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1. How do I pay my water/sewer bill?

There are several options for making payments for utility bills. 

1. ONLINE: Go to www.westalliswi.gov/payutilitybill to use a credit card or checking account to pay utility bill. A convenience fee of $2.99 will be added for all credit card transactions.  There is no fee for eCheck payments. 
2. AUTO PAY: Payments are drawn directly from a checking account on due date. Create an account online at www.westalliswi.gov/payutilitybill to setup automatic payments. NOTE:  Auto Pay drafts will be effective with the next billing cycle. Please make a payment for any balances due with another payment method.
3. MAIL: Send payments to City of West Allis, P.O. Box 14248, West Allis, WI 53214-0248. Include bill payment stub or statement with payment. Make checks payable to "The City of West Allis.
4. IN PERSON: Payments are accepted at Tri City National Bank locations in the City of West Allis or at City Hall. Go to www.tcnb.com for locations and hours. City Hall Treasurer's Office is located at 7525 W Greenfield Avenue. The main entrance is on the south side of the building. City Hall is open Monday through Friday from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm. After hours, drop payments in the locked drop box near the main entrance to City Hall.

Pay water bill online

2. I am moving/selling my house, how do I close out my account?

If you are moving out or selling your property, you may request a final billing statement for the utility account. The City does not perform final meter readings for utility bills. The property owner, tenant, or agent should provide the final meter readings if a final billing statement is required as part of the closing process. Obtaining a Final Reading Statement is the most accurate way to pay your final utility bill. It protects all parties involved from erroneous estimations. Utility bills are created quarterly and sent out the month after the quarterly billing period ends. 

Obtaining a final statement is easy! 

• Start by getting meter readings. The numbers are read left to right like an odometer on a car. Provide all numbers in white and black including preceding zeros. 
  • The first reading is off the meter located in the basement or utility area. 
  • The second reading is off the register on the outside of the property. Registers are located on an outside wall of the property near the meter. If the numbers are missing or blacked out, then this reading is not needed. Call the Water Utility at 414-302-8245 three days prior to moving out or closing. 
• After the utility receives the meter readings, a final statement is prepared for charges through the move out or closing date. The statement can be sent by email, fax, mail, or picked up at the Treasurer’s office at City Hall. 
• If selling, your realtor should tell you if you need a paid receipt at closing or if an email or fax is sufficient. Paid receipts are issued at the Treasurer’s office at City Hall after payment is made by cash or check. If you need help locating the meter or register, then call 414-302-8245 so we can walk you through the process and help you locate the devices. Please call for assistance well in advance to ensure you are able to get the readings three days before moving out or closing. 
• Requests for final billing statements can be made online at www.westalliswi.gov/finalbill or by calling (414) 302-8245 Monday through Friday from 7:00 am until 3:30 pm.

Final Meter Reading Instructions

3. How do I update the name, address, phone number, and/or email on my account?

If you would like to have the name changed on your bill, go to the City website and fill out the water utility account update at www.westalliswi.gov/account. Otherwise, call (414) 302-8830 Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm.  Account updates can only be requested by the property owner.  We are unable to update the account for tenants, property managers, or anyone other than the property owner unless they are authorized in writing by the property owner.

Water Utility Account Update Form

4. How can I get a copy of current and previous water bills?

You can set up an online account to access billling information. Go to www.westalliswi.gov/payutilitybill and create an account. Otherwise, current and previous bills can be requested by calling the water utility billing department at (414) 302-8245. Due to the recent passing of WI Act 25, information will only be released to the property owner unless authorization has been given in writing to supply information to a third party.

5. I am a landlord and would like my tenant to receive the bill. What do I need to do?

The landlord should fill out the water utility account update form available online at www.westalliswi.gov/account or call (414) 302-8830 Monday-Friday 7:00am-3:30pm. All owners must receive a copy of the bill as delinquent amounts may still affect the tax bill.

Water Utility Account Update Form

6. I am a tenant, how do I get my name on the bill?

The landlord should fill out the water utility account update form available online at www.westalliswi.gov/account or call (414) 302-8830 Monday-Friday 7:00am-3:30pm.

