Have you been struggling with figuring out how to pay your Baton Rouge water bill? Don’t worry – you’re definitely not alone! As someone who’s lived in Baton Rouge for years, I’ve had to navigate these payment systems many times, and I know firsthand how confusing it can sometimes be. In this article, I’ll share all the different ways you can pay your water bill in Baton Rouge, plus some tips to make the whole process easier.
Understanding Your Baton Rouge Water Bill
Before we dive into payment options, it’s important to understand that water services in Baton Rouge are handled by different companies depending on where you live Most residents receive bills from
- Baton Rouge Water Company
- Parish Water Company
- Ascension Water Company
Your bill typically includes charges for:
- Water usage
- Sewer services
- Garbage collection
Many residents don’t realize that these services are bundled together on one bill, which is why the total might be higher than expected!
Online Payment Options for Baton Rouge Water Bills
The easiest and quickest way to pay your water bill is online, Both the Baton Rouge Water Company and the City of Baton Rouge offer convenient online payment systems
Through Baton Rouge Water Company Website
If you get your bill directly from Baton Rouge Water Company you can pay online through their website. Here’s how
- Visit the Baton Rouge Water Company website at www.brwater.com
- Click on the “Pay Now” button in the top navigation
- You’ll be redirected to their payment portal
- Enter your account information and payment details
Important note: When paying online, there’s a convenience fee for credit card or ACH payments. It’s not huge, but something to be aware of.
Through the City of Baton Rouge Website
If you’re billed by the City of Baton Rouge, you can use their online payment system:
- Go to www.brla.gov/1154/Online-Payments
- Follow the prompts to make your payment
The city website notes that “Customers billed by Baton Rouge Water Company and Parish Water Company can now pay online as well as by phone.” However, they caution that “online payments can be made if the customer is not subject to disconnect within 48 hours.” This is super important – if you’re at risk of disconnection, you’ll need to use a different payment method!
Phone Payment Options
Don’t want to pay online? No problem! You can also pay your water bill by phone:
- Call 1-844-231-6361 for Baton Rouge Water Company payments
- Follow the automated instructions to complete your payment
Keep in mind that payments made over the phone may take up to 48 hours to post to your account. Also, like online payments, there’s usually a small convenience fee for phone payments.
Automatic Draft: Never Forget a Payment Again!
One of my favorite options is setting up automatic draft payments. This has saved me so many times from forgetting to pay my bill!
To set up automatic draft:
- Contact Baton Rouge Water Company at 225-925-2011
- Or visit their website and look for the Automatic Draft Enrollment option
- Provide your banking information
With automatic draft, the amount due will be automatically withdrawn from your bank account each month. You’ll still receive a bill notification so you know how much is being drafted. No more late fees!
In-Person Payment Options
Sometimes you just want to pay in cash or need to make a payment immediately. For these situations, there are in-person options:
Western Union Quick Collect Locations
Cash payments can be made at any Western Union Quick Collect location, including:
- Walgreens
- Albertson’s
- Regions Bank
To find the closest location to you:
- Visit westernunion.com
- Select “Quick Collect locations”
- Enter your zip code
Baton Rouge Water Company Office
You can also pay in person at the Baton Rouge Water Company office:
- Drive-thru available from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday
- Customer service is available by phone from 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday
Mailing Your Payment
If you prefer the traditional route, you can always mail your payment:
Utility Payment Processing
P.O. Box 738317
Dallas, TX 75373-8317
Be sure to include your account number on your check or money order and allow sufficient time for mailing and processing to avoid late fees!
Important Considerations When Paying Your Bill
Processing Time
Different payment methods have different processing times:
- Online and phone payments may take up to 48 hours to post
- Mail payments can take several days
- In-person payments typically post immediately
Avoiding Disconnection
If your account is at risk of disconnection:
- DO NOT rely on online or phone payments if disconnection is scheduled within 48 hours
- Make an in-person payment instead
- For after-hours reconnections, additional fees may apply
Bank Bill Pay Services
Many people use their bank’s bill pay service to pay their water bill. If you do this, the Baton Rouge city website cautions:
“Customers using their personal bank’s bill-pay service should confirm how payments are remitted. These payments are not always remitted electronically and may take several days to be received and posted to the customer’s water/sewer/garbage account.”
In my experience, this is really true! I once thought my payment had gone through with my bank’s bill pay, but it hadn’t actually reached the water company yet. Automatic draft through the water company is usually more reliable.
Troubleshooting Payment Issues
What to Do If Your Payment Doesn’t Post
Sometimes payments don’t post correctly or take longer than expected. If this happens:
- Check your bank account to confirm the payment was actually processed
- Wait the full processing time (48 hours for online/phone payments)
- Contact customer service if the payment still hasn’t posted:
- Baton Rouge Water Company: 225-925-2011
- Parish Water Company: 225-952-7688
- Ascension Water Company: 225-952-7666 or 225-675-5644
Emergency After-Hours Issues
For water troubles outside normal business hours (before 8:30 AM and after 5:00 PM weekdays, or on weekends and holidays), call the emergency line at 225-926-3044.
