Independent utility guide: WaterDepartmentGuide.org is not operated by or affiliated with the City of Fostoria. Account balances, payment status, shutoff decisions and service changes should be confirmed directly with the City of Fostoria Water & Sewer Office.
Fostoria Water Department: Bill Pay, Account Login & Phone
Pay Your Fostoria Water Bill, Register Your Account & Reach the Right Office
The City of Fostoria Water & Sewer Services Division handles utility bill payments, new service, account transfers, billing questions, automatic payments, final bills and general customer assistance.
The main Water & Sewer Office phone number is 419-435-2486. Online bills are paid through the City’s linked utility portal, while water or sewer emergencies after normal office hours are reported to the Water Treatment Plant at 419-435-2793.
Start here
Fostoria Water Department Quick Facts
Use this office for billing questions, payment assistance, new service applications, account transfers, AutoPay enrollment, final bills and account changes.
Call 419-435-2486 for a routine account or payment question. Water Distribution maintains mains, hydrants, meters and field infrastructure, while the Water Treatment Plant handles the City’s published after-hours emergency contact.
Official online bill pay
How to Pay a Fostoria Water & Sewer Bill Online
City of Fostoria Utility Account Portal
The City’s official Pay Your Bill page redirects customers to the Civic Systems utility account portal for online water/sewer bill payment and account access.
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1
Open the City-linked utility portal
Use the Fostoria payment page above rather than a search advertisement or third-party bill-pay directory.
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2
Log in to your account
Returning users enter their Login ID and password. New customers should use the Register New Account option.
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3
Confirm the correct utility account
Check the account number and customer information before proceeding.
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4
Review the live balance
Use the current portal balance rather than relying only on an older paper bill when payments or adjustments may have posted since printing.
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5
Complete the payment
Follow the current portal prompts and review all information shown on the payment screen before authorizing the transaction.
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6
Save your confirmation
Keep the payment confirmation until the payment is correctly reflected on the utility account.
Fostoria’s published Water & Sewer FAQ specifically says the office does not accept payments over the phone. Online payment uses the separate utility portal.
Account access
Fostoria Water Account Login & New User Registration
Fostoria publishes unusually specific registration instructions. New users need both their utility account information and details from their most recent bill.
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1
Open Account Login
Go to the Fostoria utility portal and click Register New Account below the Log In button.
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2
Enter the account number
Enter the account number in the format shown on your Fostoria bill. The City’s example uses periods, such as 12.0346.7.
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3
Enter the account holder’s name
Provide the first and last name associated with the utility account.
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4
Get your most recent bill
You need the latest bill for the next verification fields. If you do not have the bill, Fostoria tells customers to call 419-435-2486.
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5
Enter the bill date
Use the bill date from your most recent statement.
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6
Enter the total amount due
Use the total amount due shown on that same recent bill.
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7
Create your security credentials
Click Continue, create a password and complete the security-question setup required by the portal.
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8
Confirm registration
The system should provide confirmation when registration has been completed successfully.
Returning customers simply enter the existing Login ID and password on the utility portal and select Log In.
Check the punctuation in the account number, the exact account-holder name, the most recent bill date and the matching total due. If you do not have the latest bill, call the Water & Sewer Office rather than guessing the verification information.
Online, office & after-hours options
Ways to Pay a Fostoria Water Bill
Use the City-linked Civic Systems portal to access the online utility-payment route.
Fostoria lists cash, check, money order, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and qualifying debit cards for in-office payment.
Complete the City’s AutoPay form and attach a voided check.
A payment/night-drop receptacle is available at the Water Office entrance.
The City also identifies a drive-through drop box outside the Police Department doors.
The published Water & Sewer FAQ says payments are not accepted over the phone.
The City specifically instructs customers not to use cash in the drive-through drop box. Use a trackable non-cash payment method and keep your own record of the payment.
Fostoria says cards accepted at the office must be swiped in person through the City’s machine. The office also states that it cannot accept post-dated checks.
Reduce missed bills
Fostoria Water AutoPay & E-Billing
Automatic Checking Account Payment
Fostoria’s Water & Sewer FAQ confirms that the City offers automatic utility payments through a checking account.
- Obtain the AutoPay form from the Water Office.
- Complete the required account information.
- Attach a voided check.
- Submit the enrollment to the Water Office.
- Continue checking bills until automatic payment is confirmed active.
E-Billing
The City also offers electronic utility bills. Fostoria tells customers to sign up through the Water Office.
- E-billing replaces the paper bill after enrollment.
- Use an email address you check regularly.
- Review spam/junk folders if a bill does not arrive.
- E-billing is not the same thing as AutoPay.
E-billing changes bill delivery. AutoPay changes the payment method. Confirm each service separately with the Water Office.
New customer setup
How to Start Fostoria Water & Sewer Service
Fostoria’s official FAQ says customers starting service visit the Water Office to sign a contract, pay the required deposit and schedule a convenient appointment.
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1
Contact or visit the Water & Sewer Office
Start with 419-435-2486 if you need to confirm documentation before visiting.
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2
Complete the correct service contract
The City publishes separate owner, tenant and landlord water/sewer contract forms.
