Are you tired of scrambling to pay your Riviera Beach water bill at the last minute? Maybe you’ve even experienced the dreaded service disconnection? Trust me, I’ve been there too. Last year, I forgot to pay my utility bill while on vacation and came home to no running water! That’s why I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help fellow Riviera Beach residents manage their utility payments without the stress.
Quick Ways to Pay Your Riviera Beach Utility Bill
Before diving into the details, here’s a quick overview of your payment options:
- Online Portal: Pay 24/7 through the city’s secure payment portal
- Phone: Call 1-877-878-7406 anytime to pay by phone
- Automatic Bill Pay: Set up recurring payments from your bank account or credit card
- Bank Bill Pay Service: Pay through your bank’s online bill payment system
- Mail: Send check or money order to the payment processing center
- In Person: Visit City Hall at 600 W. Blue Heron Boulevard
- Drop Box or Kiosks: Use the 24/7 payment drop box or kiosks at City Hall
Now, let’s explore each method in detail so you can find the perfect payment solution for your lifestyle.
Online Payments: The Most Convenient Option
The online payment portal for Riviera Beach utilities offers the most flexibility Here’s how to get started
Setting Up Your Online Account
- Gather your account number and customer ID (CID) from your utility bill
- Visit the Riviera Beach website
- Click “Register for Online access”
- Create your username (email address) and password
- Enter your account information when prompted
Once registered, you can view your bill history, track water consumption, and make payments anytime. The system accepts major credit cards, debit cards, and checking account payments.
Benefits of Online Access
- View utility bills and payment history 24/7
- Pay bills securely from anywhere
- Track your water usage patterns
- Enroll in automatic payment options
- Receive email notifications about bills
I personally love using the online system because I can check my water usage trends and spot any unusual spikes that might indicate a leak. Last summer, I noticed my consumption had doubled, found a leaky toilet, and saved myself hundreds of dollars!
Phone Payments: Perfect for Last-Minute Bills
Sometimes we all procrastinate, and that’s when phone payments save the day. To pay by phone:
- Call 1-877-878-7406 (available 24/7)
- Have your account number and CID ready
- Follow the prompts to make a payment
- Save your confirmation number
The automated phone system accepts credit cards, debit cards, and checking accounts. It’s quick and easy, though you won’t get the visual confirmation that the online portal provides.
Automatic Bill Payment: Set It and Forget It
This is my personal favorite method. After that embarrassing service disconnection, I immediately set up automatic payments. Here’s how:
- Log in to your online account (or register if you haven’t already)
- For bank account payments: Click “Sign up for EFT Automatic Payments”
- For credit card payments: Click “Pay by Credit Card” then “Enroll”
- Enter your payment information
- Confirm enrollment
Your bill will be paid automatically on the due date each month. The best part? Your bill will clearly state “Do Not Pay” so you know it’s handled.
Important Note on Automatic Payments
When you first enroll, you’ll need to pay any current balance using your usual payment method. The automatic payments will begin with your next billing cycle.
Using Your Bank’s Bill Pay Service
If you prefer to keep all your bill payments in one place, your bank’s online bill pay service works great:
- Log in to your bank’s online banking portal
- Add City of Riviera Beach as a payee
- Enter your utility account and customer numbers
- Set up one-time or recurring payments
This method gives you control over when and how much to pay, but it may take 2-3 business days for the payment to process, so plan accordingly!
Mail Payments: The Traditional Approach
While not the fastest method, mail payments still work perfectly fine:
- Write a check or get a money order for your bill amount
- Include your payment stub from the bill
- Mail to: City of Riviera Beach, P.O. Box 916035, Orlando, FL 32891-6035
Just remember to send it at least 5-7 days before the due date to ensure it arrives on time. And NEVER mail cash!
In-Person Payments at City Hall
Sometimes you just want to pay in person and get an immediate receipt:
Location: City Hall, 600 W. Blue Heron Boulevard, Riviera Beach
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding holidays)
Payment Types: Cash, credit cards, debit cards, checks, money orders
The staff at the customer service desk is always helpful if you have questions about your bill or services.
Kiosks and Drop Box: 24/7 Options
Riviera Beach offers two convenient payment options that don’t require interaction:
Payment Kiosks
- Lobby Kiosk: Located in City Hall lobby, available during business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday). Accepts cash, cards, and checks.
- Drive-Through Kiosk: On the west side of City Hall, available 24/7. Accepts credit and debit cards ONLY.
