Water utility shutoffs have resumed in Bellingham. Here’s what to know
More than 500 Bellingham residents have seen their faucets go dry for nonpayment a year after a state ban on water shutoffs expired and two months since Bellingham resumed the practice after it was suspended early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Seth Fleetwood paused utility shutoffs and nonpayment penalties within the city in March 2020, followed by a statewide order from Gov. Jay Inslee.
Inslee’s order was lifted in September 2021, but Bellingham didn’t resume shutoffs until August 2022, said Forrest Longman, the city’s deputy finance director.
“In consideration of the economic impacts of COVID, customers with large past due balances had access to payment plans offered by the city,” Longman told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
“In addition, those who qualified were referred to the Opportunity Council to access state and federal funds to repay water bills. Customers on payment plans and those customers who contacted the Opportunity Council for funding have not been shut off,” he said.
Water service was shut off for 575 of the city’s approximately 28,000 customers in August and 171 customers in September, Longman said.
Penalties for shutoffs resumed in September, with 3,488 issued at $5 each or 1.5% of the past due amount, whichever is greater, he said.
“Customers receive one past due notice notifying them of the date their water will be shut off,” Longman said.
“The shutoff date is about 3.5 weeks after the past dues notice is sent. Customers will receive an additional bill in the intervening time prior to the shutoff date which notes the new amount and the previous balance due amount they must pay to avoid shutoff,” he said.
An average monthly water bill for Bellingham residential customers is between $100 and $130, and that includes fees for water, sewer, stormwater and watershed.
Past-due notices are sent by mail, but customers can opt for electronic notification.
There’s also an option for automatic payments that can be done in person at City Hall, 210 Lottie St., or at the city’s website.
