Pay a Durham Water Bill, Start Service, Request a Plan, or Report a Water/Sewer Emergency
City of Durham water customers should use the official utilities customer portal, Durham One Call, Customer Billing Services, or Water and Sewer Maintenance depending on the issue.
This guide separates bill payment from urgent field problems, so you can pay online, call the right option, start or stop service, request a payment arrangement, or report a water main break without wasting time on the wrong page.
Durham City Water Bill Quick Facts
Choose the Durham Water Task You Need
A Durham water bill search may mean paying a normal bill, starting service after a move, closing an account, asking for a short payment extension, checking a high bill, or reporting a field emergency.
How to Pay Your Durham Water Bill Online
The City of Durham says utility payments can be made online through the City’s customer billing and account portal. Start from the official City payment page so you do not accidentally use a non-official payment website.
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Open the official Make a Payment page.
Start here: City of Durham Make a Payment. -
Select the water/sewer utility payment option.
Do not use the general billing portal for normal water/sewer bills unless the City page specifically directs you there. -
Have your bill details ready.
Use your water account number, service address, amount due and current payment method. -
Confirm the account before paying.
Check the name, service address, current balance and due date. -
Save payment proof.
Keep the confirmation number, receipt email or screenshot until your payment appears correctly on the account.
Durham Water Bill Payment Options
Durham offers several payment choices. Choose based on urgency. Online or phone payment is better for faster confirmation. Mail is best only when the due date is not close.
Payment need |
Official option |
Best practical use |
|---|---|---|
Pay online |
Normal water/sewer payment through the utilities customer portal. |
|
Pay by phone |
Phone payment when you have your account details ready. |
|
Customer billing help |
Account questions, billing issues, payment difficulty, meter reading or service help. |
|
Pay in person |
Mist Lake, 1600 Mist Lake Drive, or City Hall |
Cash payment or in-person account help. |
Mail payment |
City of Durham, P.O. Box 738527, Dallas, TX 75373-8527 |
Check or money order with payment stub when the due date is not urgent. |
Service request |
City service requests and routing to the correct department. |
Durham Water Bill Payment Arrangement Help
If you cannot pay the full balance immediately, use the City’s official payment arrangement form or call Durham One Call. The official form includes short plan choices such as 5 days, 10 days and 15 days.
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Check your current balance first.
Use your latest bill, online account or Customer Billing Services before requesting an arrangement. -
Open the official payment arrangement form.
Use: Durham payment arrangement form. -
Enter the account number exactly as shown on your bill.
Avoid guessing if you have an older bill or recently changed service. -
Choose the available plan window.
Pick the option that you can realistically keep. -
Call if your service is already urgent.
If you have further account questions, call Durham One Call at 919-560-1200.
Start, Stop or Transfer Durham Water Service
Durham Customer Billing Services can help open or close water accounts and answer questions about charges, meter readings, payment difficulties and water use assessments. Start service early because the City says to allow 3 to 5 days for processing.
Service task |
Official resource |
Prepare before submitting |
|---|---|---|
Start water service |
Service address, start date, customer details and any past-due balance from a previous location. |
|
Stop water service |
Account number, stop date, forwarding address and final bill payment method. |
|
Start/stop/transfer help |
Account details, service address, requested dates and contact information. |
|
Unsure about old balance |
Previous service location so Customer Billing can review records. |
Report Durham Water Main Breaks, Sewer Overflows or Sewer Odors
Water main breaks, sewer overflows and sewer odors should be reported immediately to Water and Sewer Maintenance. Durham says the Department of Water Management responds 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
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Call immediately if water or sewage is active.
Do not wait for billing customer service if there is a break, overflow, odor or possible public health issue. -
Give exact location details.
Share the address, cross street, landmark, direction of flow and whether the issue is in the street, yard or building. -
Keep people away from unsafe water or sewage.
Do not let children, pets or vehicles enter contaminated or fast-moving water. -
Document safely.
Photos are useful only if you can take them from a safe place. -
Handle billing after the emergency is reported.
If the issue affects your bill, call Customer Billing after the field issue is documented.
High Durham Water Bill Checklist Before You Call
A high Durham bill may come from actual use, a running toilet, irrigation, a hidden leak, a longer billing period, sewer charges, payment posting or meter-reading questions. Gather the right details before calling Customer Billing.
