Joliet Water Department: Pay Bill, Start Service, Report Leaks & Track Usage
Joliet water customers usually need quick answers, not a long city-page maze: how to pay safely, what the $2.10 payment fee means, who to call after shutoff, how to start or stop water and sewer service, where to report a main break, and how to use the Customer Water Portal to spot leaks before the next bill hurts. This guide turns official Joliet Customer Service and Public Utilities details into action cards, checklists and scripts so you can finish the right task fast.
Choose the Joliet Water Task You Actually Need
Joliet Water Department Contacts That Matter
| Need | Official detail | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service | 815-724-3820; customerservice@joliet.gov; 150 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432 | Water/sewer bill questions, name changes, start service, stop service, payment reporting after shutoff. |
| Customer Service hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM | Billing and service calls or office visits. |
| Public Utilities general office | 815-724-4220; publicutilities@joliet.gov | Water/sewer operations, public utilities routing, emergency hotline. |
| Maintenance questions | 815-724-4230; 150 W. Jefferson Street, 2nd Floor, South Wing | Maintenance-related Public Utilities questions during business hours. |
| After-hours emergency | 815-724-4220 | Water main break, damaged hydrant, water system emergency, after-hours utility issue. |
| City Hall general | 150 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432; 815-724-4000 | In-person city services, drop box, mail reference, general City Hall routing. |
How to Pay a Joliet Water Bill
| Payment method | Official detail | Best use / warning |
|---|---|---|
| Online secured payment | Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Discover and e-checks accepted. $1,000 maximum per payment; multiple payments accepted; $2.10 user fee per payment. | Fast normal payment; save confirmation. |
| Automated phone payment | Call 877-811-3799 or 815-724-3969; available 24/7; same card/e-check options; $2.10 user fee; 24-hour posting delay. | Useful after hours, but report payment if water is off. |
| Automatic bank draft | Free program; signed authorization and voided check required; may take up to 2 billing cycles for acceptance. | Best for avoiding missed due dates. |
| Mail utility payment to PO Box 5001, Joliet, IL 60434-5001. | Use early enough for delivery and posting. | |
| City Hall / drop box | In person at City Hall or drop box outside City Hall. | Good when timing matters. |
| Local payment centers | Service fee charged except City Hall; payments outside the municipal facility may be delayed 3-5 business days. | Do not use if water is off due to non-payment. |
Automatic Bank Draft: Best Option for Avoiding Late Payments
Complete the authorization agreement
Joliet’s automatic bank draft program requires a signed authorization agreement returned to City Hall.
Attach a voided check
The City says a voided check must be attached to the signed form.
Watch the bill note
After acceptance, your bill will show “Bank Draft-Do not Pay.” The City says acceptance may take up to 2 billing cycles.
Start or Stop Joliet Water and Sewer Service
Start service
Fill out the official Application for Water and Sewer Service and return it to Customer Service.
Stop service
Contact Customer Service to discontinue utility service.
Customer Service: 815-724-3820
Joliet Late Fee, Delinquency Message and Water Reinstatement Rules
| Issue | Official detail | Action to take |
|---|---|---|
| Late fee | 1.5% late fee if bill is not paid in full by the due date. | Pay by due date or set bank draft reminders. |
| Delinquency notices | The City is no longer sending separate delinquency notices. The bill includes a message if water may be turned off for non-payment. | Read the message area on the monthly bill carefully. |
| Service terminated | Contact Customer Service. Online or phone payments must be reported to a Customer Service Representative for reinstatement. | Call 815-724-3820 after payment. |
| After-hours turn-on | $120 turn-on fee if water service is requested to be reinstated after hours. | Handle payment and reporting during business hours if possible. |
| Reinstatement timing | Utility department has 24 hours from payment receipt to reinstate water service. | Do not assume immediate restoration. |
Report a Joliet Water Main Break, Damaged Fire Hydrant or Utility Emergency
Call 815-724-4220 if…
You see a water main break, damaged hydrant, street water issue, water system damage or after-hours Public Utilities emergency.
Prepare before calling
Address, nearest cross street, visible water flow, hydrant number if visible, photos if safe, and whether water is affecting traffic or property.
Call the 24-hour hotline
Joliet lists 815-724-4220 as the Public Utilities 24-hour emergency hotline for water system problems.
