Lakeside County Water and Sewer District - Rates
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How often do you bill?
Residential and Non-Residential customers are billed every month

Is my meter actually read or is it estimated?
98% of our meters are read from a computer in our truck as we drive the meter reading route. It then gets transferred to our billing system. The other 2% gets read by hand on a few meters we are unable to equip with a radio to send out a signal. If a radio has a problem, and the meter is installed in the home and we were unable to gain access to the home to verify the meter, we might have to estimate.

Can I make payments for my water/sewer bill?
Yes. Customers that are having financial difficulty or receive a large water bill resulting from a water leak may establish payment arrangements with the District. Terms are made on a case-by-case basis. Please call our Billing department at (406)844-3881 to speak to a customer representative.

Do you offer automatic deductions from checking or savings accounts for paying water bills?
Yes, we offer auto pay on both checking and savings accounts. However, we do not offer it on a one-time basis only. Auto pay is setup on your water/sewer account so that it is withdrawn from your checking or savings account on the due date that is printed on your billing statement. This is setup on an on-going basis, until written notification of cancellation is received. Please see Auto Pay Authorization for more information and sign up instructions
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How much notice do you need to set up water service?
If water service needs to be restored, please allow 2 business days for a water meter to be unlocked. If it is a change in occupancy, please see Starting New Service or Closing Your Account for further details.

Why is my bill so high?
Leaks are often the culprit and a toilet leak is a common type. A single running toilet can quietly waste hundreds of gallons in a single day. Fortunately, repairing toilet leaks is usually easy and inexpensive. Checking for leaks elsewhere in your plumbing system might reveal other sources of water loss (see How to Detect Leaks). In many cases, high bills are a result of increased water usage. Changes in outdoor usage, such as watering a new lawn/garden or using a new sprinkler system, are usually responsible for large increases. Reading your meter before and after watering can help you determine how much water you are using. Our tips for conserving water can help you to water wisely and reduce future bills. Although we read our meters with a high degree of accuracy, sometime mistakes are made. If you suspect a misread meter, please call our Billing department at (406) 844-3881, and we will gladly check the reading and adjust your billing if necessary.

I won't need water and sewer services for an extended period. Can I temporarily suspend my water and sewer service?
Water service can be temporarily turned off at the “curb stop”, but minimum billing will continue. Sewer services generally do not have a shut-off valve similar to water services, and minimum monthly billing continues during periods of non-use or vacancy. Permanent suspension of service is possible in the event structures are demolished and are not to be replaced for an extended period. Under permanent suspension of service, Plant Investment Fees would be levied when service is re-established to the property. Depending upon specific circumstances and duration of suspension, it is usually less costly to maintain minimum monthly billing then to pay plant investment fees upon reactivating services. See the office for details of suspending service.

 Auto Pay Authorization Direct Pay Authorization