If you’ve moved or built a new home and need to establish service, please contact our Customer Service Representatives to set up an account:
Call: (877) 354-9090, and choose option 2
Monday through Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Welcome!
Dear New District Customer,
Welcome to The Northwestern Water & Sewer District (The District).
The District is committed to excellent customer service. We know you lead a busy life and rely on us to maintain quality water service. We provide efficient installation and accessible payment options, so you can rest easy knowing your water service is set.
Our local staff of customer service representatives can help you pay your bill, answer questions, or get you started on a service application. Call us at (877) 354-9090 Option 2, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and one of our representatives will work with you to find a solution.
Our goal is to provide you with premier water and wastewater service in Northwestern Ohio. The District is considered a special district under Ohio Revised Code 6119. We were created to oversee water and sewer operations in Wood County. Since 1994, we have added member jurisdictions in Sandusky, Hancock (and most recently, Henry and Lucas) counties. We leverage shared staffing, technology, and resources to manage operation and maintenance costs to provide high-quality and cost-efficient services across the service area.
The water and sewer bill you pay is an investment in our water future, to ensure we provide you with high-quality water service. Our rates are based on the cost to purchase water and deliver water and sewer services to you. We do not make a profit, we reinvest the money we get from your water bill to maintain and upgrade the pipes, pump stations, and other infrastructure that allows us to deliver safe, reliable water and remove wastewater.
The District’s rate structure is made up of a fixed charge plus a volumetric water usage rate based upon how much water you use. The fixed charge covers the cost of billing, meter reading, and administration and is based on your meter size. The District’s Board of Trustees votes on rate adjustments annually in December. Our board meetings are open to the public and are held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 7:30 a.m. at our main office, 12560 Middleton Pike, in Bowling Green.
The District distributes water from various municipal treatment facilities, including the cities of Bowling Green, Fostoria, Napoleon, North Baltimore, Oregon, and Toledo. Click here to see who provides your water.
The District maintains over 356 miles of sewer pipeline and operates 12 wastewater treatment plants and 85 pumping stations.
Since our water and sewer charges are usage-based, we encourage you to save on water. Here are some lifestyle changes you can practice at home to save on your water and sewer bill.
| Activity | Conventional Method | Conservation Method |
|---|---|---|
| Brushing teeth | Water running—10 gallons | Wet brush, rinse briefly—0.5 gallons |
| Shaving | Water running—10 to 15 gallons | Fill sink—1 gallon |
| Dishwashing | Dishwasher—8 to 16 gallons | By hand in sink—5 to 7 gallons |
| Washing Car | At home with hose—50 to 150 gallons | Self-serve carwash—5 to 10 gallons |
| Shower | Water running—20 to 25 gallons | Turn off to soap, rinse briefly—4 gallons |
| Toilet | Flush each use—30 to 28 gallons per day | Low flow flush for liquid waste—5 to 7 gallons per day |
You can monitor your use and get alerts that let you know if your water use is high. Using technology, we can monitor water use across our service area 24/7/365. The District believes in using technology to help monitor leaks and save money. We offer a free notification service called AquaHawk. To learn more and sign-up visit our Monitor Your Usage page.
Do Not Flush
Putting the wrong things down the drain can damage the sewer system and cause sewer backups in your home. The only things you should ever flush down a toilet are the “Three P’s”, poo, pee, and paper (toilet paper). Even though some products such as wipes claim to be flushable, they are not. Here is a list of some things to keep out of the toilet:
- Disposable diapers
- Tampons and applicators
- Sanitary napkins
- Cotton balls and swabs
- Cleaning wipes of any kind
- Facial tissue
- Bandages
- Automotive fluids
- Paint, solvents, and thinners
- Poisons and hazardous waste
- Unused medications
- Fats, oils, and grease
Grinder Pumps
If your home is served by a grinder pump, there is important information to be aware of. In the case of a power failure, your pump will not function. Keep water usage to a minimum. If your grinder pump alarms due to failure, please press the silence button on the bottom of the unit. The light will remain red until serviced by a technician. For service, call The District at (877) 354-9090.
Your Responsibility
The District is responsible for maintaining and operating the water/sewer flow distributed/removed to and from your house by our distribution lines. As a homeowner, you are responsible to maintain/repair the water and sewer service lines in your home extending to where it connects to our water/sewer mainline, located at the road right-of-way. Always remember to call 811 before you dig on your property.
Landlord / Tenant Information
Landlord/tenant obligations are governed by the Ohio Landlord-Tenant Act (ORC 5321) and by the Eviction statute, ORC 1923. These statutes outline the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords.
Owner's Responsibility
The owner of the property shall be ultimately liable for all unpaid bills at the property whether or not authorized by the owner. It is recommended that all rental accounts be established in the landlord's name only and be billed directly for service.
The owner of real property can waive his right to be billed directly, but the owner also assumes full responsibility for all charges at the property under ORC Section 6119.06, for all bills left unpaid by tenants. The District reserves the right to place a lien upon the property for any delinquent charges owed as allowed by the Ohio Revised Code.
For a new tenant moving into a rental unit, the balance from any previous renters must be paid in full by the previous tenant or the landlord before a new tenant can establish service in their name.
As a courtesy to the property owner, the designated party or tenant can be billed for all services rendered. When the water bill is in the tenant's name and the bill is current, The District is not permitted to turn the water off to help the owner evict the tenant or help the owner collect rent.
In the situation where the water meter/equipment is inside of a tenant's rental unit, the landlord will assist The District in gaining entry to the premise to service District equipment if we have not been permitted to enter by the tenant.
Tracking a Tenant's Account
There are ways for a landlord to track the status of the tenant's bill, including:
- Set up an online billing account. The tenant's account number is required for the landlord to establish an account. Please note that only one online billing account can be established for a service location.
- The landlord's phone number can be added to the tenant's billing account to receive any phone notifications regarding a delinquent balance in jeopardy of shut off.
- The landlord can call customer service at any time to inquire about a tenant's account status.
- To monitor the account for unusual water usage (leaks, running water), the landlord can establish an Aqua Hawk account to monitor the property. Leak alerts can be set to notify the registered user via phone, text, or email.
Certification of Unpaid Tenant Balances
The District certifies delinquent utility balances to the real estate tax duplicate in September each year. All unpaid utility balances outstanding on July 1 will be due and payable by September 4 of each year to avoid the certification process.
Automatic Bank Payment
Petition for Service
If water or sanitary sewer is not available in your area and you are interested in service, you can petition the Northwestern Water & Sewer District for a service extension.
A copy of the blank petition form can be viewed and printed here: