Water Bill Pay, Leaks & Phone Help
Use this scan-first guide to pay an East Chicago water bill, choose online or phone payment, find the office, mail payment, handle a delinquent notice, report a water main leak, use My Water Advisor, or avoid mixing household billing with bulk water station service.
Do This First If You Need to Pay
Open the Municipal Online Payments portal and select Utility Billing.
Open portalCall 219-391-8469 and choose option 2. City notice says phone pay is available.
Verify phone payVisit the Water Department at 400 E. Chicago Ave. Bring your current bill.
Payment optionsFor nights/weekends emergency water issues, call 219-391-8487.
Staff directoryEast Chicago Water Bill Payment Options
Use the method that matches your deadline. Online and phone work for convenience; in-person helps when you need staff support; mail is only safe when you send payment early.
| Method | Official detail | Best for | Do not miss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online portal | Pay by credit/debit or checking/savings through the Water Bill Pay Portal. City page states no additional charge for credit/debit. | Routine payment, after-hours payment, and account access. | Select Utility Billing after opening the Municipal Online Payments link. |
| Phone payment | Call 219-391-8469 and select option 2. | Customers who want to pay without visiting the office. | Office assistance is still limited to regular business hours. |
| Mail payment | Mail payment and bill stub to East Chicago Water Department, P.O. Box 423, East Chicago, IN 46312. | Early routine payments by check or money order. | Not safe for last-minute disconnection risk. |
| In-person office | Credit/debit cards are accepted at the Water Department Office. Bring your actual current water bill. | Payment help, card payment, account questions and urgent documents. | Customer lobby/drive-thru business transactions are listed 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Local payment locations | City directory lists Water Department, First Merchants Bank, Peoples Bank and Strack & Van Til locations. | Customers who prefer a nearby in-person payment location. | Confirm fees, accepted methods and posting timing at the location before paying. |
How to Pay Online Without Choosing the Wrong Page
Start from the city or portal
Use the official City Online Payments page or the Municipal Online Payments portal for East Chicago, Indiana.
Select Utility Billing
The city specifically says you must select Utility Billing after following the Water Bill Pay Portal link.
Use old credentials if you had them
If you previously had an account with the old site, the city says to continue logging in with that account’s credentials.
Match the account before submitting
Confirm account number, service address, customer name and payment amount. Do not rely only on the balance.
Save payment proof
Keep the confirmation, amount, date, card/bank details and account number until the payment appears correctly.
Pay East Chicago Water Bill by Phone
Number
Call 219-391-8469.
Menu choice
Select option 2 for water bill payment.
Have ready
Account number, current bill, service address, payment method and any notice letter.
Office, Mail, Drive-Thru and Local Payment Locations
Water Department Office
400 E. Chicago Avenue
East Chicago, IN 46312
- Bring your actual current water bill.
- Credit/debit cards are accepted at the office.
- Drive-thru option is listed during normal working hours.
Mail payment
East Chicago Water Department
P.O. Box 423
East Chicago, IN 46312
- Mail the payment and bill stub.
- Write the account number on the check or money order.
- Do not mail if service timing is urgent.
| Payment location | Address listed by city | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| East Chicago Water Department | 400 E Chicago Avenue, East Chicago, IN 46312 | You need official counter/office payment help. |
| First Merchants Bank | 4740 Indianapolis Boulevard, East Chicago, IN 46312 | You prefer a local payment location; verify acceptance rules first. |
| Peoples Bank | 4901 Indianapolis Boulevard, East Chicago, IN 46312 | You prefer a bank payment option; verify current process first. |
| Strack & Van Til’s | 4745 Indianapolis Boulevard, East Chicago, IN 46312 | You need a listed local retail payment location. |
| Strack & Van Til’s | 2635 169th Street, Hammond, IN 46323 | Hammond-area convenience; confirm payment rules and posting time. |
Late Payments, Notices and Payment Arrangements
What matters most: If your account is at least 30 days past due, a delinquent notice may be mailed. To avoid disconnection, the city says you must pay the notice amount by the due date or contact the Water Department before the due date if you cannot pay the full amount.
Late fees
Water charges: 3% late fee if not paid by the due date. Sewer charges: 10% late fee if not paid within 30 days of the due date.
Arrangement start
Listed arrangement terms include paying 1/10 or $10, whichever is less, of the delinquent bill.
Arrangement finish
The remaining delinquent balance, including penalties, must be paid monthly so the delinquency is satisfied within three months.
Water Main Leaks, Emergency and Sewer Repair Routing
Water Department
219-391-8469
Use during regular business hours for water billing, water questions and main leak reporting.
Nights/weekends
219-391-8487
Use for emergency water issues outside normal Water Department hours.
Utility Operations
219-391-8466
Use when the issue is routed to Utility Operations or sewer repair.
Life safety
Call 911 for injury, electrical danger, major flooding danger, unsafe road conditions or immediate life-safety emergencies.
When you report a water leak, give this
- Exact address, alley, intersection or nearest landmark.
- Whether water is in the street, yard, basement, sidewalk or business area.
- Whether it looks like a main break, hydrant, meter, valve or private plumbing issue.
- Your name and callback number.
- Photos only if safe and useful.
My Water Advisor: Best Tool for High Usage and Leak Alerts
Who can use it?
If your meter has been replaced with a new Master Meter, the city says customers can download My Water Advisor.
What it shows
The city lists consumption forecast and detailed consumption graphs.
Why it helps
Leak alerts can help you catch a toilet, hose, service-line or irrigation problem before another high bill.
Bulk Water Station Is Not Regular Bill Pay
Use only if you need bulk water: The Bulk Water Station is at 3411 Pennsylvania Street/Avenue, East Chicago, IN 46312, is listed as available 24/7, and allows credit-card purchase. It is separate from normal household water bill payment.
How it works
Connect hose, activate screen, use credit card or account access, enter gallons, verify hose connection and press start.
Fitting
The city says users need a 3-inch male Cam-lock fitting to connect to the system.
Flow rate
The station is described as delivering water at about 550 gallons per minute, allowing a 2,000-gallon truck to fill in about 4 minutes.
Rates, Sewer Charges and Why the Bill May Be Higher
Water side
Use the Water Department rate schedule for water service charges, usage charges and official water-rate details.
Sewer side
Wastewater rates have separate billing charge, base rate, treatment rate and penalty rules.
High bill check
Compare water usage, sewer charge, billing days, late fees, leaks and whether a rate phase changed.
| Bill issue | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Water amount jumped | Usage, meter read, My Water Advisor graphs, toilet leaks, hose use and service line leaks. | A leak can raise both water usage and related sewer charges. |
| Sewer charge looks high | Wastewater base/treatment rate and applicable phase schedule. | Sewer charges are not the same as water charges and have separate penalties. |
| Late fees appeared | Water due date and whether sewer charges are 30 days past due. | Water and sewer late penalties follow different rules. |
East Chicago Local Tips That Save Time
Bring the actual current bill
The city asks customers to bring actual current water bills for local office payments instead of asking staff to reprint the bill.
Do not use mail for cutoff risk
If you have a delinquent notice or disconnect risk, use online, phone or office payment and contact the Water Department before the notice due date.
Use My Water Advisor before a high-bill call
If you have a new Master Meter, the app can show consumption graphs and leak alerts that make your call more useful.
Know whether it is water, sewer or bulk water
Household bill payment, sewer repair, wastewater rate questions and Bulk Water Station use are different tasks with different routes.
East Chicago Water Department Address and Map
Water Department Office
400 E. Chicago Avenue
East Chicago, IN 46312
Office assistance
Regular Water Department hours are listed Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
City Hall note
East Chicago city-wide contact information may show 4525 Indianapolis Boulevard. For water billing, use the Water Department details above.
Official East Chicago Water Links
FAQs About East Chicago Water Bill Pay
How do I pay my East Chicago water bill online?
