Service
Whether you’re here to manage your water account, pay your bill, or find new utility service providers, we’ll help you get connected. View the options below for water account resources—including bill-pay, starting new service, requesting a final bill, and managing your water usage—a list of local energy, cable, and internet service providers; and more.
The City of Ferndale recently partnered with WaterSmart Software to offer our utility customers a modern digital portal where you can access detailed information about your household or business water use. If you've already received your 2019-2020 water meter upgrade, you can access WaterSmart and start using your personalized online portal immediately.
To learn more about the City's upcoming plan for addressing lead service lines, including verifying and inventorying service line materials and replacing lead service lines throughout the city, please see the Lead Service Line Replacement & Service Line Materials Verification Program Book.
Information about the City's lead service line replacement program
Information about lead testing and health and safety resources
View information and reports about Ferndale's water safety and quality
Learn about Optional Utility Programs and Resources
Pay your utility bill—online, in person, by phone or mail, on via recurring payment plan
The City provides dye tablets to put into your toilet tank free of charge. If after 30 minutes any color seeps into the toilet bowl, then the toilet is running. A running toilet can double, or even triple a bill!
If your water pressure seems low, contact the DPW Water Department at 248-546-2514 to see if work is being performed in your area. You may also contact Water Department Billing at 248-546-2374 to see if your service has been impacted or discontinued due to nonpayment.
Pipes can freeze due to a sudden drop in temperature, poor insulation, or thermostats set too low. Both plastic and copper pipes can burst, and recovering from frozen pipes is not as simple as calling a plumber. According to AAA, a 1/8-inch crack in a pipe can spew up to 250 gallons of water a day, causing flooding, serious structural damage, and the potential for mold.
If your water pipes have already burst, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve in the house. Leave the water faucets turned on. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the water shutoff valve is and how to open and close it.
Here are some tips to protect your pipes ahead of time:
The property owner is responsible for maintenance on any pipe leading from the stop into the property as well as any piping inside the structure.
The City is responsible for the stop box at the street and the water meter inside the home or business. The curb stop box refers to the enclosure which houses the actual valve that provides water service to residences and businesses on the adjacent street.
Yes. If you are moving from your current property address, the best and fastest way to request your final bill is by using our online seamless form.
You can also receive a final bill by calling the Water Department at 248-546-2374 or stopping into the office, 300 E. Nine Mile Road, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
A 10% penalty is charged two days after the due date stated on the billing invoice.
Yes. The repayment plan is meant for customers who have had difficulty keeping their water accounts current, and who carry an outstanding balance.
To participate:
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your participation in this repayment plan, you may email the Water Department or call at 248-546-2374.
Residents and businesses are billed quarterly. If the first digit of your account number is:
Industrial properties are billed monthly.
Log in to your account to view water history, pay your bill, manage your information, and more.
Or, learn about our other payment options.
The “Readiness to Serve Charge” (RTS) is a common fee assessed by municipal utilities to cover basic fixed costs associated with providing on-demand water service throughout the system. RTS is specifically allocated to cover a percentage of the costs of maintaining and operating your water system even when no water is being used.
This is a system-wide connection charge that applies even if you used no water during the billing period. It is called Readiness To Serve because your property is connected to the water system and Ferndale's Water Department is ready to provide clean water and treat wastewater to your property at any time. There are certain fixed costs to providing water to the community regardless of water consumption, for example paying for staff time, facilities, water pumps, fleet service vehicles, water testing, etc.
In previous years, charges for water and sewer consumption on your bill were allocated identically: (50% water / 50% sewer). However, the actual cost of providing water is significantly less than the cost of treating water.
As a result, the City has adjusted how water rates are allocated on a water bill to more accurately calculate the cost of providing the different services. Beginning July 1, 2022, charges for water and sewer consumption on your bill are allocated at 61% sewer, 39% water, and a flat $29 readiness-to-serve fee. The rate is currently $12.83 per unit, or 100 cubic feet.
For example, if your total water bill was $200, your water & sewer costs would be allocated as such:
Sewer Fees: $104.31 (61% of total water bill costs)
Water Fees: $66.69 (39% of total water bill costs)
RTS Fee: $29.00
Total: $200.00 (100% of total water bill costs)
For a complete breakdown of fees, view the current fee schedule.
Contact our Water Department in person, by email, or by phone at:
City of Ferndale Water Billing
300 E. 9 Mile Rd.
Ferndale, MI 48220
Email: waterbilling@ferndalemi.gov
Phone: 248-546-2374