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3
Pay the required deposit
Fostoria’s current Water & Sewer FAQ lists the new-service deposit as $75.
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4
Schedule the service appointment
The City instructs new customers to set up an appointment as part of establishing water and sewer service.
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5
Create online access after the account exists
Once you have account and billing information, register for the online portal using the account number and latest bill.
Owner
Use the City’s Owner Contract Water and Sewer Form when establishing service as the property owner.
Tenant
Use the Tenant Contract Water and Sewer Form and confirm the City’s current customer/deposit requirements.
Landlord
Fostoria publishes a separate Landlord Contract Water and Sewer Form for applicable property-account arrangements.
Getting the deposit back
How Fostoria’s $75 Water Deposit Is Refunded
If You Rent
Fostoria says a renter’s deposit is applied to the final utility statement. Any remaining refundable amount is then sent to the customer by refund check.
If You Own the Home
The City’s FAQ says a homeowner’s deposit is refunded after two years of on-time payments.
When stopping service, provide a forwarding address so the City has the information needed for a final statement and any applicable deposit refund.
Moving out
How to Stop Fostoria Water Service & Request a Final Bill
Fostoria tells customers stopping service to call or visit the Water Office, provide a forwarding address when a deposit is involved and schedule a meter reading for the final statement.
Closing service properly creates a final billing point and helps prevent future usage from remaining associated with your customer account.
Leaks, shutoffs & after-hours help
Fostoria Water Emergency Phone Numbers
| Problem | Who to Call | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Water leak during office hours | Water & Sewer Office | 419-435-2486 |
| Water / sewer emergency after hours | Water Treatment Plant | 419-435-2793 |
| Emergency water shutoff after hours | Water Treatment Plant | 419-435-2793 |
| Field distribution issue | Water Distribution | 419-435-2643 |
| Routine temporary shutoff during business hours | Water & Sewer Office | 419-435-2486 |
| Immediate life/public-safety emergency | Emergency services | 911 |
Fostoria’s FAQ states that customers doing plumbing work can call the Water Office for a temporary water shutoff and that there is no charge during regular business hours.
The City states that Water Distribution staff are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The City’s published customer instructions still direct after-hours water/sewer emergency calls to the Water Treatment Plant at 419-435-2793.
Leak repair responsibility
Fostoria Water Service Line: City vs. Homeowner Responsibility
City Responsibility
Fostoria’s published FAQ says the City is responsible for the water service from the curb box to the water main.
Homeowner Responsibility
The homeowner is responsible for the portion running from the curb box into the home.
If you are unsure which side of the curb box is leaking, report the issue to the City first and ask whether Water Distribution needs to investigate.
Account troubleshooting
Fostoria Water Bill Problems: What to Check Before Calling
- Verify the utility account number. Compare it with the account shown on your latest bill.
- Check the bill date and current amount due. These are also required when registering a new online account.
- Review prior payments. Keep receipts or online confirmation numbers when a payment appears missing.
- Look for unusually high water usage. Running toilets, dripping fixtures and hidden plumbing leaks can increase consumption.
- Separate water, sewer and storm-water questions. Fostoria maintains multiple utility funds and charges, so ask which component of the bill changed.
- Call the billing office when the account data looks wrong. Customer-service number: 419-435-2486.
The City’s rate Q&A explains that these systems must be supported through customer utility charges used for operations, infrastructure, regulatory compliance, repairs and related costs rather than ordinary City income-tax revenue.
Understanding current charges
Fostoria Water, Sewer & Storm-Water Rate Notes for 2026
Fostoria’s current sewer ordinance uses a structure combining a fixed cost, usage-based unit rate and applicable system fee. The current codified sewer rate provisions reference the schedule adopted with Ordinance 2025-90.
Water
The City’s financial recovery material anticipates rate adjustments as needed to maintain the self-supporting Water Fund and address operating, compliance and capital needs.
Sewer
The current sewer code bases charges on water usage and the applicable user/rate structure, including fixed and system components.
Storm Water
Storm-water and clean-water compliance charges are separate utility obligations and can appear separately from normal water/sewer usage billing.
This guide does not hard-code a single “water rate” because account class, current adopted schedules, sewer components and other utility charges can affect the total. For an exact calculation, use your current bill and ask Water & Sewer at 419-435-2486 to explain each line item.
Difficulty paying
Fostoria Utility Payment Assistance
The City’s bill-payment page points customers to First Call For Help Fostoria, a United Way of Fostoria service that connects individuals and families with available local and regional assistance resources.
Before a Bill Becomes More Serious
- Check the exact amount due.
- Confirm the due date on the current statement.
- Contact the Water Office about the account.
- Review the City’s utility-assistance resource guide.
- Keep records of payments and assistance applications.
Account Information to Gather
- Water/sewer account number
- Service address
- Account-holder name
- Most recent utility bill
- Amount currently due
- Any notices received
Drinking-water system
Fostoria Water Quality & 2025 Consumer Confidence Report
The latest official annual report currently published by the City covers 2025 drinking-water quality for public water system OH7400411.
