Independent water-utility guide: WaterDepartmentGuide.org is an independent informational resource and is not operated by, affiliated with, or endorsed by the City of Fall River, the Fall River Water Division, Watuppa Water Board, Massachusetts DEP, or another government agency.
Use official City of Fall River sources for payments, service requests, rates, notices, water-quality decisions, and account-specific information. Utility procedures, rates, office access, and contacts can change.
Fall River Water Department: Services, Programs & Phone 2026
Fall River, Massachusetts water service guide
Pay a Bill, Handle a Water Problem, Check Quality or Reach the Right Fall River Water Office
The Fall River Water Division operates within the City of Fall River Department of Community Utilities and is overseen through the Watuppa Water Board.
For general Water Division administration, the City identifies (508) 324-2330. The drinking-water system is Massachusetts public water system PWS ID 4095000.
This guide brings billing, service, meter, leak, lead-service-line, water-quality, source-water and customer-contact information into one task-first page.
Start here
Fall River Water Department Quick Facts
Bill, payment or account question
Use the City payment system for online payment and contact the appropriate City office when the account balance or ownership information needs review.
Start with your account number.Leak, meter or service problem
Contact Water Administration and explain whether the issue is inside the property, at the meter, at the service line or in the street.
Water: (508) 324-2330Taste, odor, lead or quality question
Use the current Consumer Confidence Report and Water Treatment contacts for drinking-water questions.
MassDEP lists PWS 4095000.Have the service address, account number if available, customer/property-owner name, callback number and a short description of the issue ready before calling.
Choose the correct office
Water Division vs. Sewer Division vs. City Collector
Fall River separates operational utility responsibilities from municipal financial collection functions. Using the correct office can prevent unnecessary transfers.
Water system issues
- Water service questions
- Distribution-system concerns
- Meters and service lines
- Water quality
- Lead service-line information
- Hydrants and water mains
Wastewater system issues
- Municipal sewer system
- Wastewater collection
- Sewer-system maintenance
- Wastewater treatment
- City sewer operational questions
Municipal payment route
- Online City payments
- Posted account balances
- Payment confirmation
- Municipal collection questions
- Account-specific payment routing
Customer billing
How to Pay a Fall River Water Bill
Fall River Online Payments
Use the City’s Financial Services online-payment page rather than a third-party payment website.
-
1
Locate the most recent bill
Use the current water bill so the account number, service address and balance information match the City’s records.
-
2
Open the official Fall River payment page
Start from fallriverma.gov and select the water or utility payment option shown by the City.
-
3
Enter the account identifiers exactly
Do not substitute a tenant name, parcel number or another municipal account number unless the payment interface specifically requests it.
-
4
Confirm the service address
Before paying, make sure the displayed address belongs to the property whose water bill you intend to pay.
-
5
Review the amount and any transaction charge
Check the payment screen for the current amount due, payment method and any convenience or processing charge before submitting.
-
6
Save the confirmation
Keep the payment confirmation number or receipt until the payment appears on the utility account.
Do not assume that submitting a payment online instantly cancels a collection, demand, shutoff or lien-related process. Contact the City when timing is critical and ask whether additional action is required.
Understand the statement
What to Check on a Fall River Water Bill
| Bill field | What it tells you | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Service address | Property receiving water service | Prevents paying the wrong account |
| Account number | Utility billing identifier | Useful for payments and customer-service calls |
| Meter / usage | Water consumed during the billing period | Helps identify unusual consumption |
| Base / meter charge | Fixed account or meter-related component | Can appear even when usage is low |
| Water usage charge | Consumption-based water cost | Changes with metered use and current rate |
| Sewer charge | Wastewater-related billing when applicable | May make the total larger than water alone |
| Prior balance / interest | Previously unpaid amount or related charge | Can explain a bill that seems unusually high |
Fall River’s FY2026 municipal budget materials identify water usage charges, other water charges, base meter fees, demands, liens, and interest/penalty categories within the Water Enterprise Fund.
