Water Assistance
About 700 town water and sewer accounts are overdue each month. Although most bills are paid eventually, customers sometimes incur late fees and service disruptions. State law prevents the town from charging different rates to customers based on income. Eligible customers may seek assistance in paying water and sewer bills through:
- The Hillsborough Water Assistance Program, which is funded through donations and is administered through a partnership with Orange Congregations in Mission, a local nonprofit organization.
- The North Carolina Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, a temporary emergency program started in December 2021. The federally funded program provides a one-time payment for eligible households, which is paid directly to the utility company.
Eligible candidates must be recommended by the Orange County Department of Social Services or a local church. For more information, contact:
- Orange County Department of Social Services at 919-245-2800.
- Orange Congregations in Mission at 919-732-6194.
To make a one-time payment via the town:
- Online — use the payments and donations website.
- By mail — send a completed donation form with check payment to Town of Hillsborough, PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278.
- In person — bring any form of payment to the Financial Services Department in the Town Hall Annex, 105 E. Corbin St. A drop box is available for check payments.
To add a monthly donation to a water and sewer bill:
- By mail — send a completed donation form with check payment to Town of Hillsborough, PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278.
- Electronically — use the online form or email a completed donation form to customerservice@hillsboroughnc.gov.
- In person — bring a completed donation form to the Financial Services Department in the Town Hall Annex, 105 E. Corbin St. A drop box is available.
To make a one-time payment to Orange Congregations in Mission:
- By mail — send a check to Orange Congregations in Mission, 300 Millstone Drive, Hillsborough, NC 27278. Note the donation is for the Hillsborough Water Assistance Program.
- In person — visit Orange Congregations in Mission at 300 Millstone Drive. Check the organization's website for business hours. Note the donation is for the Hillsborough Water Assistance Program.
The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program operates through September 2023 or until the funds are exhausted.
To qualify, applying households must:
- Have at least one U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Have income equal to or less than 150% of the federal poverty level.
- Have household services that are disconnected or in jeopardy of disconnection or have a current outstanding bill.
- Be responsible for the water bill.
Individuals can apply:
- Online at epass.nc.gov.
- By dropping off or faxing a paper application from epass.nc.gov to the Orange County Department of Social Services. The department is located at 113 Mayo St. The fax number is 919-644-3005.
- By calling the Orange County Department of Social Services at 919-245-2800.
