Your monthly water bill includes a lot of helpful information, but we know it can be difficult to know where to look first.
This guide walks through some of the most important sections of your Fort Collins-Loveland Water District (FCLWD) bill, including your current charges, water use, year-to-date usage, tiered rates and payment options. It also answers a few common questions our billing team receives from customers.
Whether you pay online, by mail or through Auto Pay, understanding your bill can help you better track your water use and know what to expect each month.
TL;DR Summary
- Understanding your bill can provide more insight into water use, include water used at different tiers and your year-to-date use.
- FCLWD offers a variety of ways to pay your bill including over the phone, by mail, at our office, online and through Auto Pay.
- Enrollment in Auto Pay does not relieve the account holder of responsibility for timely payment of all charges and fees owed on the account.
Understanding the charges on your bill
One of the most important areas to review is the section that shows your previous balance, total current billing, adjustments, payments received, late fees and total amount due.
The total amount due is the amount owed by the due date listed on the bill. Your previous balance shows the amount owed from your last bill. Your total current billing shows the new charges for the current billing period. Less payments received, adjustments and late fees are then applied to determine the total amount due.
If you made a payment after the bill was generated, it may not appear on the printed or emailed bill. That does not necessarily mean the payment was not received. It may simply mean the payment was processed after the bill was created. You can check your online account or contact our billing team to confirm whether a payment has been applied.
Look at your water use
Your bill includes a consumption history chart, which shows your monthly water use over the past year. This can be one of the easiest ways to see seasonal patterns.
For many residential customers, water use is lower in the winter and higher during irrigation season.
Your bill also includes current YTD consumption. YTD stands for year-to-date, and this number shows your total water use since January 1.
This is one of the most helpful numbers on your bill because it gives you a bigger-picture view of your water use. Instead of only looking at one month, you can see how your usage is adding up throughout the year.
If your YTD usage is increasing faster than expected, it may be a good time to check irrigation schedules, inspect for leaks, or make sure your outdoor watering matches current weather conditions.
Understanding tiered water use
FCLWD uses a tiered rate structure for residential water use. Each tier represents a different level of water use, and the rate increases as usage moves into higher tiers.
Lower tiers are designed to cover essential indoor water use for drinking, cooking, cleaning and sanitation. Higher tiers generally reflect outdoor and seasonal use, such as landscape irrigation, which requires more system capacity and can increase costs during summer peaks.
This structure is designed to balance fairness, efficiency and sustainability. It helps protect essential water needs with the lowest possible rate, while encouraging efficient outdoor use and ensuring the system remains sustainable for everyone. Higher tiers help curb excessive water use, and we are thankful to our customers for being responsive to that.
In a lower-use month, your bill may only show Tier 1 usage. In a higher-use month, especially during irrigation season, your use may move into multiple tiers.
What is the meter base fee?
The meter base fee is a fixed monthly charge based on your meter size. Unlike consumption charges, this fee is not based on how much water you use during the month.
This charge is not new. Since FCLWD switched to its current billing structure in 2002, customer bills have included a base charge and tiered consumption charges. The base charge helps cover the fixed costs of providing water service, including the meter and the infrastructure needed to maintain service to your property.
The tiered consumption charges are based on how much water you use. Together, the base charge and tiered charges help support a rate structure that reflects both the cost of being connected to the system and the cost of the water used each billing period.
Customers can learn more about how FCLWD’s rate structure has evolved on our History of FCLWD Rates page.
Payment options and Auto Pay
Customers have several ways to pay their bill. This includes:
- Pay by phone by calling (970) 226-3104 and use extension 1 for automated voice pay (IVR)
- Pay by drop box 24/7 at 5150 Snead Drive
- Mail a check to Fort Collins-Loveland Water District, P.O. Box 501, Fort Collins, CO 80522
- Pay online through our payment portal
- Set up Auto Pay in the payment portal
Auto Pay can be a convenient option for customers who want the balance due to be automatically drafted on the bill due date.
By enrolling in Auto Pay, you authorize the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District to automatically draft the balance due from your designated payment method on each bill due date. Any payments received prior to the due date will be credited to your account and reflected in the amount drafted.
Account holders are responsible for maintaining accurate and current payment information and ensuring sufficient funds are available at the time of the draft. If a draft is rejected, declined, returned, or otherwise unsuccessful due to insufficient funds, an expired card, closed account, or invalid payment information, applicable returned payment fees or service charges may be assessed. Enrollment in Auto Pay does not relieve the account holder of responsibility for timely payment of all charges and fees owed on the account.
Because Auto Pay requires authorization from the account holder and current payment information, FCLWD staff cannot simply enroll an account in Auto Pay on behalf of a customer. The account holder must complete the setup and maintain accurate payment information. This is for the security of the customer’s payment information.
Reading your bill FAQs
What does it mean when there are parentheses around my amount due?
Parentheses typically indicate a credit balance. This may happen if your account has been overpaid or if a credit has been applied. In that case, the amount in parentheses is not an additional amount due.
Why does my bill not show the payment I made?
Your bill reflects account activity as of the date the bill was generated. If you made a payment after the bill was created, it may not appear on that bill but should still be reflected on your account. You can check your online account or contact the billing team if you want to confirm whether a payment was received.
Why am I now seeing a base fee on my bill?
The base fee is not new. FCLWD has had a base charge and tiered consumption charges since switching to this billing structure in 2002. The base fee may appear more clearly as a separate line item depending on the bill format or how charges are displayed.
How do I change my credit card or payment information for Auto Pay?
Log in to your online customer portal and update the payment method connected to Auto Pay. It is the account holder’s responsibility to keep payment information current, including replacing expired cards or updating closed accounts. Please visit our Pay Bill page for further instructions if needed.
We’re here to help
Your bill is designed to provide a clear summary of your charges, water use and payment status. Once you know where to look, it can also be a helpful tool for monitoring seasonal use, understanding tiered rates and tracking year-to-date consumption.
If you have questions about your bill, payment options or your online account, contact the FCLWD billing team at billing@fclwd.com or call (970) 226-3104.