Moving / property change
Starting, Transferring or Changing Water Service
Fall River’s municipal water rules provide that people seeking City water service must make an application through Community Utilities. The rules also state that a tenant’s water-service application must be countersigned by the property owner.
Prepare before contacting Water Administration
- Service address
- Property-owner name
- Applicant/customer name
- Closing or occupancy date
- Phone and email
- Existing account number, if known
- Plumber information when installation work is involved
Tenant account?
Do not assume a tenant can independently establish service in every situation. Fall River’s published water regulations state that applications by or for tenants are to be countersigned by the property owner.
Review Fall River water rulesAsk what the City needs for a final reading, account transition or outstanding utility balance before the closing date rather than waiting until ownership has already changed.
High usage / water loss
What to Do About a Leak or Unexpectedly High Water Bill
Fixture or plumbing leak
Check toilets, faucets, water heaters, outside spigots, irrigation and other private plumbing.
Possible continuous use
Turn off all intentional water use and observe whether the meter still indicates consumption.
Possible utility-side issue
Report water surfacing from pavement, unusual street flow or another suspected public-system leak to Water Administration.
15-minute leak isolation check
-
1
Stop intentional water use
Do not run faucets, toilets, washing machines, dishwashers, irrigation or other water-using equipment during the test.
-
2
Record the meter
Photograph the meter reading or note the displayed value and leak indicator if the meter has one.
-
3
Wait without using water
After 15–30 minutes, check the meter again.
-
4
Movement suggests water is flowing
If the reading changed, inspect toilets first because silent toilet leaks can consume substantial water.
-
5
Repair and document
Keep plumber invoices, photos and repair dates if you later need to discuss the abnormal usage with the City.
Protect people first. Avoid standing water near electrical equipment. Contact the Water Division for the water-system issue and call emergency services when there is an immediate threat to life or safety.
Usage measurement
Water Meter Questions, Access and Responsibility
Fall River’s water rules authorize Community Utilities personnel to examine water use and City-connected apparatus when required to operate and protect the system.
Call Water Administration when
- The meter appears damaged
- The meter display cannot be read
- A bill suggests an unusual meter reading
- You need clarification on a meter-related charge
- The City requests meter access
- Plumbing work may affect City equipment
Do not alter City equipment yourself
Fall River’s published rules state that alterations to pipes or fixtures inserted by the City are not to be made except by City agents.
Water Administration: (508) 324-2330
Fall River regulations place responsibility on water users to maintain service pipes within their premises and protect them from frost. If you are unsure whether a frozen or broken line is private or City-side, call before attempting work near the meter or service connection.
Lead service-line program
Check Your Fall River Lead Service Line
Fall River has been identifying service-line materials and replacing lead service lines. The City’s water-quality materials direct residents to a dedicated service-line inventory and advise customers to contact Water Administration when their property’s material is not identified.
Fall River Lead Service Line Inventory
Use the City’s mapping/inventory resource to check the recorded service-line material for your property.
-
1
Search the property
Use the Fall River lead-service-line inventory and confirm that the location shown is your property.
-
2
Review the recorded material
Look for the service-line classification shown for the property.
-
3
Unknown or unclear?
Contact Water Administration at (508) 324-2330 and ask what verification or inspection is needed.
-
4
Ask about current replacement eligibility
Program funding, scheduling and property requirements can change, so confirm the current process directly with the City.
You cannot determine the amount of lead in drinking water by taste, smell or appearance. For household-specific exposure questions, use current EPA/MassDEP guidance and an appropriately certified laboratory when testing is needed.
Annual drinking-water report
Fall River Water Quality and Consumer Confidence Report
The Fall River Water Division is a community public water system regulated in Massachusetts under PWS ID 4095000. Its annual Consumer Confidence Report explains the source water, treatment, monitoring results and regulatory information.
How Fall River treats drinking water
City reports describe chlorination for disinfection, flocculation/sedimentation for suspended-solids removal, filtration using sand and anthracite media, and corrosion-control treatment before finished water enters the distribution system.
The report includes monitoring data for lead/copper, turbidity, PFAS and other regulated water-quality parameters.
