Are you tired of mailing checks or driving to payment centers just to pay your water bill? I feel your pain! As a Chester Water Authority customer myself I’ve explored all the online payment options they offer, and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned with you.
How to Pay Your Chester Water Authority Bill Online
Chester Water Authority (CWA) has been providing clean, affordable water to Pennsylvania residents since 1939. In August 2016, they launched online bill payment options to make life easier for their customers. Now, you can skip the stamps and pay your water bill from the comfort of your couch!
There are actually several ways to pay your CWA bill online:
Option 1: Pay Through the Official CWA Website
The most direct method is through their official website at wwwChesterWater,com
- Visit the Chester Water Authority website
- Look for the prominent “Pay Bill Online” button
- Follow the step-by-step instructions
- Enter your account information from your bill
- Choose your payment method (credit card, debit card, or e-check)
The website provides an example bill so you know exactly where to find the information you need The whole process is designed to be super user-friendly!
Option 2: Use Their Phone Payment System
If you prefer audio guidance or don’t have internet access, CWA offers a 24/7 phone payment system:
- Call 855-748-8522 anytime
- Follow the automated instructions:
- Enter your Customer Number
- Enter your Account Number
- Enter your payment information
This system accepts Visa, MasterCard, and e-checks. Just be aware that there’s a $2.75 convenience fee for this service.
Option 3: Pay Through doxo
Another option is using the doxo bill payment service:
- Visit doxo’s Chester Water Authority page
- Create an account or sign in
- Add Chester Water Authority as a biller
- Enter your payment information
With doxo, you can pay using:
- Visa, MasterCard, or Discover credit cards
- Debit cards
- Apple Pay
- Bank accounts
A major advantage of doxo is you can manage all your bills in one place, not just your water bill. They offer free payments if you use a linked bank account, though fees may apply for other payment methods.
My CWA Customer Portal
For the most comprehensive online experience, I’d recommend setting up an account on the My CWA Customer Portal. This gives you access to:
- Bill payment options
- Account balance checking
- Water usage tracking
- Setting up automatic payments
- Viewing payment history
You can access this portal at mycwa.chesterwater.com.
Benefits of Paying Your CWA Bill Online
Why should you bother with online bill pay? Here are some advantages I’ve experienced:
- Save time: No more writing checks or driving to payment centers
- Never miss a payment: Set up reminders or automatic payments
- 24/7 convenience: Pay anytime, even at 3 AM in your pajamas!
- Payment confirmation: Get instant confirmation your payment was received
- Environmental benefit: Reduce paper waste from checks and envelopes
- Trackable history: Easily access your payment history for records
Common Questions About CWA Online Bill Pay
What payment methods does Chester Water Authority accept?
You can pay online using credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover), debit cards, e-checks, and even Apple Pay through doxo.
Is there a fee for paying online?
It depends on your payment method and platform. Using a linked bank account through doxo is free, but other methods may incur convenience fees (like the $2.75 fee for phone payments).
What information do I need to pay my bill online?
You’ll need your Customer Number and Account Number, which can be found on your water bill. The CWA website provides a sample bill to help you locate this information.
Is online bill payment secure?
Yes! Chester Water Authority and doxo both use encryption and security measures to protect your payment information. Your payment card and bank details are never shared with unauthorized parties.
What if I need help with online payments?
You can contact Chester Water Authority customer service at 610-876-8181 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM). For after-hours emergencies, you can call the same number 24/7.
Contact Information for Chester Water Authority
If you need to reach out to CWA for any reason, here’s their contact info:
Main Office:
415 Welsh Street
Chester, PA 19013
Kennett Square Location:
148 West State Street, Suite 101
Kennett Square, PA 19348
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 467
Chester, PA 19016
Bill Pay Address:
Chester Water Authority
PO Box 63046
Newark, NJ 07101-8065
Phone: 610-876-8181
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Emergency Service: Available 24/7 at the same number
Starting and Stopping Your CWA Service
Did you know you can also manage your service starts and stops online? This is super helpful when moving to a new home or leaving your current one.
Starting Service
When moving to a new home in the Chester area, you’ll likely already have running water, but you’ll need to set up service in your name. Chester Water Authority makes this easy with their online start service form. The process usually takes about two business days to complete.
Stopping Service
Similarly, when you move out, you’ll want to stop your service so you don’t keep getting billed. Just fill out their online stop service form, and it typically takes two business days to process.