Have this ready when calling 919-560-1200
- Water account number and service address.
- Current bill and previous bill.
- Payment confirmation if you recently paid.
- Date the usage or balance changed.
- Leak repair receipt, plumber invoice or photos if a leak was found.
- Notes about irrigation, guests, tenants, outdoor water or service changes.
Official Durham Water Bill Links and Contacts
Use these official City of Durham resources for water bill payment, customer billing, start/stop service, payment arrangements and emergency water/sewer reporting.
Official City page for water/sewer utilities payment and other City payments.
Open payment pageOfficial payment methods, pay-by-phone, in-person payment and mail payment details.
Open billing pageOfficial start service page with past-due balance and processing-time guidance.
Start serviceOfficial stop service request page and Durham One Call guidance.
Stop serviceOfficial payment arrangement request form for water accounts.
Open arrangement formOfficial Water Management page for water main breaks, sewer overflows and sewer odors.
Open emergency pageOfficial page with the Water and Sewer Maintenance number and after-hours routing note.
Report water main breakMain Department of Water Management page for water services and official updates.
Open Water ManagementMap: Durham Customer Billing / Mist Lake Payment Location
Durham lists cash payment at the cashiering counter at Mist Lake, 1600 Mist Lake Drive. Use the map for location reference before visiting.
Map: Durham City Hall
Durham also lists City Hall for in-person payment/customer support options. City Hall is at 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701.
Durham City Water Bill FAQs
How do I pay my Durham water bill online?
Use the official City of Durham Make a Payment page and choose the utilities customer portal for water/sewer payments.
What is the Durham water bill customer service phone number?
Call Durham One Call / Customer Billing Services at 919-560-1200. Use Option 1 for pay by phone and Option 2 for account help.
Where can I pay my Durham water bill in person?
The City says cash payments can be made at the cashiering counter at Mist Lake, 1600 Mist Lake Drive, or at City Hall.
Where do I mail my Durham water bill payment?
Mail check or money order with the payment stub to City of Durham, P.O. Box 738527, Dallas, TX 75373-8527.
How do I start water service in Durham?
Use the official Start Water Service page. Durham says past-due balances must be paid before starting service at a new location and processing may take 3 to 5 days.
How do I stop water service in Durham?
Submit a stop service request online or call Durham One Call at 919-560-1200 to request disconnection.
Can I request a Durham water bill payment arrangement?
Yes. Use the official payment arrangement form or call Durham One Call at 919-560-1200 if you have account questions.
Who do I call for a Durham water main break or sewer overflow?
Call Water and Sewer Maintenance at 919-560-4344 for water main breaks, sewer overflows or sewer odors.
Why does the online portal not recognize my Durham water account number?
Durham’s portal guidance says the payment system may not recognize a 12-digit account number until the first bill generates.
Why is my Durham water bill high?
Common causes include running toilets, irrigation, hidden leaks, meter reading questions, longer billing periods, service changes and payment posting issues.
Is WaterBillGuide.us the official City of Durham website?
No. WaterBillGuide.us is an independent informational guide. It does not process payments, access accounts, start or stop service, approve payment arrangements or represent the City of Durham.
Best Next Step for Durham Water Customers
If your bill is normal, use the official payment page and save your receipt. If you need more time, use the payment arrangement form before the account becomes urgent. If you see a water main break, sewer overflow or sewer odor, call 919-560-4344 immediately.
Editorial Review and Independent Guide Disclaimer
This replacement guide was written specifically for City of Durham, North Carolina water and sewer customers using official City Make a Payment, Customer Billing Services, Start Service, Stop Service, Payment Arrangement, Report a Problem and Water Management resources.
WaterBillGuide.us is not the City of Durham and does not process payments, access customer accounts, start or stop service, approve payment arrangements, inspect leaks, respond to sewer overflows or make billing decisions. For account-specific or urgent help, use the official City contacts listed above.
Official resources checked include City of Durham Make a Payment, Customer Billing Services, Start Water Service, Stop Water Service, Start/Stop/Transfer, Payment Arrangement, Report a Problem, Report Water Main Breaks and Department of Water Management.

Editorial Team
WaterBillGuide.us
The content on WaterBillGuide.us is researched and prepared by our editorial team. Our writers and researchers review publicly available information from official utility websites and service portals to create clear, step-by-step informational guides.
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