Independent water-service guide: WaterDepartmentGuide.org is not operated by the City of Stow, Ohio. New-service procedures, rates, office hours and payment fees can change. This guide was reviewed against official City of Stow Water Department information on August 22, 2026.
Stow Water Department New Service: Apply, Start Water & Setup Account 2026
City of Stow, Ohio • New water service 2026
Moving to Stow? Call 330-689-2889 to Start Water Service
For an existing home or apartment already connected to the City of Stow water system, the official setup process is simpler than many utilities: homeowners and tenant residents do not need a water deposit.
You can establish service by calling 330-689-2889 or by visiting the Utility Billing Office at Stow City Hall, 3760 Darrow Road. Be ready with your billing name, property address, billing address, daytime phone number and requested effective date.
The effective date must be a non-holiday weekday. If you are buying a home, the City says it will mail a Homeowner Application after the account is initially established so the account information can be confirmed.
Start here
Stow Water New Service Quick Facts
Existing connected property
How to Start City of Stow Water Service
This process applies when you are moving into a property that is already connected to the Stow municipal water system. A brand-new physical connection or conversion from a private well is handled differently through Engineering.
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Confirm the property uses City of Stow water
If you are unsure whether the property is served by Stow’s municipal water system, call Water Billing at 330-689-2889 before setting up an account.
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Choose phone or in-person setup
The City’s FAQ says homeowners and tenant residents may establish water service in person at the Utility Billing Office in City Hall or by calling 330-689-2889.
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Provide the required account information
Water Billing requests your billing name, property address, billing address, daytime telephone number and service effective date.
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Choose an eligible effective date
The City specifically states that the effective date must be a non-holiday and cannot be a weekend.
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Confirm the account has been established
Before ending the call or leaving City Hall, verify the account name, property address and effective date.
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Create online billing access after setup
Once the water account exists and you have the account number, you can register with the City’s online water-bill system.
The official City FAQ directs new homeowners and tenant residents to call Water Billing or visit the Utility Billing Office. The City’s online Water Billing form center currently lists a Water Final Read Request rather than a general new-service application.
Have this ready
Information Required to Open a Stow Water Account
Required by the City’s Water FAQ
- Billing name
- Property address receiving water service
- Billing address if different
- Daytime telephone number
- Effective date for the account
Effective-Date Rule
The requested start date must be:
- A regular service day
- Not Saturday
- Not Sunday
- Not a City holiday
If your closing or lease begins on a weekend, call Water Billing in advance to establish the correct effective date.
Because the City’s stated account effective date cannot be a weekend or holiday, contact Water Billing ahead of time when your closing, lease or move-in date does not fall on a regular weekday.
Purchased a home
New Homeowner Water Setup in Stow
Open the Water Account
Call 330-689-2889 or visit Water Billing at City Hall and supply the required account information.
No deposit is required under the City’s published homeowner/tenant move-in instructions.
Watch for the Homeowner Application
The City says that after a new owner establishes the water account, Water Billing will mail a Homeowner Application.
The purpose is to confirm the account information on file.
Renting a Stow property
Tenant Water Service Setup
Call Water Billing
Use 330-689-2889 to establish the resident water account.
Give the Correct Address
Provide both the property/service address and billing address requested by the City.
Choose the Start Date
The effective date cannot fall on a weekend or City holiday.
Contact Water Billing before the weekend so the account effective date can be handled correctly under the City’s weekday/non-holiday rule.
Different process
Existing Water Account vs. New Physical Water Connection
“Start water service” can mean two very different things. Most movers only need a billing-account change. A property on a well, new construction or a site that is not already connected may need an Engineering / Water Distribution connection process.
| Situation | Department | Phone | What to Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moving into an existing connected home | Water Billing | 330-689-2889 | Set up the customer account and effective date. |
| Tenant moving into connected property | Water Billing | 330-689-2889 | Establish resident billing account; City states no deposit required. |
| Well to City water connection | Engineering | 330-689-2726 | Ask about physical connection requirements before planning work. |
| Water meter / physical connection questions | Engineering | 330-689-2726 | Confirm meter/engineering requirements. |
| Meter leaking or replacement | Water Billing | 330-689-2889 | Report the meter problem to Water Billing. |
| Water distribution complaint | Water Distribution | 330-689-2911 / 330-689-2912 | Use Water Distribution for system/service concerns. |
A well-to-City connection, new construction or new meter involves infrastructure requirements that are different from simply putting an existing water account into a new resident’s name.