About Chester Water Authority
Chester Water Authority serves approximately 140,437 residents in the Chester area. Their water comes from two sources in the Susquehanna River Basin: the Octoraro Reservoir and the Susquehanna River itself. The water is treated at the CWA Octoraro Treatment Plant before being pumped to customers.
While researching for this article, I noticed that WaterZen gave CWA a C- rating for lead levels in their 2019 report, indicating that contaminant amounts were higher than what most other analyzed water providers had. If you’re concerned about your water quality, you might want to check out CWA’s annual Consumer Confidence Water Quality Reports.
My Personal Experience with CWA Online Bill Pay
I’ve been using the online bill pay system for about two years now, and it’s been a game-changer. Before, I was constantly forgetting to mail my check before the due date, which resulted in late fees more than once (ouch!). Now, I’ve set up automatic payments through the My CWA Customer Portal, and I haven’t had to think about my water bill since.
The system occassionally has glitches—one time my payment showed as “processing” for almost a week, which made me nervous—but overall, it’s been reliable and user-friendly. The ability to see my water usage patterns has even helped me identify a small leak I didn’t know I had!
Final Thoughts
Chester Water Authority has come a long way since they first introduced online bill payment in 2016. The multiple options they now provide make it easy for anyone to find a payment method that works for their preferences and needs.
Whether you choose the official CWA website, their phone payment system, or a third-party service like doxo, paying your water bill online saves time, reduces paper waste, and helps ensure you never miss a payment.
Have you tried any of these online payment methods? What was your experience like? Drop me a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
And remember, if you ever have questions about your bill or payment options, Chester Water Authority’s customer service team is just a phone call away at 610-876-8181.
Stay hydrated, friends!
Beware Third-Party Payment Sites!
www.MunicipalOnlinePayments.com is the only authorized online payment system for CMD. Payments made through this site are credited to your account immediately.
CMD does not endorse third-party payment websites such as DOXO or PRISM. They are neither authorized nor managed by CMD. Payments made through DOXO, PRISM, or other third-party bill payment services may be delayed seven (7) days or more pending delivery of payment to CMD’s office, and may result in late penalties and/or disconnection. CMD is not responsible for penalties or disconnections resulting from use of third-party payment sites.
If you feel you have accessed the wrong payment portal, please contact our office at (803) 385-5123 for more information.
The Chester Metropolitan District bills each customer once per month for services used during the previous month. All bills are for actual usage (water which passed through the meter). From time to time, a customer may receive an “estimated bill” due to an issue such as a malfunctioning meter or a high usage discrepancy. The estimate is based on an average of the customer’s usage history.
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- Bills are typically for a 28-31 day usage period, depending on weekends and holidays.
- Bills are due fifteen (15) days from the “Bill Date”. If a bill is not paid in fifteen days, a late fee will be assessed.
- Customers have an additional ten (10) days to make payment. If payment is not received by 5:00 PM on the 10th day (25 days from the “Bill Date”), a Non-Payment Fee will be assessed and the account will be disconnected.
- Depending on your location, your bill may also include wastewater and/or garbage service.
- CMD does not accept partial payments.
- CMD is not responsible for wastewater service or garbage service. All inquiries must be directed to the appropriate authorities.
Payments made after hours may be placed in the night deposit box, located in our drive-thru lane. Payments placed in the night deposit will be posted on the next business day.
For safety and security purposes, please do not place cash in the night deposit. To ensure your bill is credited to the proper account, please include your account number and/or physical service address with your payment.
After Hours payments may also be made online or over the phone.
If you have been cutoff for nonpayment:
In order to have services reinstated via IVR or our web portal, please ensure you pay your past-due balance plus the $45 nonpayment fee. Services will not be reinstated until the nonpayment fee is paid in full.
Payments and Customer Service inquiries may be made in our office at 155 Wylie Street in Chester. We accept cash, check, money order, and debit/credit card payments in our lobby and at our drive-through.
Please be aware that a 3% processing fee will be added to all credit/debit payments.
Customers may mail payments to the CMD Office at the following address:
Chester Metropolitan District P.O. Box 550 Chester, SC 29706
For safety and security purposes, please do not mail cash. To ensure your bill is credited to the proper account, please include your account number and/or physical service address with your payment.
CMD’s online credit/debit payment system is hosted by Municipal Online Payments. Click the button below to create an account.
Creating an account also gives customers utility account management tools such as billing and payment history, paperless billing, text notifications, and more! You will need your account number and the amount of your last payment to register. A 3% processing fee will apply to all credit/debit payments.
By setting up an online account, CMD customers are able to manage notification settings, view usage and payment history, make and schedule online payments, and much more!