Drop Box
- Location: West side of City Hall, accessible 24/7
- Payment Types: Checks, cashier’s checks, or money orders only (NO CASH!)
- Processing: Next business day
I’ve used the drop box many times when I needed to pay after hours, and it’s super convenient. Just make sure to include your payment stub so they know which account to credit!
What About Emergency Situations?
If your service has been disconnected, don’t panic! Call customer service at (561) 845-4050 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For after-hours reconnections:
- Phone: (561) 845-4050
- Hours: Monday to Friday 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Weekends and holidays 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Leave a message, and a representative will return your call within the hour. For water breaks or sewer emergencies after hours, call (561) 845-4187.
Understanding Your Utility Bill
Have you ever looked at your utility bill and wondered what all those charges mean? Riviera Beach provides a helpful resource called “Your Utility Bill Explained” on their website.
The bill includes:
- Water usage charges
- Sewer services
- Garbage collection
- Stormwater fees
- Any applicable taxes
Need Help with Your Bill? Utility Assistance Program
If you’re 60 years or older or have a disability, you might qualify for Riviera Beach’s Utility Assistance Program (UAP). This program offers credits to eligible residents whose household income falls within the “Low Income (80%)” category according to Palm Beach County Annual Income Limits.
To apply, you’ll need to submit documentation of your age or disability status and income verification. Visit the city’s website for the application form and complete eligibility requirements.
WaterSmart Portal: Track Your Usage
One of the coolest tools Riviera Beach offers is the WaterSmart portal, which helps you:
- View your water usage in gallons
- Compare current usage to past months
- Get water-saving tips
- Receive customized notifications about consumption
To register, you’ll need your customer number from your utility bill and your zip code. Once set up, you can opt to receive water reports and alerts via email, phone, or text.
I started using WaterSmart last year and was shocked to see that my irrigation system was using 40% of my total water consumption! After adjusting my watering schedule, my bill dropped by $30 a month.
Customer Service Contacts
If you have questions about your bill or need assistance, here’s who to contact:
Customer Service
- Phone: (561) 845-4050
- Email: [email protected]
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Finance Department
- Location: 600 West Blue Heron Blvd, Riviera Beach, FL 33404
- Phone: (561) 845-4040
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tips to Avoid Late Payments
Nobody wants to pay late fees or risk service disconnection. Here are some strategies I use to stay on top of my utility bills:
- Set calendar reminders 3-5 days before the due date
- Use automatic payments for peace of mind
- Keep your contact info updated so you receive bill notifications
- Budget for seasonal changes (summer bills are usually higher)
- Check for leaks regularly by monitoring your water usage
My Personal Experience with Riviera Beach Utilities
When I first moved to Riviera Beach in 2020, I struggled to keep track of all my new bills. After that embarrassing disconnection incident I mentioned earlier, I signed up for automatic payments AND set a monthly reminder to check my account anyway.
The customer service team was actually super helpful during that stressful time. They expedited my reconnection and helped me set up my online account. Since then, managing my utility bill has been a breeze.
FAQ About Riviera Beach Utility Bills
How often are utility bills issued?
Bills are typically sent monthly.
When is my payment due?
Your due date is printed on your bill, usually 20-25 days after the bill date.
What happens if I’m late with my payment?
Late fees will be assessed, and eventually, your service may be disconnected.
Can I get an extension on my due date?
Contact customer service at (561) 845-4050 to discuss possible payment arrangements.
Is there a fee for using credit cards to pay?
Check with customer service for the most current fee information.
Final Thoughts
Managing your Riviera Beach utilities doesn’t have to be complicated. With seven different payment methods available, there’s an option that fits everyone’s preference and schedule. I’ve found that a combination of automatic payments and occasional monitoring through the online portal gives me the perfect balance of convenience and control.
Remember, the most important thing is finding a system that works for YOU—one that ensures you never miss a payment while making the process as painless as possible.
The Palm Beach County Office of Inspector General said Riviera Beach’s water utility falsified test results and misled the public. None of the four singled out in the report remain with the utility.
Show Caption Hide Caption Riviera Beach man suing the city, claims he was sickened by waterA Riviera Beach claims he was sickened after unknowingly drinking water the utility failed to tell residents had tested positive for E. coli.
- An investigation revealed that Riviera Beachs water utility compliance director intentionally failed to report water testing results and provided false information to the Florida Department of Health.
