Page last updated on March 10, 2025 at 8:43 am
- What services does City of Bloomington Utilities provide?
- When is my Utility bill due?
- Why do I have a Service Call Fee on my bill?
- I lost or didn't receive my bill. How do I know how much I owe?
- How can I pay my water bill?
- What if I can't pay my water bill by the due date?
- How much is a typical water and sewer bill?
- How do I connect to sewer if my house is on a septic system?
- Where does our drinking water come from?
- What happens to the water I flush?
- What is an easement?
What services does City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) Department provide?
CBU provides water, wastewater, and stormwater services to Bloomington and part of the surrounding area. See a list of all services provided by the department. The City Utilities Department does not provide electrical, gas, or cable TV service.
When is my Utility bill due?
Your bill is due on the last business day of the month. The date will vary slightly from month to month; see your latest bill for this month's due date.
Why do I have a Service Call Fee on my bill?
Regular service calls are completed on the next available business day or may be scheduled in advance for a specific date in the future. When a service request requires a technician to turn the water on or off, a service call fee is assessed. Please refer to the chart below for examples of when a fee may be added to your billing statement.
| TURN WATER SERVICE ON | TURN WATER SERVICE OFF | NORMAL SERVICE HOURS (Scheduled) | AFTER HOURS (Call Outs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign up for service that is already on the same date you start your service, then the service is transferred from one customer to the next with NO service call fee. | Disconnect your service, whether there is a new customer or not, NO service call fee will be applied. | No Fee | Not applicable (N/A); transfers are only completed during normal hours |
| Sign up for service that is OFF on the date you requested to start your service. A service technician will turn the water on, and a service call fee will be applied to your first billing statement. | $45.00 | N/A; only scheduled during normal hours | |
| When an AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY turn on is needed, a service technician is dispatched to turn the meter on. | When an AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY turn off is needed, a service technician is dispatched to turn the meter off. | N/A | $171.00 |
Normal Service Hours are: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. After Hours includes anything outside of the normal service hours, or a City of Bloomington designated holiday.
I lost or didn't receive my bill. How do I know how much I owe?
Call our Customer Service department at 812-349-3930 or sign in to our online system, log on with your account number and name as they appear on your bill.
How can I pay my water bill?
Several options for CBU bill payments are available:
- Pay by debit or credit card over the PHONE by calling (877) 879-9883. This service is available 24 hours a day, every day. Payments over the phone will have an additional 50ยข fee. Please note that customers using a debit or credit card will see a fee of $2.50 or 3.5% (whichever is more). Customers using an eCheck will see a fee of $1.95.
- Pay ONLINE, log on with your username and password. Have your account number from your bill and the name on the account handy. Please note that customers using a debit or credit card will see a fee of $2.50 or 3.5% (whichever is more). Customers using an eCheck will see a fee of $1.95.
- Pay by AUTOMATIC withdrawal. There is no fee for automatic withdrawal.
- Pay by check, money order, or cash. Attach your payment to the top portion of the City of Bloomington Utilities bill
- MAIL to P.O. BOX 2500 BLOOMINGTON IN 47402-2500
- DROP OFF at our foyer 600 E MILLER DR any day of the week from 6 am to 8 pm
- Making change will not be an option, so any over or underpayment will be reflected on your next CBU bill.
- There is no fee for using the drop box or mailing payment.
- If you need to speak to someone in person, please make an appointment by calling 812-349-3930.
What if I can't pay my bill by the due date?
Having trouble paying your bill? Please reach out to us! We have several tools available to help customers facing financial challenges, including payment plans and direct financial assistance. Connect with us at (812) 349-3930 or utilities.cs@bloomington.in.gov Monday through Friday from 8 am until 5 pm, or after hours at (812) 339-1444 or fill out an online interest form. You can also make an appointment to see a representative in person at 600 E Miller Dr. Accounts 60 days delinquent will be subject to disconnection.
How much is a typical water and sewer bill?
The bill is calculated based on the size meter you have and the amount of water you use. Most residential households are served by 3/4 inch meters. The following table shows the calculations for a typical residential customer in the city limits with two people and four people living in the household. Please see the utility rate webpage for the effective date for rates and other rate information.
| Number in Household | 2 people | 4 People |
|---|---|---|
| Meter Size | 3/4" | 3/4" |
| Gallons Used | 5,000 | 10,000 |
| Units Used | 5 | 10 |
| Fixed Water Charges-Meter | $7.93 | $7.93 |
| Fixed Water Charges-Fire Protection | $3.28 | $3.28 |
| Water Charges-Usage | $4.38 x 5 = $21.90 | $4.38 x 10 = $43.80 |
| Water Charges-Tax | ($21.90 + $3.28 + $7.93) x 7% = $2.32 | ($43.80 + $3.28 + $7.93) x 7% = $3.85 |
| Wastewater Charges-Meter | $9.72 | $9.72 |
| Wastewater Charges-Usage | $9.49 x 5 = $47.45 | $9.49 x 10 = $94.90 |
| Stormwater Charge | $7.50 | $7.50 |
| Total Bill | $100.10 | $170.98 |
How do I connect to sewer if my house is on a septic system?
The first step is to call the City Utilities Engineering division at 812-349-3689 to determine if your residence is close enough to the sewer system to connect. If it is not, the engineers will evaluate the feasibility of getting your neighborhood served. If sewers can be extended to serve your neighborhood and 60% of the property owners request service and put up deposits, a project will be implemented to extend sewer to your neighborhood. The total cost of the project is divided evenly among the number of homes served.
Where does our Drinking Water Quality Information come from?
Monroe Reservoir, commonly referred to as Lake Monroe, is the sole source of water for Bloomington. It is located six miles southeast of the city, has a drainage area of 441 square miles, and a surface area of 10,750 acres at normal pool level. The lake is owned by the State of Indiana Department of Natural Resources and maintained by the Federal Army Corps of Engineers. According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the dependable yield from the reservoir is 122 million gallons per day. Of this amount, 25% is committed to withdrawal by all users of the reservoir. The Army Corps of Engineers maintains the pool elevation of Lake Monroe, which is usually 538 feet above sea level. The City purchases water from the State of Indiana for use at the Monroe Water Treatment Plant. More about Lake Monroe
What happens to the water I flush?
Sanitary sewage wastewater normally flows by gravity through underground pipes to one of Bloomington's wastewater treatment plants where the water is treated physically, chemically, and biologically before being discharged back to the environment. The pipes follow the natural drainage of the land and get larger as you go downstream. Gaps in the gravity sewer system are overcome by installing sewer lift stations at low points in the area where the wastewater collects in large manholes and is pumped to gravity sewers further downstream. Most residential neighborhoods are served by 8-inch diameter gravity sewers; the largest gravity sewer in Bloomington is a 48-inch pipe. People who live north of 12th Street are served by the Blucher Poole Wastewater Treatment Plant, and south of 12th is served by the larger Dillman Road Wastewater Treatment Plant.
What is an easement?
An easement is the right afforded a person or company to make limited use of another's real property. Utility companies obtain easements for the installation and maintenance of power lines, telephone or television cables, and gas, water, and sewer mains.
New development is required to grant an easement to the City of Bloomington Utilities Department for all public sewer and water lines within the development. Certain water, sanitary sewer, or drainage projects involve the acquisition of easements from property owners. Depending on the nature of the project, the CBU may require that the easements be contributed in order to allow the project to proceed or may offer fair market value compensation.