Asheville Water Bill Help Center for WaterSmart, High Bills, Fees & Service
This page helps Asheville water customers pay the bill, use WaterSmart, start or stop service, understand combined utility charges, handle a high bill, request a leak adjustment, or contact the correct city office.
Every section gives the official city link beside the action. Use it as a practical shortcut instead of searching through multiple pages when a bill is due, unusually high, or connected to water, sewer, stormwater, or solid waste charges.
Fast answer: Pay Asheville water bills through WaterSmart, by phone at 828-251-1122 option 1, in person at City Hall, 70 Court Plaza, by mail to City of Asheville Customer Services Division, P.O. Box 733, Asheville, NC 28802, or by official drop box. For help from a representative, call 828-251-1122 option 2.
High-bill warning: WaterSmart can show usage and leak alerts. If a private leak caused the high bill, Asheville says the leak must be repaired within 30 days of the first high bill, and an adjustment request must be made in writing within 45 days after repair with proof.
Asheville Water Bill Quick Facts
Asheville Water Bill Action Board: Use the Official Link Inside Each Step
Choose your situation first. Each card gives the next action, the official link, and the small detail that prevents wasted time.
I need to pay now
Use WaterSmart to pay and view the bill online. You can also call 828-251-1122 and press option 1 for phone payment.
Open WaterSmartI need a customer service person
Call 828-251-1122 and press option 2. Use this for account questions, posting problems, login help, or confusing bill lines.
See payment pageMy bill is higher than expected
Check WaterSmart usage first, then inspect for leaks. If a private leak is confirmed, repair quickly so you stay eligible for adjustment review.
Open high-bill helpI need to start or stop service
Call 828-251-1122 between 9am and 5pm, Monday–Friday except holidays. Starting service requires a $55 application fee.
Start / stop serviceI need assistance paying
Use NC 211 for local health, human service and community resources. Also call Asheville Customer Service before the bill becomes harder to manage.
Search NC 211I need water alerts or quality updates
Use City of Asheville Water Resources pages, AVL Alerts, BC Alerts, and the annual water quality report for advisories and notices.
Open Water DepartmentHow to Pay an Asheville Water Bill Online or by Phone
Open WaterSmart
WaterSmart lets customers monitor usage, pay and view the bill, sign up for e-billing, set alerts, and use autopay options.
Go to WaterSmartUse account details from your bill
Have the Combined Utility Statement handy. For phone payments, the city says account and customer numbers are needed so payment posts correctly.
Official pay instructionsPay by phone
Call 828-251-1122 and press option 1. The city lists checking, savings, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, credit card, and e-check options.
Phone payment detailsSave payment proof
Keep the confirmation number, payment date, amount, account number, and screenshot until the account balance updates.
Verify payment optionsPay in Person, Drop Box, or Mail: What Asheville Customers Should Know
| Payment method | Use when | Important detail | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Hall | You need in-person help or a receipt. | Pay at Customer Services Division on the first floor of City Hall, 70 Court Plaza. | Pay in person |
| Public Works drop box | You need a physical drop-off. | Public Works Building, 161 South Charlotte Street. Payments are processed next business day. | Drop box details |
| City-County Plaza drop box | You are near the plaza. | Located at the first roundabout when entering the plaza. Payments after 4:30pm post next business day. | Plaza drop box |
| Your payment is not urgent. | Send payment stub and payment to City of Asheville Customer Services Division, P.O. Box 733, Asheville, NC 28802. | Mailing instructions |
WaterSmart Portal: Login, Leak Alerts, Usage Tracking and E-Billing
WaterSmart is not only a bill-pay page. It is the best place to catch a leak before one bad billing cycle becomes a large balance.
Monitor usage
View water consumption and compare usage to similar households. WaterSmart data is meant to help customers spot unusual patterns.
Open WaterSmartSet leak alerts
WaterSmart can notify customers when usage surges, which may indicate a leak that needs immediate attention.
Read WaterSmart FAQE-billing and autopay
Use the portal to pay and view bills online, and sign up for e-billing or autopay options.
E-billing pageHigher Than Expected Asheville Water Bill? Follow This Leak and Adjustment Path
Check hourly or detailed usage
Use the customer portal to review usage. If you need help interpreting the data, call 828-251-1122.
High bill helpLook for private leaks
Check toilets, faucets, crawlspace lines, irrigation, water heaters, outdoor spigots, and damp ground between meter and home.
Review usageRepair within 30 days
If a private leak is confirmed, Asheville says it must be repaired within 30 days of the first high bill to be eligible for adjustment.
Adjustment ruleRequest adjustment in writing
Submit the adjustment request within 45 days of leak repair and include proof. The city allows a maximum of two adjustments in 24 months.
Request adjustmentHigh-bill call script
Start or Stop Asheville Water Service
Call to start or stop
Call 828-251-1122 between 9am and 5pm, Monday–Friday except holidays.
Start/stop pageApplication fee
A $55 non-refundable application fee is required to begin a water account.
Fee detailDeposit
A $100 refundable deposit is required for customers who have not established good credit.
Deposit ruleWhat Is on an Asheville Combined Utility Statement?
