How to Pay Your Detroit Water Bill Online and by Mail

How to pay your Detroit water bill

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) lets you pay your bill online through their website, by phone, by mail, or in person at a payment center. The fastest way is online at detroitmi.gov/departments/water — you can pay when ready with a bank account or debit card. If you prefer not to use the internet, you can call 313-679-7515 to pay by phone with a representative, mail a check to the address on your bill, or visit a DWSD office in person during business hours.

Your bill arrives monthly and shows the amount due and the due date. Payment is due by the date printed on your bill. If you miss the due date, late fees and interest charges begin to accrue. Setting up automatic payments or paying a few days early can help you avoid missing a important date.

Key Takeaways

• You can pay online at detroitmi.gov/departments/water using your bank account or debit card without creating an account.
• Phone payments go through a representative at 313-679-7515 and work with the same payment methods as online.
• Mailed checks should be sent to the address printed on your bill and take 7 to 10 business days to post to your account.
• Late payments trigger additional fees and interest, so paying by the due date on your bill matters for your total cost.
• You can set up automatic monthly payments so the bill is paid the same way each month without you having to remember.

Paying online through the DWSD website

Go to detroitmi.gov/departments/water and look for the "Pay Your Bill" or "Make a Payment" button on the homepage. You will need your account number, which appears on your bill in the upper left corner. Enter your account number, the amount you want to pay, and your payment method — either a checking or savings account (using routing and account numbers) or a debit card.

Online payments process when ready, and you will receive a confirmation number on screen. Write down or screenshot this number for your records. The payment shows in your account within one business day. There is no fee to pay online through the DWSD website, though some payment processors may charge a small fee if you use a third-party service — the city's own portal does not.

If you do not have your account number handy, you can look it up on the website using your address and last name. You do not need to create a login or password to make a one-time payment.

Paying by phone with a DWSD representative

Call 313-679-7515 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to speak with someone who can take your payment over the phone. Have your account number and payment method ready — you can pay with a checking account, savings account, or debit card. The representative will walk you through the process and give you a confirmation number when the payment is complete.

Phone payments process the same day you call and appear in your account within one business day, just like online payments. There is no fee for paying by phone. If you call outside business hours, you will reach an automated system that may offer limited options — the full menu of payment methods is available only when speaking with a representative during regular hours.

Paying by mail with a check

Write a check for the amount due and include your account number on the check itself. Mail it to the address shown on your bill — this address changes depending on which DWSD office processes your account, so always use the address printed on your statement rather than a general city address.

Mailed payments take 7 to 10 business days to arrive and post to your account. If your due date is fewer than 10 days away, mailing a check risks a late payment. For this reason, mail works best when you pay a week or more before the due date. Keep a copy of your check or note the check number for your records in case you need to track the payment later.

Setting up automatic monthly payments

Automatic payments mean your bill is paid the same way every month without you having to remember or take action. You can set this up online at detroitmi.gov/departments/water or by calling 313-679-7515. You will choose a payment method (bank account or debit card), the amount to pay each month, and the date you want it to come out of your account.

Most people choose to pay the full bill amount automatically on a date a few days before the due date. This ensures you never miss a payment and never pay a late fee. You can change or cancel automatic payments at any time through the website or by calling the department. If your bill amount changes month to month (which is normal for water usage), you can set it to pay a fixed amount or log in before each billing cycle to adjust the payment.

Paying in person at a DWSD office

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has payment centers where you can walk in and pay with cash, check, or debit card. The main office is located at 735 Randolph Street, Detroit, MI 48226. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring your account number and your payment method. A staff member will process your payment and give you a receipt on the spot.

In-person payments are posted to your account the same day. This method works well if you prefer to pay with cash or if you want to speak with someone face-to-face about your bill. Some neighborhood locations may also accept payments — call 313-679-7515 to ask if there is a payment center near you.

What to do if you miss a payment important date

If your payment does not arrive by the due date, late fees begin to accrue on your account. The amount of the late fee depends on your bill amount and is shown on your next statement. Interest also starts to build on the unpaid balance. The sooner you pay after missing the important date, the less additional cost you will owe.

If you are having trouble paying your bill, contact DWSD at 313-679-7515 to discuss your options. The department may be able to set up a payment plan that spreads your balance over several months, which can make the payment more manageable. Do not ignore the bill — unpaid water bills can eventually lead to service shutoff or a lien on your property.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay someone else's Detroit water bill?

Yes. You will need their account number to pay online or by phone. If you are paying by mail, write the account number on the check. You can also pay in person at a DWSD office with their account number. The payment will be credited to their account regardless of whose name the payment comes from.

What if I pay online but the payment does not show up?

Online payments usually appear within one business day. If more than one business day has passed and you have your confirmation number, call 313-679-7515 with that number and your account number. A representative can look up the payment and confirm it posted. Keep your confirmation number and a screenshot of it until the payment shows on your bill.

Is there a fee to pay my water bill online?

No fee through the official DWSD website at detroitmi.gov/departments/water. Some third-party payment services may charge a fee if you use them instead, but the city's own portal is free for all payment methods.

Can I set up automatic payments for a different amount each month?

Automatic payments are set for a fixed amount each month. If your bill varies, you can set it to a round number that usually covers your bill, then log in before each billing cycle to adjust it, or call 313-679-7515 to change the amount. Alternatively, you can pay manually each month to match the exact amount due.

What happens if my water service gets shut off?

Contact DWSD when ready at 313-679-7515 to discuss a payment plan or other options. Shutoffs typically happen after several months of non-payment, and reconnection requires paying the full past-due balance plus a reconnection fee. Setting up a payment plan before shutoff occurs is much less expensive than paying reconnection fees.