Leave detailed message if needed
The City says if an operator is not available, leave a detailed phone message and the next available operator will return the call or dispatch personnel.
Register for Smart Message alerts
Public Utilities uses Smart Message / Community Alerts to send electronic notices about pending water outages and water/sewer emergency issues.
Use Joliet Customer Water Portal to Track Usage and Find Leaks
The Customer Water Portal helps Joliet water customers monitor usage in near-real time. It is available in English and Spanish and works with all currently installed water meters.
Open Customer Water Portal
Start from Joliet Customer Water Portal Information.
Create your portal login
Click “Need to set up an account?”, enter your email, create a password and accept terms.
Use bill details to link the account
Joliet says to enter your account number after the hyphen and the bill number from your most recent bill.
Joliet Water Meter Exchange and Meter Accuracy
Joliet says older water meters lose accuracy as moving parts wear out. The City routinely replaces older meters, and the water meter change-out program replaces older mechanical units with automated digital technology that helps identify high usage and possible leaks.
| Meter issue | Official detail | User action |
|---|---|---|
| Older meter replacement | Joliet replaces older meters that have outlived useful life or are no longer viable to maintain. | Respond to appointment letters from the City/UMI. |
| Installer identity | UMI employees should have a City of Joliet contractor badge and photo identification. | Do not admit anyone without City of Joliet photo ID. |
| Appointment setup | Residents may schedule online through United Meters or call 877-533-8964 when they receive a letter. | Schedule quickly to avoid access delays. |
| Meter location | Often inside home near internal shutoff, lowest level, basement, crawl space, laundry room, water heater or utility closet. | Clear access before appointment. |
| Installation cost | No charge for installation; program paid for by the City. | Be cautious if someone asks you to pay on site. |
Joliet Utility Rates, HCF Billing and Bill Math
Joliet utility bills are calculated in hundred cubic feet, called HCF. One HCF equals 748 gallons. Bills are calculated for days of service on water, sewer and municipal waste, plus actual water consumption.
| Bill item | What it means | User check |
|---|---|---|
| HCF | Hundred cubic feet; 1 HCF equals 748 gallons. | Convert usage before assuming gallons. |
| Days of service | Bill includes time period, not just gallons. | Compare bills with similar service days. |
| Water consumption | Actual usage affects water charge. | Use Customer Water Portal for spikes. |
| Sewer and municipal waste | Utility bill can include more than water. | Do not compare only water line item. |
| Utility fees | Connection, tapping and water meter fees are updated annually on November 1. | Use current city fee schedule for projects. |
Joliet Bulk Water Stations and Hydrant Meter Rental
Joliet lists bulk water stations as a more convenient and less expensive way to obtain bulk water without needing hydrant meter rental. Flowpoint Cloud is used with dispensing stations to buy water, manage trucks, view account details and run reports.
| Bulk water item | Official detail | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| Flowpoint Cloud | Online application used with Flowpoint water dispensing stations. | Apply for account, wait for username/temp password, then add trucks. |
| Station locations | 2001 N Arbeiter Road; 1203 Cedarwood Drive temporarily out of service; 818 E Cass Street. | Confirm station status before sending a truck. |
| Hydrant meters | Beginning with 2021 construction season, contractors or bulk water customers must replace current meter with City of Joliet hydrant meter fitted with AMR. | Use City hydrant meter rental application before field work. |
Joliet Lead Service Line Information and Free Inspection
Joliet says lead is not found in the City’s source water or distribution system, but can enter tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. The City maintains lead service line inventory resources and an interactive map.
What to Say When Contacting Joliet About Water
| Situation | Say this | Have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Billing question | “I have a question about my Joliet water, sewer or municipal waste bill.” | Account number, service address, bill date, amount due. |
| Payment after shutoff | “My water was shut off. I paid online/by phone and need to report payment for reinstatement.” | Payment confirmation, amount, date, account number. |
| Start service | “I need to start water and sewer service at [address].” | Application, service date, ID/account details, contact info. |
| Water main break | “I’m reporting a possible water main break or damaged hydrant at [location].” | Address, cross street, photos if safe, water flow direction. |
| Customer Water Portal | “I need help signing up for the Customer Water Portal using my latest bill.” | Recent bill, account number after hyphen, bill number, email. |
| Lead service unknown | “The map shows my private-side service material as unknown and I need a free inspection appointment.” | Address, owner contact, available appointment times. |
Joliet City Hall / Customer Service Map and Visit Checklist
Customer Service and City Hall contact pages list 150 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432. Public Utilities maintenance is also listed at City Hall, 2nd Floor, South Wing.
