We require written notification to make changes to an account. Please email necessary changes needed to water@oakcreekwi.gov. 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.

This discrepancy is due to timing between our billing program and PSN that happens each month. Account balances according to our billing program are uploaded to PSN on the first business day of the new month. After a 24-hour delay, PSN will update and accurate balances will show on your online payment portal, typically available on the second business day of the month. There is no need to wait until the balance according to your bill shows on PSN to make a payment.

You are charged on a quarterly basis according to your meter size for water that passes through the water meter. A typical residential meter size is 5/8". Water meters are located inside your home as they contain water and would freeze if outside during the winter. Your meter is normally located in your basement toward the street side of the home. A device is installed with the meter that will transmit a radio signal to a data collector as the meter reader drives by. Our meters are tested and/or replaced periodically, to ensure accurate readings.

The Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility is funded only by the rates our customers pay. These rates directly support the necessary infrastructure investments and service improvements that make it possible for us to deliver reliable, high quality water and sanitary sewer services to our customers.

• The water and sanitary sewer portions have two components. A fixed charge, based on the size of your water meter, and a consumption charge, based on how much water you use.
• Metro - A pass-through charge to cover the operations and maintenance costs of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) sewerage treatment facilities and conveyance systems.
• Public Fire Protection - Includes the fixed cost of hydrants, water storage, oversizing of pipes and pumps to provide an adequate water supply for extinguishing fires.

An estimated lifespan of a meter and its related equipment is approximately 15 years. When your meter needs to be replaced, we will send you a letter asking to set up an exchange appointment. There is no cost to these appointments and require only a small amount of your time, taking less than an hour. Failure to respond to meter exchange requests may result in a quarterly meter access penalty added to your bill.

Water rates are set by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and have not increased since 2016. Local sanitary sewer rates are set by the Common Council and have not increased since 2010.

You may have missed a payment from a previous bill; check your banking records to confirm the date of your prior payment. Otherwise, you may have a leak. A high bill is NOT caused by your meter failing. When meters fail, they are not able to keep up with the flow of water and therefore read low or even zero when they fail. 

Toilets - Toilet leaks are the most common culprit of higher water usage and often silent. Place 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.

Faucets - Most faucet and showerhead leaks are usually caused by worn washers or "O" rings (for washer-less faucets).

Outside Taps - Outdoor spigots and hose bibs can crack from age or cold weather and leak. Hoses left dribbling away in the grass or garden can waste thousands of gallons of water over the course of a summer. Remember to close the outside faucets tightly every time you shut off the water.

Appliances - Water heaters, humidifiers, water-cooled air conditioners, washing machines, and dishwashers could all be sources of leaks that may impact your water bill.

Hidden Leaks - Leaks can happen in unseen places like under your home, crawlspaces, or from cracks in pipes hidden behind walls or in cabinets.

Unseen or unfixed, water leaks can drip hundreds, even thousands of gallons of water wastefully down the drain. You are responsible for the amount of water that passes through your water meter, whether you consumed the water, or it dripped or leaked. You can use your meter as a tool to help identify if your property has any leaks. There is a small red dial on the face of the meter which spins when water use is detected. During a time when no one is using any water, if the dial is moving, that indicates a leak. You may need to mark where the dial is pointing and see if there was any movement after 30 minutes to know if there is a small leak. You can also monitor the advancement of the numbers on the meter to see if it is registering water use when no water is being used.

Most leaks are easy to fix with parts from your local hardware store. If you need help, contact a professional plumber.

Should the 20th of the month fall on a weekend, holiday, or any other day the Utility is closed, the following business day is considered the due date.

Account balances stay with the property. The new property owner is ultimately responsible for the cost, we cannot adjust or prorate charges for new property owners. As a part of closing on a home, title companies typically include a prorated credit from the sellers of the property to put towards your first bill as the new owners.

Water used on landscaping or pool filling is charged as normal usage; no credits are given. This maintains a lower sanitary sewer rate throughout the year, since the water used is part of the volume factored in when designing new sanitary sewer rates. 

We cannot waive a properly applied late fee according to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. 

A 1% penalty is added on the 21st of every month to any outstanding balance. Any outstanding account balances with charges accrued prior to October 1st are eligible to roll from your water and sewer account to your property taxes. An informational letter is sent mid-October with eligible outstanding balances. Payments must be made by November 1st to prevent receiving a 10% penalty. Payments may still be made up through November 15th and any remaining outstanding delinquent balance is rolled to the property taxes. No exceptions are made.

We do not test private well water. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides information on recommended testing, certified laboratories, and other information regarding private wells.

Annually, the Utility distributes a Water Quality Report. This report includes a large amount of information regarding our drinking water. This report is always available on our website. If you still have questions feel free to contact our General Manager at mjsullivan@oakcreekwi.gov.