Howard County Water Utility 2026: Bill Pay, Login & Phone

How to Pay Your Howard County Water Bill Online

Howard County’s current online utility payment system is tilliX. The portal provides account access, payment history, water consumption details and a Quick Pay option.

Pay Without Creating an Account

1. Open the official portal. Visit Howard County tilliX.
2. Choose Quick Pay. Select the Quick Pay option to make a one-time payment without logging in or registering.
3. Enter your billing information. Have your water and sewer statement available. Follow the portal prompts to identify the correct utility account.
4. Check your amount due. Confirm the account details and payment amount before continuing.
5. Select the payment method. Choose an available card or electronic-check payment option.
6. Review the convenience fee. The payment system displays any applicable processing charge before submission.
7. Complete the payment. Save the confirmation or receipt and check the account later to verify posting.

Online Payment Fees in 2026

These are the county’s published Paymentus processing charges. Howard County does not receive any portion of the convenience fees. Confirm the final amount displayed during checkout.

For official payment information, see Howard County Water & Sewer Billing.

Howard County tilliX Login and New Account Registration

The county has introduced the tilliX portal for water and sewer accounts. Its older Utilli website directs customers to the newer portal, so you should update saved bookmarks rather than continuing to rely on an older account URL.

How to Sign In

1. Open tilliX Sign In.
2. Enter the email address associated with your online profile.
3. Select Sign in with magic link.
4. Check your email for the secure sign-in link.
5. Open the link and complete the sign-in process.
6. Select the linked utility account to review usage, bills or payments.

Register for the First Time

1. Visit the official login page.
2. Choose Sign Up.
3. Complete the information requested by the registration process.
4. Verify your email address as instructed.
5. Follow the account-linking steps to associate your water and sewer account.
6. Open the dashboard to review available services.

A registered account can provide access to consumption records, payment history, meter-reading history and customer service inquiries.

Cannot Receive Your Login Email?

Check that you entered the correct email address and review your spam or junk folder. If you still cannot access your account, use the tilliX Support page or email billing@howardcountymd.gov.

Other Ways to Pay Your Howard County Water and Sewer Bill

Online payment is not required. The county also accepts payments by phone, automatic bank draft, mail and at the Department of Finance cashier’s office in Ellicott City.

Pay by Telephone

1. Call 866-793-0085.
2. Keep your water and sewer bill nearby.
3. Follow the prompts to identify the account.
4. Enter the requested payment information.
5. Review the transaction amount and applicable fee.
6. Record the confirmation number.

For questions about a payment or account balance, the Water and Sewer Billing Division’s separate customer service number is 410-313-2058.

Mailing Address for Payments

Howard County Water & Sewer Payments
PO Box 781309
Philadelphia, PA 19178-1309

Mail a check or money order with the remittance portion of your bill. Payments must arrive by the due date to avoid a late fee. Do not mail cash.

Set Up Automatic Water Bill Payments

Howard County offers a Direct Debit Automatic Payment Program that withdraws the amount due from a checking account. Unlike individual card or e-check transactions, the county’s Direct Debit program has no convenience fee.

Enroll Through the Online Portal

1. Sign in at tilliX.
2. Open the payment options area.
3. Look for Direct Debit or automatic bank-payment enrollment.
4. Add the requested checking-account information.
5. Accept the enrollment authorization when prompted.
6. Confirm the effective date before relying on automatic withdrawal.

The county’s published enrollment instructions require the water and sewer account to have a zero or credit balance before registering for Direct Debit. If you have an unpaid balance, resolve it before enrolling.

Apply by Mail

1. Visit Water & Sewer Billing.
2. Open the Direct Debit Automatic Payment section.
3. Download the personal or business checking-account application.
4. Complete and sign the appropriate form.
5. Include a copy of a voided check as instructed.
6. Send the application to the address below.

Director of Finance, Direct Debit
PO Box 3367
Ellicott City, MD 21041-3367

To cancel Direct Debit, follow the cancellation instructions on the county’s application or contact billing at 410-313-2058.

Howard County Water Customer Service and Emergency Contacts

Billing questions and water system repairs are handled by different county departments. Contacting the correct office can save time, particularly for a leak or sewer backup.