Source Water
Fostoria uses surface water from the East Branch of the Portage River as its primary source. Raw water is stored in four above-ground reservoirs before treatment.
Treatment
The City reports treatment processes including lime softening, coagulation, sedimentation, stabilization, fluoridation, disinfection and filtration.
2025 Production
The City’s 2025 CCR reports approximately 791.26 million gallons of drinking water distributed during the year.
The City’s FAQs recommend flushing the cold-water side for many temporary discoloration, air or taste/odor conditions. If the issue persists or you are concerned about water quality, contact the Water Treatment Plant.
Current local context
2026 Fostoria Water Infrastructure Update
In August 2026, the City announced the Central Avenue Waterline Replacement Project between Park Avenue and Hart Avenue, with construction anticipated in late summer or early fall 2026.
New Water Main
The project includes installation of a new water main and hydrants.
Service Connections
Water service connections along the project corridor are scheduled for replacement as part of the work.
Sewer & Road Work
The project also includes sewer improvements and roadway reconstruction after utility work.
Follow current City notices for construction timing and property-access information because the project requires some work on private property to reconnect services.
Office, phone & directions
Fostoria Water & Sewer Office Contact Information
Water & Sewer Utility Billing Office
City of Fostoria
213 South Main Street
Fostoria, OH 44830
Phone: 419-435-2486
Hours:
Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: Closed
Who Handles What?
- Water Office: bills, payments, accounts, start/stop service.
- Water Distribution: mains, hydrants, meters, leak investigation and field work.
- Water Treatment: treatment, drinking-water quality and published after-hours emergency routing.
Water Distribution: 419-435-2643
Water Treatment / after hours: 419-435-2793
Before excavation
Need Water Lines Marked Before You Dig?
Fostoria’s Water & Sewer FAQ directs customers planning to dig to the Ohio utility-protection system.
The City says to allow at least two working days before excavation for utility-location marking.
Use Ohio’s official 811 process before excavation so participating underground utility owners can respond to the locate request.
Understand your account
Fostoria Water Billing Terms
- Utility Account Number
- The Fostoria water/sewer account identifier. The City’s portal registration example uses a period-separated format such as 12.0346.7.
- AutoPay
- Fostoria’s automatic checking-account payment option, enrolled through a City form with a voided check.
- E-Billing
- Electronic delivery of the monthly Fostoria utility bill instead of a paper statement.
- Final Read
- The meter read arranged when a customer stops service so the City can prepare a final utility statement.
- Curb Box
- Water service control point used in Fostoria’s description of where City responsibility ends and homeowner responsibility begins.
- CCR
- Consumer Confidence Report containing annual drinking-water-quality information for the Fostoria public water system.
- Water Distribution
- The field crew responsible for water mains, hydrants, leak investigation, meter maintenance and related distribution-system work.
- Water Treatment Plant
- The facility treating Fostoria drinking water and the City’s published contact for after-hours water/sewer emergencies.
Official verification
Official Fostoria Water & Sewer Resources
People also ask
Fostoria Water Department FAQs
1. How do I pay my Fostoria water bill online?
Use the City of Fostoria’s linked utility account portal at web1.civicacmi.com/Fostoria/Utility/. Returning users can log in with their Login ID and password. New users must register the utility account before using online account features.
2. What is the Fostoria Water Department phone number?
The City of Fostoria Water & Sewer Office phone number is 419-435-2486. Use it for utility billing, payments, new service, account transfers, AutoPay, final bills and general account assistance.
3. How do I create a Fostoria water account login?
Open the Fostoria utility portal and select Register New Account. Enter the account number, account holder’s first and last name, the bill date from your most recent bill and that bill’s total amount due. Then create a password and security questions.
4. What deposit is required to start water service in Fostoria?
Fostoria’s official Water & Sewer FAQ lists a $75 deposit to start water service. Customers are instructed to visit the Water Office, sign the appropriate contract, pay the deposit and arrange a service appointment.
5. Does Fostoria offer automatic water bill payments?
Yes. The City offers AutoPay through a checking account. Fostoria says customers complete an AutoPay form and attach a voided check. Contact or visit the Water Office for the current enrollment form.
6. Can I get my Fostoria water bill by email?
Yes. Fostoria offers e-billing. The City instructs customers to sign up through the Water Office, after which the electronic bill replaces the mailed paper bill.
7. What number do I call for a Fostoria water emergency after hours?
The City directs after-hours water and sewer emergency calls to the Water Treatment Plant at 419-435-2793. During normal business hours, call the Water & Sewer Office at 419-435-2486.
8. How do I stop Fostoria water service?
Call or visit the Water & Sewer Office, provide a forwarding address when a deposit is involved and arrange a meter read so the City can prepare the final utility statement.
9. Who is responsible for a leaking Fostoria water service line?
Fostoria states that the City is responsible from the curb box to the water main. The homeowner is responsible for the portion from the curb box into the home.
10. Where is the Fostoria Water & Sewer Office?
The Fostoria Water & Sewer Utility Billing Office is at 213 South Main Street, Fostoria, Ohio 44830. The City’s published office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.