Service and Billing

Water/Sewer Connection, Disconnection and Payment

Your Water/Sewer Bill

2008 Rates and Fees

Water and sewer rate and fee charges are used to offset operating, maintenance, labor, chemical and energy costs required to provide quality water to residences and businesses. The Western Virginia Water Authority provides 23 million gallons of water per day at one of the lowest rates in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition, rates fund the replacement of water mains used to deliver water, the maintenance of water meters to ensure accurate billing and maintenance of the city's water filtration and water pollution control plants. This link provides a listing of water and sewer rates and service charges including consumption rates for domestic, commercial and industrial service; minimum charges; fire service charges; water service connection and meter charges; and fire service connection and meter charges. 2007 rates and fees are provided here for comparison.

The Water Authority intends to equalize water and sewer rates for both City of Roanoke and Roanoke County residents by 2010. Click here to see our 2008-2010 rate schedule.


Service Lines
The Division of Utility Line Services is responsible for water and sewer lines located on public property. To report water main breaks, broken hydrants, sewer backups or sewer blockages, call 853-5700 24/7.

Leaks and High Bills
Leaks can waste hundreds and even thousands of gallons of water. Routinely checking plumbing for leaky faucets, toilets, and outside taps is a great water conservation practice.

Conserving Water
Water conservation is a good way of life and does not require a major change in lifestyle. Mostly, water conservation is a matter of common sense. Fresh clean drinking water is yours to use when needed, but remember that it is a valuable resource that should not be wasted. A little effort will make a big difference.

Conservation Landscaping
Landscaping with water conservation in mind can result in a significant reduction in the amount of water needed to keep plants healthy. Conservation landscaping can include even native perennial flowers, shrubs, and grasses or even formal gardens, clipped hedges. Plants that are native to an area are often more resistant to drought conditions and need less watering.

Sewer Exemption Meter Program
The Sewer Exemption Meter Program is offered to water/sewer customers to measure water used for outside watering, irrigation or swimming pools that does not enter the sanitary sewer system. The purpose is to issue an exemption or credit on sewage treatment charges.

Automatic Checking or Savings Drafts
Now you can pay your water and sewer service bill in a simple convenient way--through bank drafts. This program will save you time, a check and postage. Just fill out the bank draft authorization and return it with a voided check or savings account withdrawal slip to the Western Virginia Water Authority.

Budget Draft Billing Program
This program averages bills into equal monthly payments with an annual settle-up, paid via bank drafts.

Cold Weather Plumbing Tips
Information on helping to prevent your water pipes from freezing!

Sewer Back-Ups
Sewer back-ups are rare. Fortunately, main line sewage back-ups don't happen very often. The Western Virginia Water Authority operates and maintains almost 500 miles of sewer mains and 35,000 lateral connections. It's important to know in advance what to do if it happens at your home or business.

Important Backflow Information
Water flowing backward through the water supply system is called "back siphonage" or "backflow." Backflow can be dangeous if harmful substances get carried backward through the drinking water supply. For example, if a garden hose is submerged in polluted or contaminated water and is connected to the water supply, and the pressure in a water main drops, then the water (and whatever is in it) could be sucked back through the hose into water pipes inside a home and into the drinking water supply. Water pressure drops are not uncommon.

Locate Your Master Valve
If you ever have to turn off water FAST, you will need to know where your master valve (also called main water cut-off valve) is located. When an emergency such as a major leak or broken water pipe occurs, the first thing you will need to do is shut the water off. If you act quickly, you may prevent costly water damage to your home and valuables.

Meter Reading
Water meters record the consumption of water so that water and sewer bills can be generated. Meters are only on water lines and not on sewer lines. It is assumed that all the water flowing through the meter will later empty into sewer lines. There are various types of meters in the area which record in hundreds of cubic feet or gallons. We offer you simple instructions so you can learn how to read your water meter and how to use your water meter to locate leaks on your property.

Swimming Pool Credit Program
This link provides information on the progoram which allows a sewer charge credit for swimming pool fill-up and provides an application that must be completed to apply for the credit.