The county’s Bureau of Utilities main information page also publishes 410-313-2200 for after-hours emergency dispatch. Its customer-service and tilliX support materials list 410-313-2929. Because different county pages publish different after-hours numbers, use the current emergency instructions or call the main Bureau number if you cannot reach the published after-hours line.

Bureau of Utilities Office

8250 Old Montgomery Road
Columbia, MD 21045

Published main office hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM–5 PM

For public water and sewer operational questions, use the Bureau of Utilities website.

Finance Office for Payments

Howard County Department of Finance
3430 Court House Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21043

Directions to Finance Office

Before visiting, check the Finance Billing & Payments page for holiday closures and Energy Saving Days that may affect counter service.

How Howard County Calculates Water and Sewer Bills

Howard County issues water and sewer bills quarterly rather than monthly. Charges are based on meter readings, usage rates and fixed account charges.

Your statement may include:

• Water consumption: Metered water usage multiplied by the applicable water rate.
• Sewer usage: A charge calculated using the applicable sewer consumption rate.
• Water account user charge: A fixed charge based on the meter size.
• Sewer account charge: A fixed quarterly charge for maintaining the sewer system.
• Bay Restoration Fee: A Maryland environmental fee where applicable.
• Earlier balance or late charge: Any unpaid amount carried from a prior bill.

The county’s published residential Bay Restoration Fee is $15 per quarter for applicable accounts. Fixed water and sewer account charges can continue even if no water is consumed during the billing period.

Which Rates Apply in October 2026?

Howard County uses fiscal-year water and sewer rate schedules. For billing periods under Fiscal Year 2027, check the FY27 Water & Sewer Rates linked on the official Water & Sewer Billing page.

Rates vary by service type, consumption and meter size. Do not calculate a current bill using an older FY2025 or FY2026 schedule without checking the billing dates.

Late Water Bills, Disconnection and Assistance

Howard County allows a 30-day payment period after water and sewer bills are mailed. The county’s billing policy states that a 10% late fee applies to unpaid amounts not received by the net due date.

The county also publishes disconnection and reconnection rules for delinquent accounts. However, its alternate-payment information currently includes a notice concerning suspended water disconnections. Customers should verify the current status of disconnection enforcement directly rather than assuming an older policy or notice remains in effect.

What to Do if You Cannot Pay the Full Amount

1. Review the due date and outstanding balance in tilliX.
2. Call the billing office at 410-313-2058.
3. Ask about a payment arrangement or available assistance.
4. Request information about the H2O Help to Others program.
5. Confirm the amount, deadline and any conditions in writing where possible.
6. Keep proof of payments and communications.

H2O Help to Others

Howard County’s H2O Help to Others initiative connects customers facing water-bill hardship with a donation-supported assistance fund administered through a community nonprofit.

The county also publishes Bay Fee Hardship Exemption information for qualifying homeowners and renters who pay the water and sewer bill.

Start at Howard County Water & Sewer Billing or contact billing@howardcountymd.gov to ask about the current application and eligibility process.

Moving, Selling a Home or Changing the Water Billing Address

Howard County handles water accounts differently from utilities that open a completely new account whenever an occupant changes.

The water and sewer account number remains attached to the property address. The county bills the property owner and does not prorate water and sewer charges between buyers and sellers or landlords and tenants.

If You Are Selling a Home

1. Locate the latest quarterly water and sewer bill.
2. Inform the closing or title company that county water and sewer charges are associated with the property.
3. Ask how the charges will be prorated between buyer and seller at settlement.
4. Confirm that outstanding balances are addressed during closing.
5. Contact the Finance Department if a billing address change is required.

Howard County does not issue a separate final water bill for property sales. Charges are generally handled through settlement prorations between the parties.

If You Are a Tenant Moving Out

Contact the landlord or property management company about your water-bill responsibility under the lease. The county holds the property owner responsible for water and sewer charges.

Change Your Mailing Address

Water bills are not automatically forwarded through the U.S. Postal Service’s change-of-address system. To update where the county sends the bill, contact the Department of Finance at 410-313-2058.

High Water Bill? Check for Leaks and Meter Problems

If your latest quarterly statement shows unexpectedly high consumption, begin with the meter-reading history available through tilliX. A running toilet, outdoor faucet, irrigation problem or underground leak can increase usage over three months.