Water Utility Account Update Form

7. What are all the charges on my utility bill used for?

• WATER: The water usage charge is the cost of the volume of water usage. The volumetric charge is based on metered consumption and is billed in CCF (hundred cubic feet). One CCF is equal to approximately 748 gallons of water. The basic service charge is the cost of the meter reading and maintenance and the cost for public fire protection, use of hydrants for fire protection, and ensuring an adequate water supply as demanded for the purpose of extinguishing fires. The quarterly service charge is based on the size of the water meter at the property. 
• CITY SANITARY SEWER: City sanitary sewer charge covers the cost of maintenance and operation of the City of West Allis sewer system. Costs are based on the volume of sewage that must be treated. Charges are based on the consumption of metered water to determine the amount of sewage each property discharges into the system. 
• MMSD: Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage district (MMSD Sewer Service) is a pass-through charge to cover the operation and maintenance costs of the MMSD sewerage treatment facilities and conveyance systems. Usage is determined by the consumption of metered water for commercial and residential properties with 3 or more units. The charge is a flat rate for single family and duplex residential properties. 
• STORM SEWER: The utility bill includes a flat fee to cover maintenance and operation of the City’s storm sewer system. The quarterly charge is based on equivalent residential units (ERU). Residential properties with 1-3 units are assigned ERU quantity per chart below. Commercial and residential properties with 4 or more units have ERU quantities determined by square footage of impervious area. One ERU is equal to 1,827 square feet of impervious area. 
• WASTE MANAGEMENT: The utility bill includes one flat waste management fee. This fees plus the partial funding from the State for the state mandated city recycling program provide covers the costs of collection and disposal of recycling and garbage. The charge is billed per residential unit.

8. Why is my water bill so high?

You are charged for water that passes through the water meter and into your home, whether you enjoyed a cold drink or a hot shower or the water dripped or leaked and was wasted. 

1. Find the meter in the basement (or first floor if there is no basement), along the wall nearest the street. 
2. Turn off all faucets and showers and make sure no one flushes the toilet while you do this meter check. 
3. Open the cover on the meter and look at the small blue wheel on the meter face. If it is moving slowly or spinning fast, you probably have water leaks. 
4. Walk through your property listening for running toilets and looking for drips. Drips usually mean leaks. 
5. Find out if your toilet is leaking silently by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If color shows up in the toilet bowl after 15 minutes without flushing, you have a leak. Most leaks are easy to fix with parts from your local hardware store. If you need help, contact a professional plumber.

How to investigate water leaks

9. What do I do if there is a water main break in my area?

Main breaks happen due to various reasons and are a normal part of operating a water utility. Temperature changes or overly dry or wet weather can cause the ground to shift. This results in breaks to the water main pipes. The age of the main or sudden fluctuations in the pressure may also cause a break. Older pipes may break due to corrosion. Main breaks are more frequent in the winter time due to frost in the ground.

You may notice reduced pressure and/or volume when you turn on the shower or faucet in your home. A water main break will result in water leakage which may cause running or pooling water in the street.

It can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to have a water main break completely repaired. The amount of time it takes to fix a water main depends on the size of the break, where the break is located, and what type of environment it is in. Water mains are generally repaired and completed between four to eight hours. One factor that may delay the repair is location of the break. A water main that is buried deep inside the earth or under another utility will take much longer.

The utility crews isolate the pipe by shutting off valves and temporarily placing the water supply out-of-service for the time it takes to make the repairs. After the repairs or replacement of the broken pipe is made, it is flushed prior to connecting it to the system.

After a main is repaired, reddish discoloration may be seen in the water caused by small amounts of iron compounds flushing out of the system. You can get rid of the discoloration by running cold water for a few minutes through a tap without an aerator, such as the basement washtub or outside spigot.

