Houston Water Customer Programs, Utility Billing, 311 Reporting and Public Works Support
If you need the Houston Water Department phone number, water bill help, 311 service reporting, water quality information, wastewater support, W.A.T.E.R. Fund assistance, start or transfer service, billing adjustment forms, shutoff information or official Houston Public Works resources, this guide gives you the correct official route.
Houston Water Department searches usually come from a practical customer need. Some users want to pay a bill. Some need a water account, adjustment form, high bill review, service transfer, W.A.T.E.R. Fund help, 311 water issue report, sewer backup support, water quality answer or shutoff/outage information.
Use 713-371-1400 for Utility Billing questions Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Use 311 or 713-837-0311 for Houston service requests and city issue reporting 24/7.
☎️ Houston Utility Billing customer service
Use this for: water bill questions, wastewater billing, account information, payments, credit, collections and meter-associated customer service.
Before calling: keep your account number, service address, bill copy, payment confirmation and meter-related details ready.
Safe action: call 713-371-1400 for billing. Use 311 or 713-837-0311 for city service requests and water/sewer issue reporting.
Houston Water Department Quick Facts for Customers
Houston Water is part of Houston Public Works. The official page says Houston Water includes about 1,500 drinking water and wastewater professionals and serves about 2.2 million customers daily across a large multi-county service area.
Utility Billing is the customer-facing billing branch for water and wastewater accounts. Houston 311 is the fastest route for city service requests and trackable issue reporting.
What This Houston Water Services and Programs Guide Covers
Houston Water Department Phone Numbers, Hours and Mailing Details
For water and wastewater billing questions, call 713-371-1400. Houston Public Works lists this Utility Billing number as available from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For city service requests, water/sewer issue reporting, case status and live help, call 311 or 713-837-0311. Houston 311 lists live assistance as available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
| Need | Official detail | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| Utility Billing customer service | 713-371-1400 | Use for water bill, wastewater bill, account, payment, credit, collection and meter-associated billing help. |
| Billing hours | 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Friday | Call during these hours for account-specific billing help. |
| Billing mailing address | Utility Billing, P.O. Box 4863, Houston, TX 77210-4863 | Use only when mail is appropriate; avoid mail for urgent account deadlines. |
| Houston 311 | 311 or 713-837-0311 | Use for service requests, water/sewer issue reporting and trackable case status. |
| Houston 311 office | 2805 McKinney Street, Houston, TX 77003 | Use as the official 311 contact address reference. |
| Houston Public Works address | 611 Walker Street, Houston, TX 77002 | Use as the Houston Public Works / department location reference. |
What Services Does Houston Water Provide?
Houston Water manages drinking water and wastewater service for a large and complex urban system. Its core mission is built around protecting public health, protecting the environment and providing customer service.
The official Houston Water page says the utility includes drinking water and wastewater professionals such as engineers, scientists, facility operations staff and maintenance personnel. It also lists major projects such as surface water expansion, purification plant expansion, wastewater collection rehabilitation, neighborhood pipeline replacements and source water production.
Regional supply, treatment, pressure, water quality and public health.
Collection, conveyance, treatment, sewer backup response and collection system maintenance.
Customer information, billing, credit, collections and meter-associated services.
Pipelines, plant expansions, system rehabilitation and capital improvements.
Cross Connection Control Program and backflow prevention requirements.
W.A.T.E.R. Fund and customer billing support options.
How to Pay a Houston Water Bill Online
Houston Public Works links customers to the official water account portal where you can pay your water bill, view account transactions, print prior bills and manage account features.
Open the official water account portal
Start from Houston Public Works Utility Billing or open the official Houston water account portal.
Choose the correct account action
Use the portal to pay a bill, view transactions, print prior bills, start service, transfer service or access listed forms.
Check account and payment details
Confirm your account number, service address, balance, payment amount and payment method before submitting.
Save confirmation
Keep your confirmation number, payment date, amount and screenshot until the payment appears correctly on the account.
How to Report Houston Water or Sewer Problems Through 311
Houston 311 is the main route for service requests and city issue reporting. The official 311 page says live assistance is available 24/7 by calling 311 or 713-837-0311.
Use 311 for issues such as water interruptions, suspected main breaks, sewer backups, blockages, water in the street, odor complaints, sinkholes, and other city service issues that need tracking.
Call 311 or 713-837-0311
Use Houston 311 for service requests and case status.
Give the exact location
Provide the address, nearest cross street, visible landmark, side of street and whether homes or traffic are affected.
Describe the issue clearly
Say whether it is a water leak, sewer backup, outage, odor, blockage, sinkhole, water quality issue or unknown water problem.
Save your 311 request number
Keep the case number so you can check status or follow up if the issue is not resolved.