City of Joliet Customer Service / City Hall
Use this location reference for utility billing, payment, start/stop service and general water/sewer account help.
Official Joliet Water and Utility Links
Make a Payment
Online payment, phone payment, bank draft, mail, City Hall, payment center and shutoff-payment warnings.
Open Payment PageStart / Stop Service
Application for Water and Sewer Service and stop-service direction.
Open Service ApplicationCustomer Service
Utility billing, rates, water leaks, water meter, bill reading and real estate transfer links.
Open Customer ServicePublic Utilities
Water distribution, treatment, wastewater, emergency response, infrastructure and 24-hour emergency hotline.
Open Public UtilitiesCustomer Water Portal
Near-real-time usage, alerts, leak detection and payment link access.
Open Water Portal InfoWater Meter Exchange
Meter change-out program, UMI scheduling, no-cost installation and meter access rules.
Open Meter ExchangeBulk Water / Hydrant Meter
Bulk water stations, Flowpoint Cloud, hydrant meter rental and AMR hydrant meter rules.
Open Bulk WaterWater & Sewer Rates
HCF billing explanation, current utility rates and utility fee update note.
Open RatesLead Service Line Info
Inventory map, unknown private-side inspection, testing and replacement program details.
Open Lead InfoJoliet Water Department FAQs
How do I pay my Joliet water bill online?
Use the official City of Joliet Make a Payment page and the secured online payment link. Credit cards and e-checks are accepted, with a $1,000 maximum per payment and a $2.10 user fee per payment.
Can I pay my Joliet water bill by phone?
Yes. Call 877-811-3799 or 815-724-3969. Joliet says automated phone payments are available 24/7 but have a 24-hour delay before posting.
What is Joliet Customer Service phone number for water billing?
Call 815-724-3820 for water/sewer bill questions, name changes, start service or stop service.
How do I report a water main break in Joliet?
Call the Public Utilities 24-hour emergency hotline at 815-724-4220.
How do I start Joliet water and sewer service?
Fill out the Application for Water and Sewer Service and return it to Customer Service. To stop service, contact Customer Service.
What is the Joliet late fee?
Joliet says a 1.5% late fee is charged if the water bill is not paid in full by the due date.
What should I do after paying if my water was shut off?
Contact Customer Service. Joliet says online or automated-phone payments must be reported to a Customer Service Representative to get water reinstated.
Does Joliet have a Customer Water Portal?
Yes. The portal lets customers view usage, monitor hourly/daily/weekly/monthly water use, set alerts, find possible leaks and link to bill payment.
What do I need for Joliet Customer Water Portal signup?
You need your most recent water bill, your account number after the hyphen, and the bill number from that bill.
How are Joliet utility bills measured?
Joliet uses HCF, or hundred cubic feet. One HCF equals 748 gallons.
Does Joliet offer hydrant meter rental or bulk water?
Yes. Joliet lists bulk water stations and hydrant meter rental resources. Contractors and bulk water customers must use City of Joliet hydrant meters fitted with AMR.
Who replaces Joliet water meters?
The City says United Meters, Inc. performs meter change-out work. Workers should have a City of Joliet contractor badge and photo ID.
Best Way to Handle a Joliet Water Department Task
Joliet’s official water information is spread across Customer Service, Public Utilities, payment, portal, meter, rates, bulk water and lead-service pages. Use this guide as a fast checklist, then confirm current fees, forms, office hours and service rules on official Joliet.gov pages before paying, applying, renting a hydrant meter or requesting restoration.
Editorial note: This guide is informational and summarizes official City of Joliet utility billing, public utilities, payment, start/stop service, water portal, meter, bulk water, hydrant meter, emergency and lead-service resources for easier public use. Official fees, phone numbers, hours, forms, service rules and payment policies can change. Confirm final requirements on official joliet.gov pages before paying, applying, reporting, renting a meter, scheduling service or making billing decisions.