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1. Am I responsible for my tenant's water bill?

Property owners are responsible for any and all water, sewer, and refuse charges incurred by tenants occupying their property.

While owners can make tenant payment of utilities part of their rental or lease agreement, the owner will be responsible for any outstanding charges left by the tenant. For more information, contact the Water Department at 973-266-8869.

2. How can I pay my monthly bill?

You can pay by mail, in person, or online. Visit our Pay Water Bill page for more information.

3. How does water get to our homes and businesses?

Transmission mains transport the water from our pumping station to an elevated underground 10 million gallon holding reservoir; then, by gravity, through a network of distribution mains, water is delivered to our customers’ homes and businesses for their use. Other facilities include control valves, fire hydrants, service lines and meters.

For more information, contact us at 973-266-8869.

4. How is my water rate determined?

The cost of delivering safe, reliable water depends on a number of factors such as: the expense of operating and maintaining the water system; the cost of the electricity used to pump the water from its source to homes and businesses; and the salaries of technicians, meter-readers, administrative personnel and others who help run the water utility.

For more information on your water rate, contact the Water Department at 973-266-8869.

5. How do I apply for a new water and / or sewer service from the East Orange Water Commission?

To apply, call 973-266-8869 or visit the Water Department office at:
99 S Grove Street
East Orange, NJ 07018

To obtain an application we will require the following information:
- Classification status of the property (residential, commercial, institutional, industrial)
- Legal description of the property
- Meter size
- Property address
- Service type

6. How much water does the average person use at home per day?

Estimates vary, but each person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day. Americans drink more than 1 billion glasses of water a day. For more information about water consumption, visit our Water Supply page.

7. What are some ways I can conserve water?

There are many ways to conserve water. Visit our Water Supply page for more information.

8. What causes water mains to break?

Adverse weather conditions and drastic changes in temperature can create havoc with water mains and cause main breaks. You can usually tell when a main break has happened because water is bubbling up from the ground. Sometimes breaks are less noticeable and may only be detected by a loss of water pressure.

9. What is the phone number for Customer Service?

The Water Department Customer Service Center can be reached at 973-266-8869.

10. What part of the service line is the Water Commission’s responsibility and what part is the homeowner’s responsibility?

Any part of the service line beyond the curb box, which is usually located in the right-of-way or at the property line is the owner’s responsibility. The line from the street to the curb box is the East Orange Water Commission’s responsibility.

For more information, contact the Water Department at 973-266-8869.

11. What is potable water?

Potable (which rhymes with floatable) means water that is safe to drink. Potable water must come from a natural source, for example surface or groundwater, and must meet or be better than federal and state standards for drinking water quality.

For more information, contact the Water Department at 973-266-8869.

12. When may the Commission terminate my water service for non-payment?

Your water bill is due upon receipt. If you still have a balance due after 90 days from the date of your bill, the East Orange Water Commission may discontinue your service.

Visit the Pay Water Bill page for more information.

13. Why do water rates keep going up even though we have plenty of water?

When you pay for water, you are mainly paying for a service. This means:
- Labor
- Infrastructure
- Capital investments
- Compliance laws
- Other operating costs

Rate increases are based on how much it costs a water service provider to supply water in any given area. One main driver of increasing rates is capital investment, or the money water providers need to invest to repair and upgrade the water supply infrastructure.

For more information, contact the Water Department at 973-266-8869.

14. Who do I call if I have a leak?

The East Orange Water Commission is not responsible for leaks that occur on private property.

If you are unsure about who would be responsible for a leak, or to report a leak outside of your property or inside the meter box, call the Water Department Customer Service Center at 973-266-8869.

15. Who do I call about a water main break or a fire hydrant leak?

To report a broken water or sewer pipe or fire hydrant, call the Customer Service Center at 973-266-8869 as soon as possible at Emergencies may be reported at this number 24 hours a day, seven days a week.