Houston Water Programs Customers Should Know
Houston Water has several practical programs and customer tools. These are especially helpful for bill assistance, unusual high bills, backflow compliance, commercial accounts, residential service, rate estimates and water quality protection.
Bill assistance: helps seniors, low-income and disabled Houstonians needing help with water bills.
High bill help: used for credits related to unusually high bills, leaks or exceptional circumstances.
Bill estimate: helps estimate monthly water and wastewater charges for eligible single-family residential accounts.
Backflow safety: protects public water from contamination through backflow prevention and testing rules.
Start or transfer: Houston links residential customers to online service start/transfer options.
Business accounts: commercial customers can also use official start/transfer water service options.
Houston W.A.T.E.R. Fund Assistance Program
Houston Public Works lists the W.A.T.E.R. Fund as a program that provides financial assistance to seniors, low-income and disabled Houstonians needing help paying water bills.
The official Utility Billing page says the program is supported by voluntary donations and that 100% of contributions go directly to those in need.
Need help paying?
Review the W.A.T.E.R. Fund details and prepare your account information before applying or asking questions.
Customer assistanceWant to donate?
The program is also donation-supported for customers who want to help neighbors with water bills.
Community supportOpen the official assistance link
Use the official W.A.T.E.R. Fund page linked from Houston Public Works.
Prepare account details
Keep your account number, service address, income or assistance-related details and current bill ready.
Ask about deadlines
If your bill is urgent, contact Utility Billing so you understand whether assistance timing affects your account status.
High Houston Water Bill, Leak or Adjustment Request
Houston Public Works lists a Universal Adjustment Form for credits related to unusually high bills, leaks or exceptional circumstances. This is useful when your bill is not simply “higher than usual” but may be connected to a documented event or leak.
Compare current and prior bills before submitting.
Keep repair invoice, photos, plumber details and date fixed.
Save current bill and prior bills for comparison.
Note estimated readings or unusual meter concerns.
Do not ignore due dates while adjustment is pending.
Use 713-371-1400 for account-specific questions.
Review the bill and usage pattern
Look for a sudden increase, estimated billing pattern, meter change, leak repair or unusual usage event.
Collect documents
Gather your account number, service address, bill copies, repair receipts, photos and dates.
Use the official adjustment route
Open Houston Public Works Utility Billing and follow the Universal Adjustment Form link.
Keep your submission proof
Save a copy of the form, confirmation and documents in case you need follow-up.
Start or Transfer Houston Water Service
Houston Public Works links both residential and commercial customers to online options to start or transfer water services. This is important for new residents, renters, owners, landlords, property managers and commercial account holders.
Open Utility Billing
Start from the official Utility Billing page.
Choose residential or commercial
Select the correct customer type. Residential and commercial accounts may require different information.
Prepare service details
Keep your service address, move date, customer name, contact information and account details ready.
Save confirmation
Keep the request confirmation until your service is active or transferred correctly.
Houston Drinking Water Operations and Water Quality
Houston’s Drinking Water Operations branch protects the regional water supply and operates major water infrastructure. The official page says a team of about 600 water professionals works to provide high-quality drinking water at sufficient pressure.
Houston Drinking Water Operations is responsible for protecting the regional water supply, operating and maintaining three water purification plants and 49 groundwater plants. The official page also says Houston’s drinking water system has a “Superior Water Supply System” rating from TCEQ.
Houston operates major water purification infrastructure.
The system includes multiple groundwater plants.
Licensed staff collect and analyze samples.
Customers can review annual water quality reports.
Technical staff respond to water quality questions or concerns.
The water system spans a large, complex service area.
Houston Wastewater Operations and Sewer Service Help
Houston Wastewater Operations is responsible for collecting, conveying and treating municipal wastewater across the Houston area. The official page lists more than 600 employees, 38 wastewater treatment plants, two wet weather facilities, more than 370 lift stations and over 6,100 miles of wastewater pipelines.
For customers, the most important part is the Customer Service Request Maintenance Program. It focuses on rapid response and resolution of customer-reported issues such as sewer backups, blockages, sinkholes and odor complaints.
Use 311: report backup details, location and whether sewage is entering property.
Report quickly: give address, drain location and whether multiple properties are affected.
Be specific: mention location, timing, weather and nearby manholes or drains.
Prevent clogs: avoid putting fats, oils, grease and wipes into drains.
Houston Water Shutoff Notices and Unexpected Water Interruptions
Houston Public Works says it tries to provide advance public notice of water shutoffs to impacted customers. Emergency operations and repairs can still create unexpected interruptions where advance notice is not possible.
For capital projects and scheduled maintenance, contractor or city work may involve 24-48 hour notice for impacted customers. If you have an unexpected water interruption, call 311 to confirm whether it is scheduled or unscheduled and seek help.
Check your property first
Confirm whether all fixtures have no water or only one fixture is affected.
Ask neighbors if safe
If nearby homes are also affected, it may be a broader outage or repair.