- The utilitys executive director, assistant executive director, and water treatment plant supervisor were also found to have failed to provide adequate supervision and ensure accurate reporting.
- The Office of Inspector General referred its findings to the Florida Department of Health and law enforcement for potential administrative and criminal review.
- Riviera Beach has already paid $80,000 in fines and fees but could face tens of thousands more due to the utilitys actions.
- The city has hired a consultant and is exploring funding options for a new water treatment facility, as the current one is outdated and in need of replacement.
An investigation from the Palm Beach County Office of Inspector General found that the compliance director for Riviera Beachs water utility “repeatedly and intentionally” failed to report water testing results to the Florida Department of Health and provided “false, altered or misleading information” to the department, resulting in wells improperly being kept in service.
The OIG report, released on Monday, Nov. 18, also slammed the utilitys then-executive director, assistant executive director and the water treatment plant supervisor for failing to provide adequate supervision of the compliance director and failing to ensure the reporting of accurate water testing results.
The utilitys failings were so significant that the OIG “found sufficient information to warrant referring our findings to the FDOH for administrative review and to law enforcement (with copy to the State Attorneys Office) for determination of whether the facts arise to a criminal act under Florida Statutes.”
None of those who were in leadership positions at the utility and were singled out in the OIG report — Compliance Director Anthony Williams, Executive Director Michael Low, Assistant Executive Director Steven Doyle and Plant Superintendent Michael Pinkney — remain with the utility. Low stormed out of a contentious City Council meeting in July and was fired. Others resigned, retired or left for other career opportunities.
The OIGs 86-page report is a sweeping condemnation of the former leadership at Riviera Beachs Utility Special District, which has been in turmoil since January when it reported that, six months earlier, well water tested positive for E. coli, a fecal contaminant that can sicken or kill those who consume it. The OIG report comes on the heels of blistering statements from FDOH, which found that Riviera Beachs water utility failed to follow state law by not submitting testing reports in a timely manner, by issuing misleading public statements and by not following the proper procedure in re-testing water samples.
Riviera Beach has already paid about $80,000 in FDOH fines and administrative fees through an agreement it reached with the department, but Mayor Ronnie Felder and City Manager Jonathan Evans have said city taxpayers could be on the hook for tens of thousands more in additional fines and fees, all tied to the utilitys testing procedures and lack of transparency.
Evans said it is the utilitys hope that FDOH will take into account the departure of those who were in leadership positions when the department identified problems with the utilitys testing, reporting and transparency.
“Our hope is to try to mitigate any potential monetary fines, but there is probably still some punitive measures that may come as a result of this,” Evans said.
Without senior leadership at its water utility, the city has hired a consultant to serve as what Evans described as a “staff augmentation tool.” The consultant, US Water, was hired in September and is expected to work with the utility through at least early March. Evans said the consultant will be paid about $1.3 million.
The city manager said he is still trying to understand why the utility did not adhere to re-testing, reporting and transparency requirements.
“I cant speak on why it happened, but I can tell you in conversations with the Health Department there were some things very simplistically that we could have done if we wanted to deviate from what the prescribed standard is,” Evans said. “I believe that there even was a situation where our compliance manager was probably at the end of his tenure with the agency, and so the normal process that one would follow probably at that time in his tenure was not a priority because he was departing from the agency.”
Inspector General report: Utility leaders blamed each other for water problems
The OIG report paints a picture of a utility struggling to keep up with problems tied to an aging plant and wells and ill-equipped to cover for staff members who left or took vacation. In interviews with OIG investigators, utility leaders denied various functions of the organization were their responsibility, blamed each other for problems and questioned each others competence.
The report said Low, the man who was supposed to oversee the utility, “stated that he did not know how things were run” and that he had multiple responsibilities, including trying to build a new water treatment facility. The report said Low noted that “he had managers that were responsible for operations.”
Evans, the report stated, learned in August from FDOH that the citys water utility staff may have altered test results from contaminated to passing. The report said the city manager came to believe that utility district management “did not provide proper oversight of the citys day-to-day water supply operations.”
“Multiple city utility district staffers told Mr. Evans that Mr. Low and Mr. Doyle were rarely or never present on-site at the citys water plant,” the report states.
The OIG report concluded that: “Senior Utility District staff violated reporting rules, both through mismanagement of required processes, and at times, through deliberate actions designed to circumvent required accurate reporting of water conditions.”
