San Diego Water Bill 2026: Cost, Rate & Average Monthly

San Diego water and wastewater • MyWaterSD, payment plans, leaks, service requests

MyWaterSD Bill Pay Center: Pay, Start Service, Fix High Usage & Request Help

This guide is for City of San Diego water and wastewater customers who need to pay a bill, create a MyWaterSD account, start or stop service, report a leak, request a payment plan, challenge an estimated meter read, or understand sewer and storm drain charges.

Every action below includes the official city link or phone number inside the step, so users can move directly from problem to portal, form, phone call, or office visit without guessing.

Fast answer: City of San Diego water and wastewater customers can pay through MyWaterSD, mail payment to City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, Customer Support Division, PO Box 129020, San Diego, CA 92112-9020, or make walk-in payments through the Office of the City Treasurer at 1200 Third Ave., Suite 100. For account questions, call 619-515-3500.

High bill or leak? Call 619-515-3525 for a water leak, sewer spill, or pressure issue. For a private concealed-pipe leak adjustment, submit the leak-adjustment request within 120 days of the first high bill and include repair proof.

San Diego Water Bill Quick Facts

Online portalMyWaterSDPay, bills, usage, autopay
Billing phone619-515-3500Account questions
Emergency619-515-3525Leak, sewer spill, pressure
Runoff619-235-1000Irrigation runoff or storm drain pollution
Residential card fee1.59%MyWaterSD card convenience fee
Commercial card fee2.25%MyWaterSD card convenience fee
Payment plan36 monthsMaximum plan length
Leak adjustment120 daysDeadline from first high bill

San Diego Water Bill Action Board: Use the Correct Official Link

Start with the situation, not the search result. These are the official paths most customers need.

1

I need to pay or view my bill

Use MyWaterSD to pay, view current and past water/sewer bills, check usage, set recurring payments, and manage paperless billing.

Open MyWaterSD
2

I cannot pay all at once

Request a payment plan. Monthly and bimonthly accounts can spread an outstanding balance across a maximum of 36 months.

Request payment plan
3

My bill looks wrong

Use the service request form for bill review, high usage review, meter re-read, estimated bill questions, or meter-condition concerns.

Submit service request
4

I found a concealed pipe leak

Submit a leak adjustment only if it was a non-irrigation concealed pipe leak. Irrigation, pool, and fixture leaks do not qualify.

Request leak adjustment
5

I need to start service

Submit a Start Water/Wastewater Service request. The city says a new account can take up to 10 business days to establish.

Start service
6

I need a leak/sewer emergency number

For a water leak, sewer spill, or water-pressure problem, call 619-515-3525. Use Get It Done or 619-235-1000 for irrigation runoff or storm drain pollution.

Call 619-515-3525

How to Register, Pay and Manage Bills in MyWaterSD

1

Open MyWaterSD

Use the official customer portal. The portal supports pre-login and post-login payments, bill viewing, usage history, autopay and paperless settings.

Open portal
2

Register with three details

You need account number, service address and email address. After registration, the account automatically switches to paperless billing.

Registration details
3

Choose bank account or card

MyWaterSD accepts bank account payments and credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.

Payment methods
4

Check card fee before paying

Residential accounts are charged a 1.59% convenience fee for debit/credit card payments. Commercial accounts are charged 2.25%.

Fee details
Card statement clue: When a debit or credit card is used, the city says the charge description may appear as SMART ENERGY SYSTEMS with a date and phone number.

San Diego Water Bill Payment Options

Payment path Official detail Best for Official action
MyWaterSD online View bills, pay, manage payment methods, use recurring payments, paperless and usage history. Most online bill-payment and account-management tasks. Pay online
Mail Mail with bill stub to City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, Customer Support Division, PO Box 129020, San Diego, CA 92112-9020. Non-urgent payments with mailing time. Mailing instructions
Walk-in Treasurer payment Office of the City Treasurer accepts citywide payments at 1200 Third Ave., Suite 100. Customers who need in-person payment. Treasurer payment page
Payment locations The city provides a payment-location map including the Office of the City Treasurer and retail payment locations. Customers who want a nearby payment location. Find payment location
Billing support phone Call 619-515-3500 for water/wastewater account questions. Balance, bill, service, payment plan, leak adjustment or account questions. Call 619-515-3500
Walk-in payment tip: The current Treasurer payment page lists lobby walk-in payment hours as Tuesday and Thursday, 9am to 3pm. Verify the page before driving downtown.

Payment Plan for a Past-Due San Diego Water Bill

If the balance is too large to pay all at once, a payment plan can spread the outstanding balance over time. Current charges still come due with the plan payment.