Call 311
Use 311 or 713-837-0311 to check whether there is a scheduled or unscheduled outage.
Save the request number
Keep the 311 request or case number for follow-up.
What to Say When You Call Houston Water or 311
The right details help customer service or 311 route your issue faster. Billing calls need account details. 311 service requests need location and visible problem details.
| Your issue | Say this | Best contact |
|---|---|---|
| Water bill question | “My account number is __ and I need help with my bill dated __.” | 713-371-1400 |
| Payment not posted | “My confirmation number is __ and payment was made on __.” | 713-371-1400 |
| Unexpected water outage | “My address is __ and the water stopped at __.” | 311 / 713-837-0311 |
| Sewer backup | “Sewage/water is backing up at __ and started around __.” | 311 / 713-837-0311 |
| High bill / leak | “My bill increased from __ to __ and I have repair documents.” | 713-371-1400 + adjustment form |
Houston Public Works and 311 Office Location Reference
Houston Public Works pages list 611 Walker Street, Houston, Texas 77002 in the site footer. Houston 311 lists its contact address as 2805 McKinney Street, Houston, TX 77003.
For billing and account issues, phone and online routes are usually faster than visiting. For service requests, 311 gives you a trackable case number.
Houston Public Works Location Reference
Use this map for the Houston Public Works address reference. Always confirm current walk-in availability before visiting.
Official Houston Water Department Links and Resources
Use these official Houston links for water services, programs, customer accounts, 311 requests, wastewater, drinking water operations and backflow compliance.
Houston Water
Main page for Houston Water mission, drinking water, wastewater and major utility system information.
Open Houston WaterUtility Billing
Customer information, billing, credit, collections, meter services and customer account tools.
Open Utility BillingWater Account Portal
Pay your water bill, view transactions, print prior bills and manage your online water account.
Open Water AccountHouston 311
Submit service requests, check case status and contact 311 for city service issues.
Open Houston 311Drinking Water Operations
Water quality, purification plants, groundwater plants and drinking water operations information.
Open Drinking Water OpsWastewater Operations
Wastewater collection, treatment, sewer backup, blockages, odor complaints and maintenance programs.
Open Wastewater OpsCross Connection Control
Backflow prevention, cross-connection compliance, annual testing and backflow program requirements.
Open Backflow ProgramWater Shutoff Notices
Public notification information for emergency operations, repairs, capital projects and scheduled maintenance.
Open Shutoff NoticesHouston Public Works
Main Public Works page with water bill payment, service requests, permits and project information.
Open Public WorksHouston Water Department Services, Programs and Phone FAQs
What is the Houston Water Department phone number?
For water and wastewater utility billing customer service, call 713-371-1400. Houston Public Works lists this number as available from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
What number do I call to report a Houston water or sewer issue?
Call 311 or 713-837-0311 for Houston service requests and live 311 assistance. Houston 311 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Where do I pay my Houston water bill online?
Use the official Houston water account portal, linked from Houston Public Works Utility Billing. The portal allows bill payment, account transactions and prior bill access.
Does Houston Water offer bill assistance?
Yes. Houston Public Works lists the W.A.T.E.R. Fund, which provides financial assistance to seniors, low-income and disabled Houstonians needing help paying water bills.
How do I request a high water bill adjustment in Houston?
Houston Public Works lists a Universal Adjustment Form for credits related to unusually high bills, leaks or exceptional circumstances. Start from the official Utility Billing page and keep account and repair documents ready.
How do I start or transfer Houston water service?
Houston Public Works links residential and commercial customers to official start or transfer water service options through the water account system. Use the correct residential or commercial path.
What does Houston Drinking Water Operations do?
Drinking Water Operations protects the regional water supply and operates and maintains water purification plants, groundwater plants and the drinking water system.
What does Houston Wastewater Operations do?
Wastewater Operations collects, conveys and treats municipal wastewater. It also handles customer-reported issues such as sewer backups, blockages, sinkholes and odor complaints through maintenance programs.
What should I do if my water unexpectedly shuts off in Houston?
Houston Public Works says customers experiencing an unexpected water interruption can call 311 to confirm whether the issue is scheduled or unscheduled and seek assistance.
What is Houston’s Cross Connection Control Program?
The Cross Connection Control Program protects the public drinking water system by reducing contamination risk through backflow prevention requirements, investigations, education, enforcement and annual testing rules.
Best Way to Use Houston Water Services and Programs in 2026
For water and wastewater billing, call 713-371-1400 or use the official Houston water account portal. For service requests, water interruptions, sewer backups, suspected main breaks or trackable city issues, use 311 or 713-837-0311.
For programs, check the official Houston Public Works Utility Billing page first. It links customers to W.A.T.E.R. Fund assistance, start or transfer service, universal adjustment forms, charge calculator tools and customer account services.