Requests for Turn on/turn off of Service
In the event a property owner or realtor requests that water service be shut off or re-instated at a premises for the purposes of testing, inspections, repairs or any other reason, a $110.00 turn off/turn on fee, of $55.00 each, shall be charged for the termination and restoration of water service.
Billing Cycle. Each customer is billed quarterly. All bills are due upon receipt and payment must be received by the due date stated on the bill. Failure to receive a bill shall not be grounds for nonpayment. Water and sewer charges are for services already provided. Garbage services are billed in advance. The service period on the bill specify what dates the charges relate to.
Billing Information.
The City of Zion is divided into three (3) sections for billing purposes. A customer will receive a bill every three (3) months for water, sewer and waste. The following is our billing procedures:
Water meters are read between the 1st & 15th of the month.
Bills are prepared and mailed out the last day of the month.
The penalty date is twenty (20) days from the billing date.
Three (3) days after the penalty date, termination of service notices are mailed out to all unpaid accounts.
Please call (847) 746-4008 if you have questions about your bill or dispute any amount shown on the bill, or should you need additional time to pay your bill. Payments after the due date incur a penalty of five percent (5%) of the water and sewer portion on the bill.
NOTE: Bills are considered paid when they are received at City Hall, not the date they are mailed. The City is not responsible for late payment because of mail delivery. The City has a drop box depository outside the main door at City Hall for payments when City Hall is closed. Payments using the Drop Box must be in the form of a check, money order or certified check only. PLEASE NO CASH IN THE DROP BOX.
Deposits. Deposits are required for all new water service accounts. After two (2) years of non-delinquent payments, deposits are refunded.
- Before closing, submissions of a Real Estate Contract and a photo ID are required.
- After closing, recorded copy of deed, or HUD document from closing.
Penalties and Service Charges. A bill not paid by the due date will be considered delinquent. Delinquent bills will be assessed a penalty of 5% based upon the water and sewer portion of the bill. A delinquency notice will be sent to the customer upon non-receipt of payment. The customer shall have seven (7) business days from the original due date to settle the account. If the delinquent account is not paid within seven (7) business days after the original due date, water service will be terminated. If seven (7) business days after the original due date is Friday then water service will be terminated on the following Monday. Payments to restore water service after termination must be made by cash, money order, certified check or credit card. The City will provide restoration (turn on) of water within 24 hours only after the account balance has been paid. Turn on of water service will only be done during normal business working hours of 8.00AM to 3.30PM Monday through Friday. For water to be turned on, the owner or other designated person must be present at the water service location. A $110.00 turn off/turn on fee, of $55.00 each, will be charged to every account that has been terminated or an attempt has been made to terminate service. Payments to restore water service after termination must be made by cash, money order, or certified check at City Hall as arrangements are needed to be made to have your service restored.
Returned Checks Any checks returned to the City of Zion for any reason will be required to pay a $25.00 return check charge. If the account is closed the charge is $25.00. A red card will be placed on the resident’s door notifying him that water service will be shut off in 48 hours if the account is not settled. Payment(s) to satisfy returned item(s) must be made in the form of cash, money order or certified check. If your water service has been terminated due to non-payment of your bill check, a service fee of $110.00 in addition to a $25.00 NSF fee will need to be paid along with the amount of the unpaid bill before service will be restored. Credit card payments will not be accepted for returned items.
Extension Policy Residents who are not able to pay their regular quarterly utility bill can request an extension of the (Total On or Before:) date as stated on their bill for payment. Call (847) 746-4008 to make this request. Residents must pay 50% of the utility bill to receive an extension. The penalty amount must be paid. The owner of the property must sign the extension contract in person on or before the (Total On or Before:) date as stated on their bill. Picture ID required. No extension will be granted if any outstanding fines, liens, tickets or bills (including other water bills) are owed to the city by the property owner and/or tenant. If default on a prior extension occurred, no further extensions will be granted. Violating the payment terms of the extension agreement will result in termination of service.
Final Readings Final readings are only required for the sale of a property. Final water readings must be taken to finalize an account. Scheduling of final readings can be done by contacting Public Works Department at 1-847-746-4060.
Payment Methods The six methods of payment are:
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- Mail – check, money order or completed credit card authorization form. Allow 10 working days for mailing your payment. Please use the courtesy reply envelope enclosed with your quarterly water bill and remember to include the remittance portion of the bill. (Top Stub)
- City Hall Drop Box – check, money order along with the remittance portion of your bill (Top Stub)
- In Person – check, money order, cash or credit card
- Direct Debit – per correctly completed Authorization Agreement – Direct Utility Billing Payments
- Phone Payments – Call 877-885-7968
- Online – CityofZion.com (Outsourced vendor may charge additional fees that are seperate of any City of Zion Fees)
If your water service has been disconnected due to non-payment of your bill, please call City Hall directly at (847) 746-4008 to make your cash, money order, or certified check payment for reconnection of water service. Payments to restore water service after termination must be made by cash, money order, or certified check at City Hall as arrangements are needed to be made to have your service restored.
Business Hours are Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to Noon: 1:00 PM to 5:00
Closed for Lunch 12:00 to 1:00 PM
Questions about your bill amount – call Utility Billing………………………….. 1-847-746-4008
Questions about water quality or service problems, Call Public Works……. 1-847-746-4060
To request a final water meter reading, Call Public Works…………………… 1-847-746-4060
Or Email us at finance@zion.il.us