After service is established
Create a Stow Online Water Billing Account
Creating an InvoiceCloud login is not the same as opening City water service. First establish the municipal water account with Stow Water Billing. Then register online after you have the account number.
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Open water service first
Call Water Billing or complete the in-person move-in setup.
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Get the City water account number
The online system requires the account number associated with the municipal water account.
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Open the official online water-bill site
Use the InvoiceCloud link supplied through the City of Stow Water Department page.
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Select “Create New Account”
Create a username and password for online billing access.
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Enter the required matching information
The City says first-time users need the account number and the name on the water account as shown on the water bill.
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Choose billing and payment preferences
After registration, use the available payment, history, reminder and AutoPay features as needed.
What the account will be billed
Current Stow Water Rate & Monthly Administrative Fee
HCF means hundred cubic feet. One HCF is approximately 748 gallons. Your usage charge therefore depends on measured water consumption in addition to applicable flat or system-related charges.
The City says sanitary-sewer service is handled by the Summit County Department of Sanitary Sewer Services. Stow sends meter readings to the County, but the sewer account and sewer questions belong with Summit County at 330-926-2400.
Once the first bill arrives
How to Pay Your New Stow Water Account
Online
Use the City’s InvoiceCloud water-payment portal.
Pay by Phone
Automated payment number:
The City currently lists an additional $0.95 IVR surcharge for phone transactions, in addition to applicable payment-processing fees.
In Person
Stow City Hall
3760 Darrow Road
Stow, OH 44224
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
P.O. Box 3650
Akron, OH 44309-3650
Use the payment instructions printed on the current bill.
City Hall Dropbox
The payment dropbox at 3760 Darrow Road is listed by the City as available 24/7.
ACH / Auto Debit
The City offers an ACH program that automatically withdraws the monthly water-account balance from a bank account.
Current online payment processing fees
| Payment Method | Current City-Listed Processing Fee |
|---|---|
| Credit / debit card | 2.75%, minimum $2.75 |
| PayPal / Venmo | 2.75%, minimum $2.75 |
| EFT / ACH e-check through payment portal | $1.50 |
| Pay-by-phone IVR | Additional $0.95 surcharge plus applicable transaction fee |
The City separately describes its traditional ACH automatic-withdrawal program as a free program, while its third-party online payment portal lists a fee for EFT/ACH e-check transactions. Read the specific payment option before enrolling.
Automatic monthly payment
How to Set Up Stow Water ACH Auto Payment
The City describes its ACH program as an automatic monthly withdrawal of the water-bill balance from your bank account.
By Phone
Call 330-689-2889 and Water Billing can send an ACH application by mail or email.
By Email Request
The City’s FAQ says you can email Water Billing with your service address and account number and request the ACH application.
Printed Form
The City also provides an ACH Authorization Form that can be returned to Water Billing at City Hall.
During the testing month, the bill may state “This is a test, please pay.” Once ACH is actually active, the City’s FAQ says the bill will indicate that it is for your records and should not be paid again manually.
Closing an account
Moving Out? Request a Final Water Read
If you are leaving a Stow property, do not simply stop paying the water bill. The City says customers should provide a final effective date so Water Billing can prepare the final bill.
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Choose the final effective date
Determine the date responsibility for the property should end.
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Call Water Billing or use the final-read form
Call 330-689-2889 or use the City’s Water Final Read Request.
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Give the forwarding information requested
Make sure Water Billing can send the final statement to the correct destination.
