Pay your SCWA bill through their website, by phone, or by mail
Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) customers in New York can pay online at scwa.com, by phone at 631-273-9494, or by mailing a check to the address on your bill. Online payment is the fastest route — your payment posts the same day if you pay before 5 p.m. Eastern time on a business day. Phone payments take the same time as online but require speaking to a representative. Mail payments take 7 to 10 business days to reach SCWA and post to your account.
You do not need to create an account to pay once. If you want to set up automatic payments or check your balance between bills, you will need to register on the SCWA website first. The registration process takes about five minutes and requires your account number (found on your bill) and the service address.
Key Takeaways
- Online payment at scwa.com posts the same day if submitted before 5 p.m. on a business day, making it the fastest option.
- Phone payments through 631-273-9494 work the same day but require you to speak with a representative during business hours.
- Mail payments take 7 to 10 business days to process, so send them early if your due date is approaching.
- You can set up automatic monthly payments through your SCWA account to avoid missing due dates.
- Your account number on your bill is required for all payment methods except automatic payments set up through your bank.
Paying online through SCWA's website
Go to scwa.com and look for the "Pay My Bill" or "Make a Payment" button on the homepage. You will be taken to a secure payment portal where you enter your account number and the amount you want to pay. The system accepts credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers (ACH). Credit and debit card payments charge a convenience fee of around 2.5 percent; bank transfers have no fee.
After you submit your payment, you will see a confirmation number on screen. Write this down or take a screenshot — you will need it if you have questions about the payment later. SCWA sends a confirmation email to the address on file, though this can take a few minutes. If you do not receive an email within an hour, log back into your account to confirm the payment went through.
Online payments are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, payments submitted after 5 p.m. Eastern time on a business day will post the next business day. Payments submitted on weekends or holidays post on the next business day.
Paying by phone with SCWA customer service
Call 631-273-9494 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time). Have your account number and payment method ready — the representative will ask for either a credit card, debit card, or bank account information. Phone payments process the same day if you call before 5 p.m. on a business day.
The representative will give you a confirmation number before the call ends. Ask them to repeat it and write it down. This number proves you made the payment if there is ever a dispute. SCWA does not charge a convenience fee for phone payments, unlike online credit card payments.
Paying by mail
Write a check or money order payable to "Suffolk County Water Authority" and mail it to the address printed on your bill. Do not send cash. Include your account number on the check (write it in the memo line). Mail payments take 7 to 10 business days to arrive and post to your account, so send your payment at least two weeks before the due date if you want to avoid a late fee.
Keep a copy of the check or a photo of it for your records. If SCWA does not receive your payment, you will have proof you sent it. The address on your bill is the correct mailing address — do not send payment to a different address even if you find one online.
Setting up automatic payments
Automatic payments deduct your bill amount from your bank account on a date you choose each month. This removes the risk of forgetting a due date. To set up automatic payments, log into your SCWA account at scwa.com, go to the "Billing" or "Payment" section, and select "Automatic Payments" or "Recurring Payments." You will need to provide your bank account number and routing number.
You can also set up automatic payments directly through your bank's bill pay service without creating an SCWA account. Contact your bank for instructions. Either way, you can cancel automatic payments at any time by logging into your account or calling your bank.
Automatic payments are free and post on the date you select. If that date falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment posts on the next business day. SCWA sends a reminder email a few days before each automatic payment.
What to do if your payment does not post
If you paid online or by phone and your account still shows the payment as unpaid after one business day, log into your SCWA account and check the payment history. Your payment should appear there with a confirmation number. If it does not appear, call 631-273-9494 with your confirmation number and the date you paid.
If you paid by mail and your payment has not posted after 10 business days, call SCWA with your check number and the date you mailed it. Keep the cancelled check from your bank as proof of payment. SCWA can look up whether they received it and when it posted.
Do not make a second payment while you are waiting for the first one to post. This can result in an overpayment that takes time to refund. Wait at least one business day after paying online or by phone, and at least 10 business days after mailing a check.
Understanding your bill and due date
Your SCWA bill shows the amount due, the due date, and your account number at the top. The due date is usually 20 to 25 days after the bill is mailed. If you pay by the due date, you will not be charged a late fee. Late fees are typically around 1.5 percent of the unpaid balance per month.
Your bill also shows your water usage for the billing period, the rate per gallon or per 100 cubic feet (depending on your meter type), and any taxes or fees. If your bill seems higher than usual, check whether your usage increased or whether a rate change took effect. You can compare your current usage to previous months by logging into your SCWA account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my SCWA bill with a credit card online?
Yes, but SCWA charges a convenience fee of around 2.5 percent of the payment amount when you use a credit or debit card online. Bank transfers (ACH) have no fee. Phone payments also have no fee regardless of payment method.
What happens if I miss the due date?
SCWA charges a late fee, typically around 1.5 percent of the unpaid balance per month. If your bill remains unpaid for 60 days or more, SCWA may shut off your water service. Contact SCWA immediately if you cannot pay by the due date to discuss payment options.
How do I know if my online payment went through?
You will see a confirmation number on screen immediately after submitting payment. Log into your SCWA account within a few hours to verify the payment appears in your payment history. SCWA also sends a confirmation email, though this can take up to an hour.
Can I pay someone else's SCWA bill?
Yes. You can pay online or by phone using the account number of the person whose bill you are paying. You do not need to be the account holder. By mail, write the account number on the check and mail it to the address on that person's bill.
What if I overpay my bill?
SCWA will credit the overpayment to your next bill. If you want a refund instead, call 631-273-9494 and request one. Refunds typically take 4 to 6 weeks to process.