If you see a water main break you can use the City’s Online Help System at www.westalliswi.gov/letushelpn or contact the Municipal Water Utility at (414) 302-8830. What to do when there is a water main break

10. How do I prevent frozen water pipes?

Is it ice cold in your basement or do you live in a mobile home park? Prevent water pipes and the water meter from freezing. The pipes and meter can freeze within hours if exposed to cold air. Frozen pipes and meters stop water from flowing and can be expensive to repair or replace. Property owners are responsible for protecting water pipes and the water meter from damage. Make sure warm air is circulating around the pipes and meter. How to Prevent Frozen Water Pipes (wikiHow)

11. Why is my water meter being replaced?

Water meters and their registers can often lose accuracy as they age.  They must be replaced every 15 to 20 years.  In addition, the new meter will have Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) technology that will save cost and prevent errors.

We are replacing two components.  The first is the actual water meter located in the basement or utility closet.  This meter will be replaced with a new meter and a radio read device. Secondly, properties with Read-o-matic (ROM) remote reading devices will be deactivated.  The ROM will remain on the exterior wall of the property to protect any siding, stone, brick, or stucco exterior.  The property owner may remove the device at any time or leave it installed.  The picture below shows a Read-o-matic device that was previously wired to the meter in the basement and installed on the exterior of the property.  The new radio device is typically installed right on top of the new meter, but we can also remotely mount the radio read device if transmission is not optimized.

City employees will be installing the new meter and radio read device, removing the old meter, and deactivation the Read-o-matic (ROM) remote reading devices.  City employees will arrive in a City marked truck or van and will have City ID badges.  We recommend a 3 foot radius around the meter to allow the work to be completed in a safe manner.  Please remove anything blocking the meter before the appointment.

The West Allis Municipal Water Utility will send you a letter asking you to schedule a water meter exchange.  You can schedule this appointment at your convenience, Monday through Friday with the earliest appointment at 7:30 am and the latest appointment at 2:15 pm.   For residential meters, the appointment should take around 30 minutes.  For commercial, industrial, and other customers, the appointments can range from 30 minutes to 8 hours depending on the size of the meter.  Access to the meter needs to be available at all times.  If you do cover up the meter, then make sure we are able to access it with a 3 foot radius in order to work on it if needed.

If the inlet and/or outlet valve are not working, then we will attempt to shut off the water at the curb stop.  We recommend replacing any valves that are not working to ensure you will be able to shut-off water in the event of an emergency.  You can contact a plumber to replace the valves.  The City will not replace the valves for you unless we would happen to damage them during the appointment.  Valves should be exercised regularly to reduce the likelihood of seizing and being inoperable in an emergency.

There will be temporary service interruption during the meter replacement.  The water service is typically off for 20 minutes.  Once water service is restored, the City employee will attempt to purge any air trapped in the service line.  If some air is left in the line, you may notice a sputtering sound the first time you operate a fixture.  This should only last a few seconds and will not cause any harm.  The first few gallons of water may be discolored.  We recommend running the water until it is clear.  This should not take more than five minutes.

There is no charge for the meter replacement.  The only time the City will charge for a meter is if the meter is damaged.  A meter can be damaged by not keeping the area around the meter warm enough to prevent freezing.  If the water in the meter freezes, then the bottom of the meter is designed to crack to help avoid pipes bursting in your property.

12. How does Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) work?

A device is installed with the meter that will transmit a radio signal to a data collector as the meter reader drives by.  With previous technology, a meter reader would be required to walk up to a device installed on the exterior of the home and manually enter a reading in the data collector.

13. Where is my water meter and what does it look like?

The water meter is installed in the basement of most properties.  Properties without basements typically have a utility closet where the furnace, water heater, and other mechanicals for the property are stored.  The meter is on the street side of the property where the water line connects to the property from the water main.  The picture below is an example of a water meter. 

Pictured below are two examples of water meters that are installed in properties in West Allis.

14. How accurate is my water meter?

Meter readings are obtained automatically over radio frequency and transmissions are 100% accurate.  Our meters are tested and/or replaced periodically.  Nearly 100% of the meters tested are 98.5%-101.5% accurate.