36

Maximum plan length

All payment plans may not exceed 36 months total.

Payment plan page
📅

How it appears

Monthly plan amounts appear as “Deferred Due” on future bills and are due on the same date as regular charges.

Deferred Due detail
💵

Minimum payment limits

The city says plan payments cannot be less than $25 for monthly billing or $50 for bimonthly billing.

Minimum payment FAQ
1

Gather required details

Have account number, account holder name, service address, phone number and email address ready.

Start payment plan request
2

Call if urgent

You can request a payment plan by phone at 619-515-3500, Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 5pm.

Call Customer Support

Past-due call script

“Hi, I’m calling about my San Diego water/wastewater account. My account number is ____. Can you confirm my current balance, whether I qualify for a payment plan, what the fixed monthly amount would be, and whether autopay can be set up for the plan?”

High Bill, Missing Bill or Estimated Meter Read

The City has specific paths for unusual water usage, estimated reads, possible meter errors and bills held for review.

1

Bill never arrived?

The city says bills that reflect unusual water usage may be held by the billing system. Call Customer Support if your normal bill is missing.

Pay Your Bill FAQ
2

Estimated meter read?

If your bill was estimated, take a photo of your current meter read and upload it for review if you can access the meter.

Estimated-read help
3

Meter read looks wrong?

Use the service request form for bill review, high usage review, meter re-read, meter condition, unreadable meter or estimated bill questions.

Submit service request
4

Check private usage first

Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances, wait 30 minutes, and check if the meter dial moved. Movement can mean a leak.

Leak-check steps
Meter appointment note: The city says meter-reading appointments cannot be scheduled. If a re-read happens, a Field Representative leaves a door hanger with information on the new read.

San Diego Leak Adjustment: What Qualifies and What Does Not

Question Official answer What to do Official action
What leak qualifies? A non-irrigation concealed pipe leak. Repair the leak and gather proof. Leak adjustment page
What does not qualify? Irrigation leaks, swimming pool leaks and plumbing fixture leaks do not qualify. Still repair quickly, but do not assume adjustment eligibility. See exclusions
Deadline Request must be received within 120 days of the first high bill related to the concealed pipe leak. Submit the request as soon as repairs are complete. Submit request
Documents Account holder name, service address, phone/email, discovery date, repair date, and repair invoice or receipt. Upload proof clearly; keep copies. Required info
Review timing The page says a team member reviews and notifies customers within eight to ten weeks; FAQ says generally six to eight weeks after processing. Keep paying current bills while waiting for review. Call 619-515-3500
Important: A toilet leak, sprinkler leak, pool leak, fixture leak or visible irrigation issue may cause a high bill, but the San Diego leak-adjustment rules are much narrower.

Start San Diego Water/Wastewater Service

1

Submit Start Service request

Use the official Start Water/Wastewater Service request. The city says water remains on while the new account is established.

Start service request
2

Expect processing time

The city says it can take up to 10 business days to establish a new water/wastewater account.

Processing FAQ
3

Know owner-name rules

If one meter serves multiple units, Public Utilities policy requires the account to be set up in the owner’s name.

Multi-family FAQ
4

Need property manager or trust?

A trust can be used if it has an EIN. A property management company can be used if it owns the property.

Ownership FAQ

Stop Service, Move Out or Final Bill

30

Request up to 30 days early

You can request to close your account up to 30 days before your move-out date.

Stop service request
📉

Final read may be estimated

The city says staffing limitations prevent final in-person meter reads; final reads are estimated from property water-consumption history.

Final bill FAQ

Responsibility stops after closure

Once your account is closed, you are no longer responsible for water consumed at the property.

Move-out FAQ

Update Account Information or Transfer to Another Person

✏️

What can be updated

Name correction/legal name change, mailing address, email, phone number and property management company.

Update account info
🔁

Transfer to new person

To transfer service to a new person, submit a Start Service request rather than a name-change request.

Start service request
10

Processing time

The city says account-information requests may take up to 10 business days to process.

Processing note

How to Read a San Diego Water/Wastewater Bill

A San Diego water bill is not only water usage. Separate each line before deciding what caused the increase.

