Where and how to pay your Irving water bill
The City of Irving offers four main ways to pay your water bill: online through their website, by phone, by mail, or in person at their payment office. The fastest route is the online portal at the City of Irving's utility billing website, where you can pay immediately with a bank account or debit card. You'll need your account number, which appears on your bill.
If you prefer to pay by phone, call the Irving Utilities Customer Service line at (972) 721-2571. A representative can process your payment over the phone using a debit or credit card. Payments made online or by phone typically post to your account within one business day.
For mail payments, send a check or money order to the address printed on your bill. Allow 7 to 10 days for the payment to arrive and post. If you pay in person, visit the Irving Utilities office during business hours — the address and hours are listed on your bill and on the city website.
Key Takeaways
- Pay online at the City of Irving's utility portal for the fastest processing, or call (972) 721-2571 to pay by phone.
- Your water bill includes charges for water consumption, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management, each calculated separately on your statement.
- Irving charges based on a tiered rate structure, meaning you pay a higher per-unit rate once you exceed a certain monthly usage threshold.
- If you fall behind on payments, the city can place a lien on your property or shut off service, but they must notify you in writing first.
- The city offers a budget billing plan that spreads your annual water costs evenly across 12 months, reducing surprise spikes in summer.
Understanding the charges on your Irving water bill
Your Irving water bill breaks down into three main components: water service, wastewater service, and stormwater service. The water service charge covers the cost of treating and delivering drinking water to your home. Wastewater service covers the cost of collecting and treating the water that leaves your home through drains and toilets. Stormwater service covers the cost of managing rainwater runoff in the city.
Each of these three services has its own charge on your bill, and each is calculated based on a different measure. Water and wastewater charges are based on the volume of water you use, measured in gallons or hundred-cubic-foot units (HCF). Stormwater charges are typically based on the square footage of impervious surface on your property — mainly your roof and driveway — rather than how much water you actually use.
You'll also see a base or fixed charge for each service, which you pay every month regardless of usage. This covers the cost of maintaining the pipes and infrastructure connected to your home. The base charge does not change month to month unless the city adjusts its rates.
How Irving's tiered rate structure works
Irving uses a tiered rate structure, which means the price per unit of water increases once you exceed a certain monthly usage threshold. Your first block of water — typically up to a set number of gallons or HCF — costs one rate. Any water you use beyond that threshold costs a higher rate per unit.
For example, if your tier 1 rate covers the first 15 HCF at one price, and you use 20 HCF in a month, you pay the tier 1 rate for the first 15 HCF and the tier 2 rate for the remaining 5 HCF. The exact thresholds and rates change periodically when the city adjusts its fee schedule. Check your bill or call Irving Utilities to confirm the current tier structure.
This structure encourages conservation: households that use less water pay a lower overall rate, while those with higher usage pay more per unit. Summer months typically see higher usage due to outdoor watering, which is why many households see a jump in their bill from May through September.
Setting up automatic payments and budget billing
Irving Utilities offers automatic payment, sometimes called autopay, through their online portal. Once you enroll, your bill is paid automatically on a date you choose each month, using the bank account or card you provide. This prevents missed payments and late fees, and you can change or cancel autopay at any time through your account.
The city also offers budget billing, a program that averages your annual water costs and spreads them evenly across 12 months. Instead of paying $80 one month and $180 the next, you pay roughly the same amount each month. This makes budgeting easier and smooths out seasonal spikes. To enroll in budget billing, contact Irving Utilities directly or sign up through your online account.
Budget billing does not reduce your total annual cost — it simply redistributes it. At the end of the year, the city reconciles your actual usage against what you paid, and you either owe a small amount or receive a credit. The program works best for households with predictable usage patterns.
What happens if you miss a payment
If your payment is late, Irving Utilities will charge a late fee, typically a percentage of the unpaid balance. The exact fee amount is listed in the city's utility billing rules. You'll receive a notice in the mail alerting you to the past-due balance and the deadline to pay before further action is taken.
If you do not pay within the notice period, the city can shut off your water service. Before disconnection, Irving must send you written notice at least 10 days in advance, giving you a chance to pay or contact the city about a payment arrangement. Once service is shut off, you'll need to pay the full past-due balance plus a reconnection fee to restore water.
In cases of extended non-payment, the city may place a lien against your property, which means the city has a legal claim on your home. This lien can affect your ability to sell or refinance your home until it is paid off. If you're struggling to pay, contact Irving Utilities as soon as possible to discuss payment plans or hardship programs.
Reading your Irving water bill line by line
Your bill shows your account number, service address, and billing period at the top. Below that, you'll see your meter reading — the number of units of water you used during the billing period. The bill then lists each service charge (water, wastewater, stormwater) with its base fee and usage charge broken out separately.
Look for the "Total Amount Due" line, which is the sum of all charges. Your bill also shows the due date, which is typically 20 days from the bill date. If you've enrolled in budget billing, your bill will note that and show your fixed monthly payment instead of usage-based charges.
At the bottom of your bill, you'll find contact information for Irving Utilities, payment instructions, and sometimes notices about rate changes or service updates. If any charge looks wrong — for example, if your usage spiked unexpectedly — note the meter reading and contact the city to request a meter check or leak investigation.
Investigating unusually high water bills
A sudden spike in your water bill usually signals either a leak in your home's plumbing or a change in your usage pattern. Check your meter reading on the bill: if it jumped significantly from the previous month, a leak is likely. Common sources are running toilets, dripping faucets, and leaks in underground supply lines.
To check for leaks yourself, turn off all water-using appliances and faucets, then look at your meter. If the meter continues to move, water is leaking somewhere. For a more detailed check, read your meter, wait two hours without using water, then read it again. If the number changed, you have a leak.
If you suspect a leak, contact a licensed plumber to locate and repair it. Once the leak is fixed, your bill should return to normal. If you believe the meter itself is faulty, Irving Utilities can test it — call (972) 721-2571 to request a meter inspection. Some cities offer adjustments for bills caused by leaks, though policies vary; ask the city whether you may be may be able to access for a one-time adjustment if you can show proof of repair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my Irving water bill with a credit card?
Yes, you can pay with a credit card online through the City of Irving's utility portal or by phone. However, the city may charge a convenience fee for credit card payments, typically 2 to 3 percent of the amount paid. Debit cards and bank account payments usually do not carry this fee.
What does HCF mean on my water bill?
HCF stands for hundred-cubic-feet. One HCF equals 748 gallons of water. Irving measures water usage in HCF units, so if your bill shows 15 HCF, you used about 11,220 gallons that month. The conversion helps the city standardize billing across different meter types.
How do I lower my water bill?
Reduce indoor usage by fixing leaks, installing low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators, and running full loads in washing machines and dishwashers. Outdoors, water your lawn early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation, and consider drought-tolerant landscaping. Because Irving uses tiered rates, staying below the tier 1 threshold saves you the most money.
What if I think my meter is broken?
Call Irving Utilities at (972) 721-2571 and request a meter test. The city will inspect your meter to determine whether it is reading accurately. If the meter is faulty, the city may adjust your bill for the affected billing periods. Bring your recent bills to help the representative understand the pattern you've noticed.
Does Irving offer payment assistance for low-income households?
Contact Irving Utilities directly at (972) 721-2571 to ask about any hardship programs or payment arrangements. The city may offer extended payment plans or other options for households facing financial difficulty. You can also contact the City of Irving's Community Services department to learn about broader assistance programs.