Troubleshooting tap water
Discolored Water, Taste, Odor or Low Pressure
| Symptom | Check first | When to contact Water Division |
|---|---|---|
| Brown / rusty water | Check whether both hot and cold water are affected and whether nearby hydrant/main work is occurring. | If discoloration persists or affects the neighborhood. |
| Only hot water affected | Compare cold-water quality at the same fixture. | If cold water is also abnormal. |
| Chlorine-like odor | Compare multiple cold-water taps. | If odor is unusually strong, persistent or accompanied by another change. |
| Low pressure | Check whether every fixture is affected and whether a private shutoff valve is partly closed. | If the problem appears building-wide or neighborhood-wide. |
| No water | Confirm whether neighbors are affected and whether there is announced work. | Contact Water Administration promptly if unexplained. |
If Fall River or MassDEP issues an official advisory, follow the exact instructions and dates in that notice. Do not rely on an older article or general rule when a current notice is available.
Charges and rate verification
Fall River Water Rates, Meter Fees and Other Charges
Fall River funds its municipal water system through a Water Enterprise Fund. City budget records separately identify water usage charges, a base meter fee, other water charges, demands, liens and related interest/penalty revenue.
Consumption charge
The usage portion changes with metered consumption and the rate in effect for the billing period.
Base meter fee
A fixed meter-related component can apply separately from the water consumed.
Collection-related charges
City financial records include demand, lien, interest and penalty categories associated with unpaid water accounts.
Rates can change by fiscal year. Use the current City rate schedule or ask Water Administration / Financial Services for the rate that applies to your specific billing period rather than relying on an older online estimate.
Past-due account help
Past-Due Water Bill, Demand, Lien or Shutoff Concern
Fall River’s water regulations permit the City to discontinue water service in certain circumstances, including nonpayment of charges, fees or fines and violations of water regulations. Because a past-due account can move through different stages, act on official notices promptly.
-
1
Read the newest notice
Identify the amount, account number, notice type, deadline and office named in the letter or bill.
-
2
Confirm the current balance
Do not rely on an older statement if payments, interest or other charges may have posted afterward.
-
3
Ask what stage the account is in
Determine whether the account is merely past due or has progressed to a demand, shutoff-related action, lien process or another collection step.
-
4
Ask what payment stops the next action
When a deadline is close, confirm the required amount, accepted payment method and posting deadline directly with the City.
-
5
Keep proof
Save receipts, confirmation numbers and the name/date of any City representative who provided account-specific instructions.
If service has already been disconnected or a shutoff action has started, call the City and ask what reconnection or field-service step is required.
Distribution system
Water Mains, Hydrants and Flushing
Fall River’s drinking-water system includes hundreds of miles of water mains, storage infrastructure and thousands of hydrants. The City periodically flushes hydrants as part of distribution-system maintenance.
Hydrant flushing can temporarily affect
- Water color
- Water clarity
- Pressure
- Sediment movement in mains
Before reporting a main break
- Identify the nearest street address or intersection
- Describe whether water is flowing from pavement or curb
- Note whether traffic is affected
- Do not approach a washout or collapsed pavement
- Call Water Administration with the location
Where the water comes from
North Watuppa Pond, Copicut Reservoir and Watershed Protection
Fall River’s primary drinking-water source is North Watuppa Pond. City water-quality reports state that water can also be transferred from Copicut Reservoir when needed.
The Water Department manages extensive watershed lands surrounding its source-water system. Protecting those lands reduces risks from runoff, illegal dumping, hazardous materials and other potential sources of contamination.
North Watuppa Pond
Primary surface-water drinking-water source for Fall River.
Copicut Reservoir
Can supplement the North Watuppa system when operational conditions require it.
Watershed lands
Managed to protect source-water quality and the long-term municipal water supply.
MassDEP identifies Fall River Water Department as PWS 4095000 and provides source-water protection information.
Reduce unnecessary use
Water Conservation and Preventing Waste
Fall River’s municipal water regulations specifically require care to prevent unnecessary waste of water.