Bill line What it means What to check Official link
Base Fee – Water Non-variable charge that supports fixed costs of running the Public Utilities Department and water system. Meter size and account type. How to read bill
Water Used Variable/tiered usage charge based on water used. Leaks, irrigation, meter read, seasonal use. Water usage details
Base Fee – Sewer Non-variable charge supporting fixed wastewater-system costs. Do not confuse sewer base with water usage. Sewer base fee
Sewer Single-family domestic customers have an individualized rate based on winter monitoring usage. December–March water use can affect future sewer charges. Sewer calculation
Storm Drain Fee Pays for cleaning, repair and maintenance of the city storm drain system. This can appear even when water usage is low. Storm drain fee
Code E If the Code heading shows E, the bill was estimated. Upload a photo of the current meter read if accessible. Estimated bill help

Winter Sewer Charge: Why December–March Usage Matters

❄️

Winter monitoring period

The city monitors water usage during two billing cycles and uses the lower-usage cycle to calculate the sewer rate.

Billing page
📅

New rate starts July 1

After monitoring, the individualized flat sewer rate goes into effect with the bill that includes July 1 of the following year.

Sewer rate timing
🏠

New-home rule

If you are new to a home, your sewer rate is based on the citywide average until a reading can take place during the next winter.

New customer sewer rule
Local money-saving tip: Fix leaks and avoid unnecessary outdoor watering during winter monitoring months. Lower winter use can lower the next sewer-rate period for single-family residential customers.

Leak, Sewer Spill, Meter Leak or Pressure Problem

🚨

City emergency line

For water leaks, sewer spills or pressure problems, call 619-515-3525.

Call 619-515-3525
📍

Meter box leak

If the leak is on the city side of the meter, the city says a crew will repair it. If it is on the private property side, the owner is responsible.

Meter leak guide
🌧️

Runoff or storm drain pollution

Use the Get It Done app or call 619-235-1000 for irrigation runoff or storm drain pollution.

Customer support page
What to say: Give the closest address, cross street, whether water is flowing constantly, whether it is inside the meter box, whether pressure is affected, and whether the leak is on the private-property side or city side.

San Diego Water Bill Payment Path Planner

Use this quick helper to decide the safest payment or help path. It does not confirm live balance, shutoff status, eligibility, leak adjustment approval or payment posting.

For a normal $240 bill, use MyWaterSD. If using a residential card payment, remember the 1.59% convenience fee.

For exact account status, call 619-515-3500. For leaks, sewer spills or pressure problems, call 619-515-3525.

San Diego Walk-In Payment Map and Visit Plan

The Office of the City Treasurer accepts citywide walk-in payments at 1200 Third Ave., Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92101. Check the official page before visiting because lobby hours can change.

Bring

Water/wastewater bill, account number, payment method, photo ID if needed, service address and any payment-plan or leak-adjustment documents.

Ask before leaving

“Can you confirm the payment posted to the correct water/wastewater account and whether any balance remains?”

In-person caution

The Treasurer page says unrolled coins over 50 coins are not accepted from a citizen or business on a given business day.

City of San Diego Water Bill FAQ: 10 Practical Questions and Answers

How do I pay my City of San Diego water bill online?

Use the official MyWaterSD customer portal. You can pay before or after logging in, view current and past water/sewer bills, view usage history, set recurring payments and manage paperless billing.

What do I need to register for MyWaterSD?

You need your account number, service address and email address. After registering, your account automatically switches to paperless billing, but you can change that setting after logging in.

What is the City of San Diego water billing phone number?

Call 619-515-3500 for water/wastewater account questions. The listed customer-support hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 5pm, excluding city holidays.

Who do I call for a San Diego water leak or sewer spill?

Call 619-515-3525 to report a water leak, sewer spill or water-pressure issue. For irrigation runoff or storm drain pollution, use Get It Done or call 619-235-1000.

Is there a card fee to pay a San Diego water bill?

Yes. MyWaterSD lists a 1.59% convenience fee for residential debit/credit card payments and a 2.25% convenience fee for commercial accounts.

Can I get a payment plan for a past-due San Diego water bill?

Yes. You can request a payment plan to spread an outstanding balance over time. The maximum plan length is 36 months, and the plan payment appears as “Deferred Due” on future bills.

What leaks qualify for a San Diego water bill adjustment?

The city says a qualifying leak adjustment is for a non-irrigation concealed pipe leak. Irrigation-related leaks, swimming pool leaks and plumbing fixture leaks do not qualify.

How long do I have to request a leak adjustment?

The request must be received within 120 days of the first high bill related to the concealed pipe leak. You need account details, discovery date, repair date and a repair invoice or receipt.

How is the San Diego sewer charge calculated?

For single-family residential customers, the city uses winter monitoring water usage to determine an individualized flat sewer rate. The lower-usage cycle during the monitoring period is used, and the updated rate begins with the bill that includes July 1.

What should I do if my bill shows an estimated meter read?

If your bill was estimated and you can access your meter, take a photo of the current meter read and upload it for review. A team member will review the bill based on your current meter read and follow up.

Leave a Comment