Understanding Your Water Usage and Charges
Want to better understand what you’re paying for? The Baton Rouge Water Company offers resources to help:
- The “Learn More” page on their website explains how to read your bill
- They provide information on how to read your water meter
- Customer FAQs address common billing questions
Understanding your water usage can help you conserve water and potentially lower your bill.
Tips to Make Bill Paying Easier
After years of paying water bills in Baton Rouge, I’ve learned a few tricks:
- Set calendar reminders if you’re not using automatic draft
- Keep track of your account number – you’ll need it for most payment methods
- Sign up for email notifications to receive bill alerts
- Check for leaks if your bill suddenly increases
- Consider switching to automatic draft to avoid the hassle altogether
FAQs About Baton Rouge Water Bill Payments
How can I check my current balance?
You can check your balance by calling customer service or logging into your online account if you’ve set one up.
What if I’m moving and need to transfer or close my account?
Contact the Baton Rouge Water Company at 225-925-2011 to arrange for service transfer or disconnection.
Can I pay for someone else’s water bill?
Yes, you can pay for someone else’s bill as long as you have their account number and address.
What happens if I pay late?
Late payments typically incur a fee and, eventually, risk of disconnection. If you’re struggling to pay on time, contact the water company to discuss possible payment arrangements.
How can I dispute a charge on my bill?
Contact customer service to discuss any billing discrepancies or concerns.
Conclusion
Paying your Baton Rouge water bill doesn’t have to be complicated! With multiple payment options available, you can choose the method that works best for you. Whether you prefer the convenience of online payments, the reliability of automatic draft, or the immediacy of in-person payments, there’s a solution for everyone.
Remember, the key to avoiding late fees and disconnection is to pay your bill on time using a reliable method. If you have questions or concerns about your bill or payment options, don’t hesitate to contact the appropriate customer service department:
- Baton Rouge Water Company: 225-925-2011
- Parish Water Company: 225-952-7688
- Ascension Water Company: 225-952-7666 or 225-675-5644
We all have to pay our water bills, but with these options and tips, hopefully the process will be a little less painful! Have you found other ways to make paying your water bill easier? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences!
Important Notices Get important notices regarding the following topics:
Baton Rouge Water Company (BRWC), and its subsidiaries Parish Water Company and Ascension Water Company, proudly announces its A water system grade from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) for the second year since the program began in 2023. Learn More »
Baton Rouge Water Company and its subsidiaries, Parish Water Company and Ascension Water Company, are ready to weather the storm! We have invested in large diesel generators, which are strategically placed at well sites to ensure that our customers will not lose water service due to a power outage from a hurricane or ice storm. Our employees will be working around the clock to maintain our infrastructure, answer your calls, and turn off your water service should you need to have your plumbing repaired. We will not be able to move about during the height of the storm, but are ready to go as soon as it is safe.
Should the area experience an ice storm or a hard freeze in which the temperature drops below freezing and stays below freezing for a significant amount of time, you may wish to follow the instructions of plumbing experts. Most experts state you should:
- Insulate your outside faucets and exposed pipes, including backflow prevention devices.
- If you choose to drip your faucets, do not drip during the daylight hours when the temperatures are above freezing.
- Instead of running water overnight to prevent freezing pipes, set an alarm to run water for 20-30 seconds a few times during the night, both hot and cold, at different points throughout the home to protect pipes.
- For sinks and lavatories adjacent to outside walls, leave the cabinet doors open at night to warm indoor pipes.
- Familiarize yourself with where your home or building’s water cut off valve is.
Should your water pipes freeze and burst, use your home or building’s water cut off valve to shut off your water to the structure. If that is not possible, please know that we will have employees ready to go to turn your water service off for repair.
We will post water outages, advisories and notices that could affect your service.
To check for activity in your area, use the interactive map here »
Baton Rouge Water Customers can pay their water bills, along with their City Parish sewer and garbage bills at the City Parish Sewer Department located at 1100 Laurel Street (map). All issues with the sewer portion of your bill can only be handled by the Sewer office at 225-389-5378. Missed garbage pick up requests can be made by dialing 3-1-1.
Cash payments can now be made for your water and sewer bills at all Western Union Quick Collect locations.
You’ll find convenient spots like Walgreens, Albertson’s and Regions. Places you already know and visit nearby. Go to westernunion.com select Quick Collect locations and enter your zip code.
Get Answers Fast With Our Learn More Page
Do you have trouble understanding your bill? Get answers to your questions and learn more with our Learn More page.
Providing Clean, Safe Drinking Water Since 1888 Baton Rouge Water Company is committed to providing our customers with only the finest quality water. We’ve been serving the Baton Rouge Metro area since 1888.
Patrick J. Kerr, President and CEO, and Much More “Committed to ensuring Baton Rouge Water remains at the forefront of effective, safe water management”
Get Answers Fast With Our Learn More Page Do you have trouble understanding your bill or reading your meter? Get answers to these questions and more with our Learn More page.
We Offer Many Easy Ways to Pay Your Bill! We realize that people want options when paying bills. That’s why we offer many convenient ways to pay your water bill. Whether it’s online, by phone, mail, or drop-off locations, we’ve got you covered.
