Water Rates & Services

Different utilities use different units for measuring water use. The most common units are centum cubic feet (CCF) and the gallon. A CCF also called an HCF (hundred cubic feet), represents one hundred cubic feet of water. The first "C" comes from the Roman word for hundred, "centum." This is the most common unit used by both water and natural gas utilities. But you may be more familiar with the other unit, the gallon. One CCF is equal to 748 gallons.

Effective January 1, 2011, a dwelling unit is defined as a unit that includes a kitchen sink, a bathroom with toilet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower and has a separate access.

The City of Galesburg provides monthly billing services for the Galesburg Sanitary District, a separate governmental entity. Monies collected for sewer charges from utility billing customers are remitted to the Sanitary District on a monthly basis. Sewer rates are set by the Galesburg Sanitary District and are based on water consumption. For questions or concerns regarding sewer charges please contact the Galesburg Sanitary District at 309/342-0131 or visit their website at https://www.galesburgsanitarydistrict.org/.

Mail payment to:

City of Galesburg P.O. Box 1589 Galesburg, IL 61402-1589

Pay in person:

City Hall 55 W. Tompkins Street Galesburg, IL 61401
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. during normal business days

Or drop payment in drop-box:

Located at the sidewalk in front of City Hall.

Do not place cash in the utility drop-box. The City of Galesburg is not responsible for any lost or stolen cash payments made in the drop-box.

Or pay online:

Pay my utility bill

Payment Options:

• Cash
• Check (Personal, Cashiers)
• Debit Card
• Credit Card
• ACH - Direct Debit (call 309/345-3663 to set up an ACH Direct Debit)

There are three utility-billing districts in the City of Galesburg. Each district is billed water, sewer and refuse on a monthly basis. The district map is provided in the document center.

• Utility accounts must be opened in person, a current State Photo ID is required, at the Customer Service Counter, City Hall, 55 W. Tompkins St., Galesburg, IL 61401.
• A $160 deposit is required at the time the water account is opened. The deposit will be applied to the final bill with any remaining amount refunded to the customer.
• A $30 service fee is required at the time the account is opened. This fee is for the initial utility service turn-on charge. This fee will not be refunded.
• Per City ordinance proof of the right to occupy a residence must be provided prior to starting new service at a service address. For home owners a copy of a closing statement can serve as documentation. For renters, a copy of a valid lease or a signed copy of the Occupancy Verification Form can be provided as documentation. Any questions regarding this requirement can be answered at 309/345-3663.

Total amount due at the time of account opening is $190 ($160 deposit plus $30 service fee)plus any current or outstanding balances.

• Utility accounts may be closed in person at the Customer Service Counter, City Hall, 55 W. Tompkins St., Galesburg, IL 61401,  a valid State ID or Driver's License is required. With proper identification and a signed turn off request form, accounts may also be closed via email at customer@ci.galesburg.il.us.
• Once the City has processed the request to close the account a final meter read will be taken and a final bill processed. The deposit will be applied to the final bill. Any amount still owed by the customer is required to be paid within 20 days. Any remaining deposit amount will be refunded to the customer.
• Accounts with a delinquent balance and no water service may be finaled seven days after the second due date of the bill if after inspection the property is determined to be vacant. If the final balance is not paid, a lien can be filed on the property or the account can be sent to the credit bureau for the amount of the balance plus additional fees.
• If a request is made to discontinue service, the City will make a reasonable attempt to turn the water off. Due to various and/or unforeseen conditions (broken curb stop, multiple unit building, debris in curb stop etc.), the city cannot guarantee the water will be completely shut off at the outside curb stop. It is the owner’s responsibility to verify the water is off at the inlet valve inside the premises. If the water is not off the owner is responsible for protecting against damages due to leaks. In any event the city is not responsible for any damages due to leaks in the house or building.

• If a utility customer fails to pay their utility bill by the due date printed on the bill, a 10% penalty will be added to the unpaid balance of the current billing.
• Failure to receive a utility bill does not relieve of the responsibility for payment or for penalties incurred for late payment. A penalty of 10% will be added if the bill is not paid by the due date printed on the bill.

An account will be considered delinquent if there is an unpaid previous balance and an unpaid current charges balance for services after the due date listed on your monthly bill. If delinquent, a fee of $55 will be added to the account. Water service can be discontinued to the user and the account balance must be paid in full to restore water service.

Any person who pays for utility service with a check which is not honored because of insufficient funds will be charged a $30 service fee. If the utility user submits two checks, in a twelve-month period, which are returned for insufficient funds, the utility user will be required to pay cash for the next twelve calendar months.

You can pay your bill at the customer service counter (in City Hall, 55 West Tompkins Street) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Water maintenance is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Any service call made after 2:00 p.m. will be charged a $60 fee for after hours service.

The customer service counter and water maintenance are closed the following Holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr.  Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day & the Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, & Christmas Day. If a holiday falls on a weekend the holiday is observed on the closest Monday through Friday weekday.

The drop box is located on the sidewalk on the east side of the stairs.

We do not open, close or change accounts over the phone. Picture identification in person or via facsimile is required to open, close or make changes to accounts. With proper verification accounts can be closed over the phone.

In order to comply with federal and state laws, either a name change or a new water, sewer and refuse service must be started if an account holder is deceased. The option to change the name on the account is only available to surviving spouses, surviving children, or executors of an estate. Information needed to facilitate the requested account is provided below. 

Surviving Spouses or Children and Executors

• Surviving spouses or children may change the name on the account by providing a driver’s license or photo ID.
• Executors may change the name on the account to the Estate name by providing executor and or estate information along with a driver’s license or photo ID.

New Account Requirements

• A valid driver’s license or photo ID
• If a tenant will  be starting service they must provide proof of the right to occupy the residence in which water service is requested per Section 30-29(a) of the Galesburg Municipal Code.  Proof of occupancy maybe a signed lease or our Proof of the Right of Occupancy form.
• $160 deposit and $30 non refundable service fee

We realize that making a transition after the loss of a loved one can be a very stressful time, please contact us at 309/345-3663 or email us at customer@ci.galesburg.il.us with any questions you may have.  

The City accepts both credit and debit cards. You can pay online by clicking the button below.

Pay My Utility Bill

Yes, click the button below to get started. Have your account number and the account holder's first and last name ready.

Pay My Utility Bill

No, as indicated on each utility bill, failure to receive a bill does not relieve customer of payment or penalty. Customers may sign up to receive bills through e-mail by creating an online account and selecting Electronic Bill in the Your Account section on the My Profile tab.

When you close your account the deposit will be applied to your final bill. After the deposit has been applied to the final bill any remaining deposit will be refunded to you.

To determine if your toilet is leaking, add food color to the tank, make sure to put in enough coloring to make the water dark. Let the toilet stand for an hour, DO NOT FLUSH. If the toilet seal is leaking, the colored water will show up in the bowl. These types of leaks can be costly as a leaking toilet is similar to opening a faucet and letting it run continually.

Home owners/tenants can check for leaks themselves by looking at the water meter (make sure all water using devices are turned off). The meter face has a triangle or arrow that will be moving when water is running through the meter. If all faucets and water using devices are off and this indicator is moving, the customer has a leak. If your meter lacks the leak indicator, please contact water maintenance at 309-345-3649 for assistance.

If there is still water in the lines there is a chance they can freeze. To guarantee no frozen pipes it is best to have the property winterized if there will be no heat over the winter months. Winterizing a house would mean the water would be shut off at the street, the lines inside the house would be drained of any water and the meter would be pulled out of line and set on the ground. All of the plumbers in town offer this service for a fee.