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1. How often will I receive a bill and when is it due?

Each account is assigned a designated route that is billed at the same time--every other month for residential customers and every month for commercial customers. Residential customers have 28 days to pay their bill and commercial customers have 19 days. If you would like to know when your route is scheduled to bill, please call Customer Service at (909) 866-5050. For more information, visit the Water Rates page.

2. How do I make my payment?

The City of Big Bear Lake DWP is not associated with any other DWP. We offer six ways to pay your bill. Visit the Pay / View My Bill page for a list of all bill pay options.

3. Is there a way to pay my bill automatically?

Yes, we offer two options to pay your bill automatically. To pay your bill directly from your checking account, please complete the Auto Pay Application. To pay your bill automatically by credit card (Visa or MasterCard) please sign in to your account and select the automatic payment option when making your payment.

4. What is the service charge for? Do part-time owners pay the same rate as full-time owners? May I choose to turn off my water to avoid paying service charges when I am not using my home?

Customers connected to the DWP water system are charged a "readiness to serve" charge based on the size of their meter. Residential customers are billed a bimonthly service charge and commercial customers are billed a monthly service charge. This amount is billed regardless of any water usage and whether the water is turned on or off.

Since the Bear Valley is a resort destination, it is not typical of other Southern California communities. The permanent population of full-time residents averages 25,000 but can soar to about 100,000 during peak holiday weekends. Consequently, our water system must be prepared to handle that peak population at any given time.

Like all water agencies, we recover costs via rates to maintain and operate our water system, which includes pipelines, wells, reservoirs, booster stations, treatment facilities, meters, equipment, staff, etc. Moreover, we are a public agency that does not make a profit. All of our rates and fees are based on costs of service. Since our population fluctuates so dramatically, we need to rely on fixed charges to recover costs needed to operate and maintain the water system. Learn more about water rates.

5. How do I have the bill sent to a renter/tenant?

The property owner or rental agency will need to fill out the Water Service Agreement to add a "care of" address to the property owner's account. The property owner will be billed a fee.

6. Why are bills sometimes estimated during winter months?

During winter, there are times when it is not possible to read meters due to bad weather, snow, or ice. When this happens, your bill is estimated. Estimation is based on each customer's usage during the same period of the previous year. However, if you are a new customer, it is based on the prior customer's usage. When we are again able to read your meter, typically your next billing cycle, the new bill will account for the usage that was previously estimated. Your account will be credited if the usage was overestimated and charged if it was underestimated.

7. Are there any discounts for low-income customers?

The DWP does not currently offer a low-income program.

8. Why is my bill so high when I only had a small leak?

Every year several customers experience leaks that go undetected, until they receive a large water bill. A slow drip from your faucet can easily waste 170 gallons of water or more in a 24-hour period. Larger leaks can waste thousands of gallons and become very expensive.

The most common leaks are usually linked to problems with stop and drain valves, faulty sprinkler systems, not winterizing properly, broken pipes or fittings, or faulty toilets. Regularly check your plumbing fixtures, hose bibb, stop and drain valve, washer hookup, and water heater intake valve for possible leaks or worn fittings.

Toilet leaks are less noticeable because they may not be seen or heard. The DWP offers dye tablets to test for silent toilet leaks. These tablets are free to our customers and available at the office.