• High Bill Help
• Bill Dispute Procedure
• Contact a Customer Care Associate

High Bill Help

Have you recently received a bill that seemed higher than you expected? There are a number of reasons why this may have happened. Follow these steps to track down the reason that applies to you.

1. If you are registered with "My Account", review your online water usage history to see if there are any trends towards increased usage at specific times; for example, in the summer your bill might be higher if you are watering the lawn.
2. Check your home for reasons for potential water usage increase. These may include:
• leaking water faucets
• guests in your home
• remodeling or adding more living space
• new baby
• extra use of washing machine, dishwasher, or power washer
• extra entertaining or cooking
• washing cars or watering lawns
3. Answer these questions to help you understand the usage increase:
   Q:  Was this bill calculated from an actual or estimated reading?
   A:  An estimated reading might be higher than your actual usage.

   Q:  Was your last bill estimated followed by an actual reading for this bill?
   A:  The estimate on the last bill might have been lower than actual usage so you are being billed for that usage in the current bill.

   Q:  How many days were in this bill's billing period? In the last bill?
   A:  The current billing period might be 124 days, but it was only 118 days for the previous bill.

4. View our conservation tips and learn how easy it it to ensure your toilet and faucets are not leaking, or your pipes are not in danger of freezing.
5. Have you incurred any late fees or charges? They include the following:
   • 10% additional charge assessed on any bill not paid by the due date stated on the bill
   • 1% interest, compounded monthly, for any charges that have been outstanding for 60 days or more
   • A $25 fee will be charged if your check is not honored by your bank
   • A $50 fee will be charged when water service is cut off for non-payment
   • A $50 fee will be charged when water service is restored
   • A $200 fee will be charged when water service is turned on without authorization
6. If none of these steps lead you to a satisfactory answer about your high bill, please contact a customer care associate by e-mail or by calling 202-354-3600 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please have your account number available. For more DCWASA contact information, see the list below.

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Bill Dispute Procedure

If you think your current bill's charges are incorrect, you may inquire further by contacting a customer care associate by e-mail or by calling 202-354-3600 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You may also mail your inquiry to us at:  DC Water and Sewer Authority, Customer Service Department, 810 First Street, NE, 11th Floor, Washington, DC 20002.

You must send the inquiry to us within 10 days of receiving the bill, or you may pay the charges and inquire about them prior to the mailing of the next bill.

To assist us in resolving your concerns, your e-mail or letter to us must include the following information:

• Your name (printed).
• Mailing address, if different from address where water and sewer services are provided.
• Account number.
• Address of the property where water and sewer service charges were incurred.
• Telephone number where you can be reached between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• A brief summary of the reason(s) you believe the current charges are incorrect along with any pertinent material that may assist us in resolving your concerns.
• Do not include your inquiry letter with your payment; this delays receipt of your inquiry.

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Contact a Customer Care Associate

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