Water and Sewer Billing and Service

How to pay bills

Water and sewer bills can be paid several ways. The town encourages paying online or by telephone. For information on the town’s in-house billing and payments platform, see the frequently asked questions on the utility billing and payments platform.

Please see additional information on the payment methods by viewing the 7 Ways to Pay document below.

• Bank draft — Have the town automatically draft payment from your bank account on the 10th or 25th day of each month.
• Bank originated bill pay — Set up recurring payments through your bank account .
• Deposit box — Leave non-cash payments in the box at the Town Hall Annex, 105 E. Corbin St.
• In person — Make cash or check payments or get staff help with credit or debit card payments at the Town Hall Annex, 105 E. Corbin St., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.
• Mail — Send payments to Town of Hillsborough, PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278.
• Online — Visit the town payments and donations website to pay by credit or debit card.
• Telephone — Call 833-262-5902 toll-free 24 hours a day to pay by credit or debit card.

Monthly billing 

Water and sewer usage are billed monthly. Current charges are due by the 25th day of the month. If that date falls on a weekend or holiday, the bill is due on the next business day.

Late payments — Payments received after 11:59 p.m. on the due date are considered late.

Delinquent bills — An additional $40 delinquency fee will be assessed and service will be disconnected if the previous month’s bill is not paid by the current month’s due date. To be reconnected, the past due bill, all penalties, fees and the current bill must be paid in full.

The town participates in the North Carolina Local Government Debt Setoff Clearinghouse. For those who owe the town $50 or greater in delinquent water and sewer bills, this program will secure payment by filing a claim with the state to intercept income tax refunds or North Carolina education lottery winnings. See the North Carolina General Statute 105A: Setoff Debt Collection Act.

Bill adjustments

Call 919-296-9450 for any assistance on bill adjustments. Adjustments will not be made if a meter or service connection have been tampered with.

Leak adjustments — Customers may request adjustments to bills if they show that a break in a water line has resulted in extraordinary charges for a given billing period. In such cases, the customer will be charged an amount based on an average of the previous six months.

Customers are allowed one leak adjustment in a 12-month period. Sufficient documentation of a leak must be provided by a plumber or maintenance person, or customers must provide receipts for items purchased for repairs. Leak adjustments must be requested no later than three months after the billing date.

Malfunctioning water meters — If a meter fails to register water use, the customer will be charged an amount for water and sewer usage based on an average of the previous six months. The standard for meter accuracy is plus or minus 10%. A meter flow test can be requested, with a fee charged if the meter passes the flow test.

Water Assistance Program

Some customers may be eligible for help paying bills. See the Water Assistance webpage on this website, which also includes information on how to donate to the program.

For both items below, see the Fees and Charges Schedule in the rates section for up-to-date fee information. 

Bulk water

Contractors may obtain bulk water from the town’s water treatment plant at 711 Dimmocks Mill Road by paying first at the Financial Services Department in the Town Hall Annex, 105 E. Corbin St. The billing and collections office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Bulk water is charged at the out-of-town water rate. 

Hydrant meter box rental

Contractors may rent 3-inch hydrant meters on a daily, weekly, monthly, semi-annual or annual basis. The orange boxes have a backflow preventer to ensure contaminants do not enter the public water system and a meter to measure the water usage for proper billing. Complete the hydrant meter rental form below. Rental requires a deposit and rental rates, and usage fees apply. 

Emergencies

Report water line breaks, sewer spills and other water-related emergencies immediately by calling 919-732-3621. 

Water advisories and notices

At times, the town may issue an advisory or notice about its water. See frequently asked questions on water advisories and notices. Customers are encouraged to:

• Subscribe to Town of Hillsborough news.
• Sign up for emergency notifications from OC Alerts, the public alert system in Orange County. 

Establishing service

To establish new service, contact the Billing and Collections Division by email or at 919-296-9450. Service should be requested at least three business days in advance. Accounts can be transferred between addresses for a $20 fee.

The town requires all of the following to start a new service account. Customers also are asked to provide a Social Security number. 

• Valid driver’s license, government ID or passport
• A copy of one of the following signed by all parties:
  • Lease agreement
  • Deed, settlement statement or purchase agreement
  • Property management agreement
• $20 non-refundable connection fee
• Deposit of $75 in town or $150 out of town

Irrigation systems

Irrigation systems require a separate water meter. In addition, they require a backflow prevention device and rain or moisture sensors. 

See the lawn irrigation systems document below and Section 14-19 of the Hillsborough Code of Ordinances on irrigation system requirements. Additionally, see the backflow prevention section on the Utilities Educational Outreach page.

Ending service

To end service, complete and return the Utility Disconnection Request below. Please allow up to three business days to disconnect service.

For information on theft of water from hydrants or on tampering and theft of infrastructure, see the Utilities Educational Outreach page. 

Contractors are able to purchase bulk water from the town, which can be obtained from the Water Treatment Plant. Or they can rent water meters that are housed in an orange box with a backflow prevention device to safely and legally obtain water from a fire hydrant. See the section on bulk water and hydrant meter rental on this page.

Hillsborough charges for a minimum usage of 2,125 gallons each billing cycle, effective July 1, 2023. Additional use is billed per 1,000 gallons.

For in-town customers:

• Water rate is $10.73 per 1,000 gallons.
• Sewer rate is $15.09 per 1,000 gallons.
• The minimum water fee is $22.80.
• The minimum sewer fee is $32.07. 

For out‐of‐town customers:

• Water rate is $20.90 per 1,000 gallons. 
• Sewer rate is $29.43 per 1,000 gallons.
• The minimum water fee is $44.41.
• The minimum sewer fee is $62.54.

For additional information on rates, see the documents below and the FAQ: Water and Sewer Rates.