Starting Service and Billing Procedures

How to receive water service from western

Service to tenant-occupied property

What happens if you use water without properly requesting service

When do you begin paying for water

How often will you get billed

Where can I make payments

How do you close your account

Turn-back-on, late penalty and disconnect policy

How to receive water service from western

To request water service from Western, please contact us at 951.789.5088. You’ll be required to pay a processing fee and a deposit. In lieu of a deposit, you may establish credit with the District as a condition of service. Deposit monies will be refunded to the customer after 12 months of billing with no delinquent charges or checks returned by the bank. A request for water service signifies your intention of complying with the District’s water service rules and regulations.

Service to tenant-occupied property

If you own property that’s leased to a tenant, it’s primarily the tenant’s responsibility to keep the water service charges current. However, if your tenant moves, owing Western money for water services, we’ll provide service to the next tenant only on your account, unless the delinquent charges are paid before the new tenant moves in. If the new tenant’s service is placed on your account, you are then ultimately responsible for the payment of the new tenant’s water charges.

What happens if you use water without properly requesting service?

If you use water supplied by Western without properly requesting service, you’ll be held liable for all water delivered to the meter since the last recorded meter reading. You’ll also be liable for any broken seal or lock penalties.

When do you begin paying for water?

Water charges begin as soon as the meter is set or turned on in the case of an existing meter. The individual requesting service is liable for all water used through that service until we receive notification to discontinue service. Charges that become delinquent may result in a lien upon the property, as well as curtailment of services.

How often will you get billed?

Your water bill is based on periodic meter readings that generally take place between 27 and 33 days apart. Bills are mailed five to 10 days after the reading. Your current charges are due as soon as they are mailed by Western. They become delinquent if not paid within 20 days of the billing date.

Upon issuance of a delinquent notice bill, the past due amount must be paid within seven days of the billing date to avoid additional fees and water service disconnection. The District is not responsible for non-receipt or non-delivery of bills. All past due amounts are subject to a one percent interest charge.

Western treats all payment envelopes returned without payment enclosed, including unsignedchecks, as nonpayment. Checks returned by the bank will alsobe treated as nonpayment. A returned check charge of $20, plus other applicable charges, will also be added to your account. Accounts with two or more returned checks in any six month period will be required to make future payments by cash, money order, cashiers check or credit card only.

Where can I make payments?

Payments by check can be made via U.S. mail; or by cash, check or major credit card at the District’s office during normal business hours. You can call us at 951.789.5088 to pay with a credit card. Western accepts VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Payments can be dropped in our Payment Drop Box located in Western’s Headquarters parking lot. Payments will be picked up by Western staff twice each day, Monday through Friday. Payments received after 2:30 p.m. or on a holiday or weekend, will be posted the following business day.

How do you close your account?

Western requires two working days’ notice to schedule the closing of your account. When we receive notice that you’d like to close your account, we’ll take a closing meter reading. If you need to postpone your closing date, a $20 rescheduling fee will be charged if Western is not given two working days’ notice prior to your original closing date.

Turn-back-on, late penalty and disconnect policy

If the current charges are not paid within 20 days of the billingdate, the charges become past due. The next bill mailed will be a “Reminder Notice” that includes both the new charges and the past due amount. The past due amount is listed as “Prior Balance & Adjustments”. All past due amounts will be subject to a one percent interest charge. A $10 late penalty fee will be added to the account if the past due amount is not paid before the due date on your Reminder Notice, and a phone call or door hanger will be attempted as a final notice. If the past due amount on the Reminder Notice is not paid by the due date, and charges remain unpaid by the Tuesday following the due date, water service will be disconnected, a $20 turn-off penalty assessed and a deposit required. If it becomes necessary to disconnect service, the entire account balance must be paid before water service is restored. If service is restored after 4:30 p.m., an additional $45 after-hours fee will be applied.

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