The following is a summary of the policies, rules and regulations of Cottage Hill Water Works, Inc.
1. You may pay your bill at the office from 8:00 - 4:00 P.M., Monday thru Friday except for holidays. When paying at the office, please bring the entire bill. If paying by mail, please include the return stub portion with the payment.
2. Penalties apply for any payment made after the 10th of every month. When paying by mail ensure your check arrives by the 10th, or the 10% penalty of the gross amount will be applied to the account. This includes bank bill-pay checks that mail out. See our bill payment tab for on-line payment options and service fees.
3. We do now offer ACH bill payment options without a fee. Please see office or website for an authorization form.
4. If your water bill has not been paid before the second tuesday of the month following the original due date, water will be
disconnected and a fee of $30.00 will be applied to the account. If disconnected, the reconnect fee, and the FULL balance due will need to be paid by 3:30pm to have services restored. Any requests for reconnection after 3:30pm will result in an after hours service call fee. Cut-off days are the second Tuesday of every month. Any past-due payments are to be paid no later than the Monday before cut-off day at 4pm to avoid disconnection and/or fee.
5. Special meter readings or data logs, at the request of the member, will be completed for a service call fee of $35.00. If the reading reveals that the meter has been read in error, there will be no charge.
6. The account holder is responsible for any damage to the meter, meter box or any equipment owned by CHWW. Replacement costs will be added to the customer account as well as any back billed usage based on a average consumption. It is the customer’s responsibility to notify CHWW as soon as the damage occurs to avoid average-based back billing. The Corporation may, in addition to prosecution by law, permanently refuse service to any member who tampers with a meter or other measuring device.
7. Residential Water Rates are subject to change. Please see the Rates & Fees section listed under the Customer Service tab for the current rates.
8. To discontinue service, notification of not less than three days must be given, in person or in writing, at the Corporation office. A forwarding address is required for any remaining deposit refund.
9. No member will allow a connection or extension to be made to his service line for the purpose of supplying water to another user, such as a house trailer.
10. The member agrees that the meter box will be accessible to the meter reader at all times. A bush or tree may not hang over the meter box unless it clears the box at least six (6) feet. Fences will have to have an offset built around the meter box or a gate within three (3) feet of the meter box. CHWW is not responsible for replacing grass in work areas.
11. The annual meeting will be held the second Thursday in October at 7:00 P.M.
12. If it becomes necessary for your water to be turned off, the meter reader does not have to notify you.
13. There is a service charge of $35.00 on any payments returned for any reason.
14. For those members on sewer, you must apply with Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) and must abide by ECUA rules. Failure to pay ECUA will result in disruption of service until all fees are paid and under the direction of ECUA. Cottage Hill Water Works, Inc. will supply readings to ECUA for all sewer customers in our franchise area.