Asheville customers may search “water bill” but the Combined Utility Statement can include several city and partner-service lines.
| Bill line | What it means | What to check | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | City water base fee plus volume charge per 100 cubic feet of water used. | Usage in ccf, meter size, billing period, leak alerts. | Rates and fees |
| Sewer | Asheville city residents are billed for water and sewerage services together in one bill, while Metropolitan Sewerage District provides sewerage service. | MSD charges, sewer treatment, water-use impact on sewer line. | Sewer services |
| Stormwater | Stormwater bills are based on total impervious area and may appear bi-monthly on the water bill, annually, or semi-annually. | Driveways, roofs, paved areas, parcel billing method. | Stormwater billing |
| Solid waste | As of July 1, 2026, Asheville lists a $20 monthly solid waste fee on the combined utility bill. | Trash cart count, residential service, extra cart fee. | Sanitation fees |
Asheville Water Rates, Base Fees, Delinquent Fees and Deposits
Residential usage rate
For bills issued on or after September 1, 2025, single-family residential consumption is listed at $5.60 per ccf; multi-family residential is listed at $5.32 per ccf.
Verify ratesBase fee depends on meter
All water accounts have a base fee based on meter size, plus a volume charge per ccf. One ccf equals 748 gallons.
View base feesDelinquent fees
Late payments incur a $15 delinquent fee. The second delinquent fee is listed as $50.
Fee scheduleWhy Sewer Charges Appear on an Asheville Water Bill
The City of Asheville bills city residents for water and sewerage together, while the Metropolitan Sewerage District provides sewerage services to Asheville and other Buncombe County subdivisions.
MSD handles sewerage
MSD treats and manages sewerage service, but city residents see water and sewerage charges together on one bill.
City sewer service pageHigh water can affect sewer
If your water usage rises because of a leak or outdoor use, review sewer-related charges too, not only the water line.
High-bill guideAsk the right question
Ask Customer Service to help separate water usage, sewer charge, stormwater, solid waste, and delinquent fees.
Water contactsStormwater and Solid Waste on the Combined Utility Bill
Stormwater utility bill
Stormwater bills are based on total impervious area on the parcel. They may be delivered bi-monthly on the water bill, annually, or semi-annually.
Stormwater bill helpSolid waste fee
As of July 1, 2026, Asheville lists a $20 monthly solid waste fee on the combined utility bill. Additional roll carts are listed at $20 per month for each additional cart.
Sanitation feesAsheville Water Bill Assistance and Payment Help
Assistance call script
Water Quality, Advisories and Asheville Water Resources Contacts
Water system size
Asheville Water Resources operates three drinking water treatment plants and maintains more than 1,700 miles of water lines.
Water departmentAnnual quality report
Use the Water Department page to find the annual water quality report and current water-related resources.
Open water resourcesAlerts
The city points residents to AVL Alerts and Buncombe County alerts for emergency information.
Water alerts infoAsheville City Hall Map and Visit Plan
Use this map for Customer Services at Asheville City Hall, 70 Court Plaza. Bring your Combined Utility Statement, account/customer numbers, photo ID, payment method, and leak repair proof if you are asking about a high-bill adjustment.
Best for
In-person payments, account questions, WaterSmart help, lead test kits, and customer-service paperwork.
Bring
Bill, account number, customer number, service address, ID, payment method, and any repair documentation.
Ask before leaving
“Is my account current, did the payment post, and are there any remaining fees or next steps?”
Official Asheville Water Bill Links
Asheville Water Bill FAQ
How do I pay my Asheville water bill online?
Use the WaterSmart customer portal to pay and view your Asheville water bill online. The city also links payment options from its official Pay Your Water Bill page.
What phone number do I use to pay an Asheville water bill?
Call 828-251-1122 and press option 1 to use the interactive phone payment system. Have your Combined Utility Statement ready because account and customer numbers are needed.
How do I reach Asheville Water Customer Service?
Call 828-251-1122 and press option 2 to reach a customer service representative for billing, payment, account, or WaterSmart help.
Where can I pay an Asheville water bill in person?
Pay in person at Asheville City Hall, 70 Court Plaza, at the Customer Services Division on the first floor.
Where do I mail an Asheville water bill payment?
Mail payment with the payment stub to City of Asheville Customer Services Division, P.O. Box 733, Asheville, NC 28802.
What should I do if my Asheville water bill is unusually high?
Check WaterSmart usage, inspect for leaks, and call 828-251-1122 if you need help interpreting usage. If a private leak is confirmed, repair it quickly and follow the written adjustment-request rules.
What are Asheville’s leak adjustment deadlines?
The city says the private leak must be repaired within 30 days of the first high bill. The adjustment request must be made in writing within 45 days of repair and include proof of repair.
How do I start or stop Asheville water service?
Call 828-251-1122 between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Friday except holidays. Starting service requires a $55 non-refundable application fee, and some customers must pay a $100 refundable deposit.
Why are sewer charges on my Asheville water bill?
City residents are billed for water and sewerage services together. Metropolitan Sewerage District provides sewerage services to Asheville residents and other Buncombe County subdivisions.
What is one ccf on an Asheville water bill?
One ccf equals 100 cubic feet, or 748 gallons. Asheville water charges include a meter-size base fee plus a volume charge per ccf used.