my deposit back?
When the account is closed, the deposit is applied toward payment of the final billing. Any credit balance is refunded to the customer by check after the final bill has been processed.