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Watch for the final bill
The City states that final billing is mailed after the account is closed/finalized.
After setup
Stow Water Emergency & Service Problem Numbers
The City of Stow website provides a dedicated Water Service Interruptions Map for current distribution interruptions. Check that resource before assuming the problem is limited to your property.
New resident shortcut
Stow Water and Sewer Are Different Accounts
City of Stow
Phone: 330-689-2889
The City handles municipal water billing, meter information and distribution-system responsibilities.
Summit County
Phone: 330-926-2400
The City explicitly states that it does not provide or maintain sanitary-sewer service. Summit County handles sewer questions and billing.
Stow sends water-meter readings to Summit County monthly, while the County’s sewer billing is handled separately. A new resident may therefore need to understand both agencies even though only the City establishes the Stow water account.
In-person setup
Stow Water Billing Office Address & Hours
City of Stow Water Department
3760 Darrow Road
Stow, OH 44224
Phone: 330-689-2889
Fax: 330-689-2847
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Understand the process
Stow Water Account Terms
- Effective Date
- The date a new resident becomes responsible for the water account. Stow states that the effective date must not be a weekend or holiday.
- Water Billing
- The City division responsible for billing, collections, customer accounts and related water-billing service.
- Water Distribution
- The City operation responsible for maintaining, servicing and repairing municipal water lines.
- Homeowner Application
- A follow-up form the City says it mails to a new owner after initial water-account setup to confirm account data.
- Final Read
- The meter-reading/account-close process used when responsibility for a water account ends.
- HCF
- Hundred cubic feet, the unit used by Stow for water consumption billing. One HCF is approximately 748 gallons.
- ACH
- Automated Clearing House payment program used to automatically withdraw the monthly water-bill balance from a bank account.
- Physical Water Connection
- Infrastructure work needed to connect a property to municipal water; this is different from transferring an already connected property into a new customer’s name.
New resident questions
Stow Water Department New Service FAQs
1. How do I start water service in Stow, Ohio?
For an existing property already connected to City water, call the City of Stow Water Billing Department at 330-689-2889 or visit the Utility Billing Office at 3760 Darrow Road. Provide your billing name, property address, billing address, daytime phone number and requested effective date.
2. Is a deposit required to start Stow water service?
The City’s current Water FAQ states that no deposit is required for homeowners or tenant residents when establishing water service under the normal move-in process.
3. Can a tenant put the Stow water account in their name?
Yes. The City’s official instructions specifically include tenant residents with homeowners in the new-service process. Tenants can call Water Billing or visit the Utility Billing Office, and the City states no deposit is required.
4. What information do I need to start a City of Stow water account?
The City lists five required items: billing name, property address, billing address, daytime telephone number and effective date. The effective date cannot be a weekend or City holiday.
5. Can I apply for new Stow water service online?
The City’s current move-in FAQ directs homeowners and tenant residents to call 330-689-2889 or visit Water Billing in person. The online billing portal is primarily for an account that already exists; first-time portal registration requires an account number and the name on the water account.
6. What happens after a new homeowner opens a Stow water account?
The City states that after a new owner initially sets up water service, Water Billing will mail a Homeowner Application. The follow-up information is used to confirm the account data on file.
7. What if my property needs a new physical water connection?
A physical municipal-water connection is different from opening a customer account. The City’s contact directory directs well-to-City-water connection questions to Engineering. Call 330-689-2726 before planning the connection work.
8. How do I create an online Stow water billing account?
After the City water account has been established, open the official InvoiceCloud water-billing site and select Create New Account. The City says you will need the water-account number and the name on the account as shown on the bill.
9. How do I stop Stow water service when I move?
Call Water Billing at 330-689-2889 with the final effective date or use the City’s Water Final Read Request. The City states that a final bill is then mailed.
10. Does Stow Water Department handle sewer service too?
No. The City of Stow states that sanitary-sewer service is handled by the Summit County Department of Sanitary Sewer Services. Sewer questions should be directed to 330-926-2400.
Official verification