Baltimore's online water bill payment system lets you pay through the city's official website or set up automatic payments from your bank account

Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) runs the water utility and accepts online payments through their customer portal at bwwaterworks.org. You can pay a single bill, set up a recurring automatic payment, or pay past-due amounts. The system accepts bank transfers and credit or debit cards, though card payments may include a processing fee.

You'll need your account number to log in — it appears on your paper bill in the upper right corner. If you don't have a recent bill, you can look up your account by entering your address on the login page.

Key Takeaways

  • The Baltimore water bill payment portal is at bwwaterworks.org, and you log in with your account number and password.
  • Automatic payments from your bank account typically have no fee, while credit card payments usually charge a processing fee of 2.5 to 3 percent.
  • Payments made online are usually processed within one to two business days, though the exact timing depends on your bank.
  • If you can't pay in full, you can contact DPW about payment plans or hardship programs before your account is referred to collections.

Setting up your account on the water portal

Start by visiting bwwaterworks.org and clicking "Login" or "Create Account" if this is your first time. You'll enter your account number (from your bill) and create a password. Baltimore will send a confirmation email — check your spam folder if you don't see it within a few minutes.

Once you're logged in, your dashboard shows your current balance, due date, and payment history. You can view your bill online instead of waiting for the paper version, which helps you catch billing errors earlier. The portal also shows any past-due amounts separately from your current bill.

One-time payments and payment methods

To pay a single bill, select "Make a Payment" from your account dashboard. You'll choose the amount (your full bill, a partial payment, or a custom amount) and the payment method. Baltimore offers two main options: bank account transfer (ACH) or card payment (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover).

Bank transfers typically have no fee and take one to two business days to post. Card payments usually charge a processing fee — typically 2.5 to 3 percent of the payment amount — and may post faster, sometimes within 24 hours. The portal will show you the exact fee before you confirm the payment, so you know the total cost upfront.

Partial payments are allowed. If you can't pay the full amount, you can pay what you can afford, and the remaining balance will carry to your next bill. However, if your account falls significantly behind, DPW may add a late fee or refer your account to a collections agency.

Setting up automatic payments

Automatic payments save time and help you avoid late fees. From your account dashboard, select "Autopay" or "Automatic Payments" and choose your payment method and due date. Most people set it to pay on the due date shown on their bill, but you can pick any date that works for your budget.

If you use bank account transfer for autopay, there is typically no fee. You can change or cancel autopay anytime through your account settings — you don't need to call or email. If your bill amount changes month to month (which is normal for water), the autopay will charge whatever the current bill is on the date you set.

What to do if you can't log in or forgot your account number

If you forgot your password, click "Forgot Password" on the login page and enter your account number. Baltimore will email you a reset link. If you don't have your account number, you can look it up by entering your service address instead — the portal will find your account and let you proceed.

If you're having trouble accessing the portal or getting error messages, try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, then log in again. If that doesn't work, contact Baltimore DPW's customer service at 311 (within Baltimore) or 410-396-5398 (outside the city). They can reset your account or help you pay over the phone, though phone payments may have a higher processing fee than online payments.

Payment timing and when money actually posts

Online payments don't post instantly. Bank transfers typically take one to two business days after you submit them. Card payments may post within 24 hours, but this depends on your card issuer, not just the water company. Payments submitted on weekends or holidays are processed the next business day.

If your bill is due on the 15th and you pay on the 14th, the payment may not show as posted until after the due date — but DPW generally won't charge a late fee if you initiated the payment before the due date. To be safe, pay at least two business days before the due date if you're cutting it close.

If you're behind on payments or facing hardship

If you've fallen behind on your water bill, contact DPW before your account is referred to collections. You can call 311 or 410-396-5398 to ask about a payment plan — the city may let you spread past-due amounts over several months instead of paying a lump sum.

Baltimore also has a Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) that may help cover water bills if you meet income limits. This is a separate program from the payment portal, and you apply through the city's Department of Social Services. Even if you don't think you may have access to, it's worth calling 311 to ask about current programs and income thresholds, since these change year to year.

If your water service has been shut off due to non-payment, you'll need to pay the full past-due amount plus a reconnection fee before service is restored. The portal won't let you make a payment once service is shut off, so you'll need to call DPW directly to arrange payment and reconnection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee to pay my water bill online?

Bank account transfers have no fee. Credit or debit card payments usually charge a processing fee of 2.5 to 3 percent of the payment amount. The portal shows the exact fee before you confirm, so you know the total cost. If you want to avoid fees, use bank transfer instead.

Can I pay my water bill by mail instead of online?

Yes. You can mail a check or money order to the address on your bill. Mail payments take longer to post — typically 7 to 10 business days — so mail your payment earlier if your due date is coming up. Online or phone payment is faster if you're close to the due date.

What happens if I pay late?

Late fees are added if your payment is not received by the due date. If you're more than 60 days late, your account may be referred to a collections agency, which can affect your credit. If you know you'll be late, call 311 to ask about a payment plan before the late fee is applied.

Can I set up autopay if I have a past-due balance?

Yes, you can set up autopay even if you owe past-due amounts. The autopay will charge your current bill each month, but it won't automatically pay down the past-due balance. You'll need to make a separate one-time payment for the arrears, or ask DPW about a payment plan that includes both.

How do I change my payment due date?

If you have autopay set up, you can change the payment date anytime through your account settings on bwwaterworks.org. If you don't have autopay, your due date is set by the billing cycle and can't be changed through the portal. Call 311 if you need to discuss your billing cycle or due date.