Pay your SAWS bill through their website, by phone, or by mail

San Antonio Water System (SAWS) lets you pay online at www.saws.org, by phone at 210-704-7297, or by mailing a check. Online payment is the fastest route — your payment posts the same day if you pay before 5 p.m. central time on a business day. You can set up automatic payments so the bill comes out of your bank account on a date you choose each month.

The website also shows your account balance, usage history, and due date before you pay. If you prefer not to use the website, phone payment takes about five minutes and costs nothing extra. Mail takes 7 to 10 business days to reach SAWS, so plan ahead if your bill is due soon.

Key Takeaways

  • Online payment at www.saws.org posts the same day if submitted before 5 p.m. central time on a business day.
  • Phone payment at 210-704-7297 is free and takes about five minutes.
  • Mailed checks take 7 to 10 business days, so send them at least two weeks before your due date to avoid a late fee.
  • Automatic payments remove the need to remember to pay each month and cost nothing.
  • Your SAWS account online shows your balance, usage, and payment history in one place.

Paying online at www.saws.org

Go to www.saws.org and look for the "Pay My Bill" button, usually near the top of the page. You will need your account number, which appears on your paper bill or in any SAWS email. Enter your account number, then the amount you want to pay — you can pay the full balance or a partial amount.

SAWS accepts payment by debit card, credit card, or bank account transfer. Credit card payments may carry a processing fee (SAWS shows this before you confirm). Debit card and bank account payments have no fee. Once you submit, you get a confirmation number on screen — save or print this in case you need to reference the payment later.

If you pay before 5 p.m. central time on a business day, the payment posts to your account the same day. Payments submitted after 5 p.m. or on weekends post the next business day. You can check your payment status by logging back into your account.

Setting up automatic payments

Automatic payments mean your bill comes out of your bank account on the same date each month, so you never have to remember. Log into your SAWS account online, go to "Billing & Payments," and select "Autopay." Choose your payment method (bank account or card), the date you want the payment to come out, and whether you want to pay the full bill or a set amount each month.

You can change or cancel automatic payments anytime through your online account. If your bill amount changes — which it does seasonally for most customers — SAWS will charge whatever the current balance is on your chosen date. This works well if you want a hands-off approach, but check your account occasionally to make sure the amounts look right.

Paying by phone

Call SAWS at 210-704-7297 to pay by phone. Have your account number and a debit card or bank account information ready. The automated system walks you through the payment and takes about five minutes. You will get a confirmation number at the end — write it down.

Phone lines are open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. central time, and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you call outside these hours, you can still use the automated system. There is no fee to pay by phone.

Paying by mail

Write a check or money order payable to SAWS and include the payment stub from your bill. Mail it to the address printed on your bill — this address changes depending on which processing center handles your account, so always use the one on your statement.

Mail takes 7 to 10 business days to arrive, so send your payment at least two weeks before the due date to avoid a late fee. Write your account number on the check itself in case it separates from the stub. Keep a copy of the check or note the check number for your records.

What happens if you miss a payment

If your bill is not paid by the due date, SAWS adds a late fee to your account. The amount varies but is typically a percentage of your balance. After 30 days past due, SAWS may send a notice warning that service could be disconnected.

If you cannot pay the full amount, contact SAWS at 210-704-7297 to discuss a payment plan. SAWS sometimes works with customers to spread payments over time rather than disconnect service. The sooner you call, the more options you may have.

Understanding your SAWS account online

When you log into www.saws.org, you can see your current balance, the due date, and your usage for the current and past months. This is useful if you want to track whether your water use is going up or down, or if you want to check that a payment posted correctly after you submitted it.

Your online account also shows your billing history — past bills, past payments, and any adjustments SAWS made to your account. If you think there is an error on your bill, this history helps you spot when it happened. You can also download or print past bills from this page if you need them for records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay my SAWS bill with a credit card online?

Yes, but SAWS charges a processing fee for credit card payments — usually around 2.5 percent of the amount you pay. Debit cards and bank account transfers have no fee. The website shows the fee before you confirm, so you can choose whether to pay it.

What if I do not have an online account yet?

Go to www.saws.org and click "Create Account" or "Register." You will need your account number (from your bill) and some basic information. Once you register, you can pay online and view your balance anytime.

How do I know if my payment went through?

Online and phone payments show a confirmation number immediately. Check your SAWS account online the next business day — your payment should appear in the transaction history. Mail payments take longer; call 210-704-7297 if you want to confirm a mailed check was received.

Can I set up automatic payments for just part of my bill?

Yes. When you set up autopay, you can choose to pay a fixed amount each month rather than the full balance. This works if you want to spread payments, though you will still owe the remainder by the due date to avoid a late fee.

What if I want to stop automatic payments?

Log into your SAWS account online, go to "Billing & Payments," and select "Autopay" again. You can pause or cancel it anytime. The change takes effect on your next scheduled payment date.