- Repair toilet leaks quickly. A silent toilet leak can run continuously without obvious pooling.
- Watch the meter when all fixtures are off. Unexpected meter movement can reveal hidden use.
- Repair dripping faucets. Small continuous leaks add up over a billing period.
- Use irrigation intentionally. Avoid watering pavement and adjust scheduling for rain.
- Protect plumbing from freezing. Frozen pipes can cause both property damage and major water loss.
- Follow current City restrictions. When drought or emergency restrictions are announced, follow the current official notice.
No water / low pressure
Water Is Off — Use This Troubleshooting Order
- Check multiple fixtures. Determine whether the problem affects one faucet or the entire property.
- Check hot and cold water. A hot-water-only issue may involve the property’s water heater rather than the City system.
- Ask whether neighbors are affected. Multiple nearby properties with the same problem can indicate distribution-system work or a main issue.
- Check private shutoff valves. Confirm a property valve was not accidentally closed, but do not operate City-owned equipment.
- Consider freezing conditions. Private pipes can freeze during severe cold weather.
- Check account notices. If the account is delinquent, determine whether a utility action occurred.
- Call Water Administration. Use (508) 324-2330 for unexplained property-wide water-service problems.
Phone, address and departments
Fall River Water Department Phone & Contact Information
Fall River Water Division
Phone: (508) 324-2330
Administrative address:
One Government Center
Fall River, MA 02722
Water & Sewer Administration
General Community Utilities: (508) 324-2320
Water: (508) 324-2330
Sewer: (508) 324-2320
Water Treatment / PWS Contact
MassDEP-listed phone: (508) 324-2723
PWS ID: 4095000
Address:
1831 Bedford Street
Fall River, MA 02723
For a general residential water-service, account, meter, lead-service-line or distribution question, start with (508) 324-2330. For technical drinking-water treatment or PWS questions, MassDEP’s public-water-supply listing identifies (508) 324-2723.
In-person reference
Fall River Water Administration Map
Department of Community Utilities / Water Administration
One Government Center
Fall River, MA 02722
Call before making a special trip if you need a particular employee, application, meter-related service, records, water-quality assistance or another task that may be handled at a different City facility.
Save time
What to Have Ready Before Calling the Water Department
Account number, service address, current bill, payment confirmation and the charge you are questioning.
Current meter reading, prior bill, leak-test result, repair invoice and approximate repair date.
Property address, owner name, closing or move date, applicant contact details and plumber information if applicable.
Service address, affected taps, whether hot/cold water differ, color/odor description and when the problem began.
Whether all fixtures are affected, whether neighbors are affected and when pressure changed.
Property address, inventory result and any prior inspection or service-line material information.
Understand utility language
Fall River Water Department Terms
- Water Division
- The City division responsible for Fall River’s municipal drinking-water system.
- Watuppa Water Board
- The municipal board associated with oversight of Fall River’s Water Division and water system.
- PWS ID
- The public water system identification number used by drinking-water regulators. Fall River is PWS 4095000.
- CCR
- Consumer Confidence Report, the annual drinking-water quality report provided by a community water system.
- Service line
- The pipe connecting the water main/service connection to a property.
- Lead service line
- A water service line containing lead that may qualify for identification and replacement work under current programs.
- Base meter fee
- A fixed meter-related billing component separate from the amount of water consumed.
- Demand
- A collection-related notice or charge that can occur after a utility account remains unpaid.
- Distribution system
- The network of water mains, valves, storage facilities and related infrastructure delivering treated water.
- North Watuppa Pond
- Fall River’s primary surface-water drinking-water source.
Common customer questions
Fall River Water Department FAQs
What is the Fall River Water Department phone number?
How do I pay my Fall River water bill online?
Where is the Fall River Water Department located?
Where does Fall River drinking water come from?
How do I check for a lead service line in Fall River?
What should I do if my Fall River water bill suddenly increases?
Who handles sewer service in Fall River?
Can a tenant open a Fall River water account?
Where can I read the Fall River water quality report?
What should I do if I have no water or very low pressure?
Primary verification