Investigate the Increase

1. Sign in to tilliX.
2. Open the water consumption or meter-reading history.
3. Compare the latest quarter with the same period in the previous year.
4. Check whether the bill was estimated rather than based on a normal reading.
5. Inspect toilets, faucets, irrigation and visible plumbing for leaks.
6. If you suspect an issue with the water meter, contact Water and Sewer Billing at 410-313-2058.

The county notes that estimated bills can result from a stopped meter. Its meter readings are generally collected electronically and checked against prior usage patterns.

Leak Adjustment for Sewer Charges

Howard County may consider adjusting sewer charges for a qualifying underground leak once the leak has been repaired.

1. Arrange the necessary repair.
2. Keep the plumbing invoice or repair documentation.
3. Write to the Department of Finance requesting an adjustment.
4. Include your contact name, daytime phone number and supporting plumbing bill.
5. Ask the county about the meter inspection and review process.

The county may inspect the property and determine whether a sewer charge adjustment is justified. An adjustment is not guaranteed, and the water consumption charge is not automatically removed.

Water Main Breaks, Sewer Backups and Emergency Reporting

The Bureau of Utilities maintains public water mains and wastewater infrastructure. If water is coming through a road surface or a sewer system appears to be backing up, report it to the county rather than trying to operate public utility equipment.

What to Do When You Notice a Main Break

1. Stay clear of standing water, damaged pavement and unstable ground.
2. Identify the closest address, road or intersection.
3. Call the Bureau of Utilities at 410-313-4900.
4. Explain whether water is emerging from the road, curb, gutter or another location.
5. Follow instructions from responding utility crews.

For after-hours assistance, the county’s customer service material provides 410-313-2929. Its main Bureau page also provides 410-313-2200 for 24-hour radio-dispatched service crews.

You can also use Tell HoCo for reporting persistent utility issues, but urgent hazards should be reported by telephone.

Winter Pipe Protection in Howard County

Cold weather in central Maryland can freeze exposed outdoor pipes and vulnerable plumbing near unheated spaces.

• Disconnect outdoor garden hoses before freezing conditions.
• Protect exposed pipes in garages, crawl spaces or unheated areas.
• Know the location of your property’s indoor water shutoff valve.
• Inspect vulnerable plumbing during extended periods of freezing weather.
• Never use an open flame to thaw frozen pipes.

For county-specific recommendations, see Howard County Utilities Customer Service.

Does Howard County Water Serve Every Address?

No. The Bureau of Utilities operates the county’s public water and sewer systems, serving much of the more developed eastern part of Howard County.

Communities such as Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge, Savage and North Laurel include areas connected to public water or sewer infrastructure. However, coverage must be confirmed at the exact property address.

Other properties, especially in less densely developed western areas, may rely on private wells and septic systems.

How to Check Service Availability

1. Confirm the full property address.
2. Open the Bureau of Utilities website.
3. Review its public water and sewer service information.
4. Call 410-313-4900 if you need help determining whether a connection is available.
5. For a new development or property connection, ask about the current connection fees, approval process and utility infrastructure requirements.

If the property has a private well or septic system, contact the Howard County Health Department’s well and septic program rather than trying to register for a county water-billing account.

Howard County Water Utility Frequently Asked Questions

Official Howard County Water and Sewer Resources

• Howard County Water & Sewer Billing — payment methods, fees, account rules, rates and assistance.
• tilliX Online Water Payment Portal — Quick Pay, login and account history.
• tilliX Sign In — secure email-based login.
• tilliX Support — billing, meters and service phone numbers.
• Alternate Payment Options — mailing address, phone payment and document processing.
• Howard County Pay Now — county-approved payment routes and fees.
• Bureau of Utilities — public water and wastewater operations, emergencies and water quality.
• Utilities Customer Service — main breaks, leaks, meters, well and septic guidance.
• Department of Finance Billing & Payments — counter services, county invoices and payment information.
• Tell HoCo — reporting non-emergency county service concerns.

Information reviewed: October 23, 2026. This guide uses published Howard County, Maryland, Department of Finance, tilliX and Bureau of Utilities information. Confirm current fees, service requirements, office hours and emergency contacts with the responsible county department.

Independent information notice: WaterUtilities.org is not operated by or affiliated with Howard County Government, the Department of Finance, Bureau of Utilities or tilliX. This page provides utility information and official links. It does not accept water payments, access customer accounts or dispatch emergency service crews.