Use the official Municipal Online Payments portal for East Chicago and choose Utility Billing. The city says old-site users should continue with their existing credentials.
Can I pay my East Chicago water bill by phone?
Yes. Call 219-391-8469 and select option 2 for phone payment.
What is the East Chicago Water Department phone number?
The main Water Department phone number is 219-391-8469.
What is the East Chicago Water Department emergency number?
The emergency nights/weekends phone number listed for the Water Department is 219-391-8487.
Where is the East Chicago Water Department office?
The Water Department office is listed at 400 E. Chicago Avenue, East Chicago, IN 46312.
Where do I mail my East Chicago water bill payment?
Mail payment and bill stub to East Chicago Water Department, P.O. Box 423, East Chicago, IN 46312.
What happens if my water bill is late?
A 3% late fee is added to water charges if not paid by the due date. Sewer charges receive a 10% late fee if not paid within 30 days of the due date.
Can I make a payment arrangement?
The city lists arrangement terms that include paying 1/10 or $10, whichever is less, of the delinquent bill, paying future bills as due, and satisfying the remaining delinquent balance within three months.
Who do I call for water main leaks?
Call 219-391-8469 during regular Water Department hours. For nights/weekends emergency water issues, call 219-391-8487.
Is the Bulk Water Station for regular water bill payment?
No. The Bulk Water Station is for purchasing bulk water at 3411 Pennsylvania Street/Avenue. Use the regular water bill payment portal, phone option, mail, office or payment locations for household water bills.
Pay Your Water Bill Safely, Fix High Bills, Avoid Shutoff, Start Service and Find Official Utility Links
Use this free USA water bill assistant before paying online, calling utility billing, setting up AutoPay, checking a high bill, requesting leak help, starting or stopping service, handling a past due account, or searching for the official city utility portal.
What water bill problem do you need to solve?
Choose your situation. The tool will suggest the safest route, what to prepare, and which official page or office to check first.
Open the official city, county, water authority or utility website first. Do not enter account details into a random sponsored payment page.
If the bill is unusually high, compare usage, billing days, meter read type, toilet leaks, irrigation, late fees and leak adjustment rules before paying blindly.
Safe Water Bill Payment Route
Choose how you want to pay. This helps users avoid wrong portals, posting delays and urgent shutoff mistakes.
AutoPay / Bank Draft Setup Helper
Use this before enrolling in recurring payments so the first draft, current balance and payment date do not surprise you.
High Water Bill Review
Compare your normal bill and usage with the current bill. This gives a practical path before requesting a high bill review.
Leak Adjustment Proof Checklist
Use this before asking for a leak adjustment, high bill review, sewer adjustment or payment plan.
Past Due, Shutoff Notice and Reconnect Helper
Use this if your bill is late, you received a shutoff notice, service is off, or you need a payment plan.
Start, Stop or Transfer Water Service
Use this before moving, closing an account, starting service, transferring service or requesting a final bill.
Water Bill Cost Estimate
Estimate a simple monthly bill from base charge, water usage, sewer, stormwater, trash, service fees and late charges. Official tiered rates may be different.
Bill Dispute and Meter Reading Checklist
Use this before calling billing support about a meter reading, duplicate payment, wrong address, missing payment, estimated bill, or incorrect charge.
Official Water Bill Portal and Phone Finder
Enter city/utility and state to create safe searches for official water bill pay, phone payment, guest pay, AutoPay, start service, leak adjustment, reconnect, assistance and this site’s guide.
Official portal safety
- Use official city, county, authority or utility websites first.
- Check service address before paying.
- Save confirmation number and screenshot.
- Call the utility for shutoff or reconnect situations.
Best sitewide placement
Place this tool after the first payment section or before FAQs. It turns every water bill article into a practical help page, not only a list of links.
Important note
This tool gives educational guidance only. Always confirm payment portals, fees, shutoff rules, assistance programs, account balance and reconnection steps with the official utility.