Q: I don't have water, why?
A: There may be an emergency shut-off at the main in your area. Please call the Water Billing Office or Corporation Yard for additional information.
Water Office: 650-558-7210
Corporation Yard: 650-558-7670
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Q: What happens if I miss a water utility payment?
A: If payment has not been received by the due date printed on the bill (30 days from the billing date), a reminder notice will be sent and a late penalty of 1.5% of the amount due is added.
If the original bill has not been paid by the time the next bill is mailed, the full amount of both bills must be paid within 7 days. If payment is not received in 7 days a notice will be delivered to your home. If payment is not received within 24 hours of this notice your water will be turned off. There will be a minimum charge of $35 in addition to the full amount of the bill to have your service reinstated.
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Q: How and where do I pay my bill?
A: Payments may be made in person at City Hall, mailed to the Water Office, or placed into one of our conveniently located drop boxes. You can pay by credit card, check, money order, cashier's check or cash.
The walk up drop box is located at the Primrose Road entrance to City Hall. A drive-through drop box is located at the City Hall parking lot exit. The drop boxes are emptied Monday through Fridays at 8:00 a.m.
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Q: How do I read my meter?
A: Water consumption is measured and appears on your water bill in quantities of 100 gallons. Each revolution of the hand means 10 gallons of water have been used. The odometer in the center of the meter is divided into three white and three black number blocks (the last black zero is painted on the face.) Only the three white and the most lefthand black number appears on your water bill.
To read the meter, read the odometer as you would the mileage indicator on your car. The black number furthest to the left represents hundreds of gallons. The white number next to it is the thousands of gallons, and so forth. The meter reading of 003480 stands for 3,480 gallons. The meter reader takes this "read" and subtracts it from your billing to calculate your consumption for the period. The numbers "0034" would appear on your bill as the current meter read.
It is simple to check water consumption for a specific use. Make sure all of the water in the house and yard is turned off and read your meter. Use the water for a specific use you wish to test. Then read the meter again. For example, if the meter in the illustration reads 003500 after a shower is taken, the use would be 3500 - 3480 = 20 gallons. Determine the consumption for all your uses, and you can develop a water budget.
NOTE: If the sweep hand is moving, and you are certain that all water outlets are turned off, you have a leak somewhere in your water line or perhaps in a toilet. This must be repaired immediately.
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Q: Where can I get my water tested?
A: Several Bay Area laboratories can perform water tests, check the local Yellow Pages for listings.
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Q: What is the water hardness in Burlingame?
A: Please call our provider, San Francisco Water Utility at 877-737-8297 for that information.
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Q: Where does Burlingame's water come from?
A: Burlingame buys its water from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. The main source of this water is Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite National Park.
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Q: Is there fluoride in the water?
A: Yes, the water is fluoridated by our provider, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
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Q: Why does the Water Department need to know the number of people in my home?
A: For the first year, sewer charges are based on the number of residents in the home. This information helps to analyze water usage.
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Q: Where is the Water Office and what is the phone number and hours?
A: The Burlingame Water Department billing office is located on the first floor of City Hall. Office hours are weekdays from 8-5, excluding holidays.
Burlingame City Hall
Water Office
501 Primrose Road
Burlingame, CA 94010
phone: 650-558-7210
fax: 650-685-6138
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Q: How do I sign up for water?
A: No deposit is required.
- Sign up in person at the Water Billing Office in City Hall at 501 Primrose Road or;
- fax the required information and signature to 650-685-6138 or;
- mail the required information and signature to Burlingame Water Office, 501 Primrose Road, Burlingame, CA 94010 or;
- put into one of our conveniently located drop boxes at City Hall.
Required information:
- Billing name
- Property address
- Billing address
- daytime telephone number
- number of people who will be residing in the house
- date to turn on the water service to your home
- date to put the water service into your name (Mon through Fri excluding holidays)
- Signature
Please be aware that if the water has been turned of at the property, you or someone representing you is required to be present when the water is turned back on. That person will need to have access to the inside of the house in order to check the faucets.
Turn-ons are scheduled weekdays between 9am and 12pm or between 1pm and 3pm. Specific times are not available.
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Q: Can I pay my water bill with a credit card over the phone?
A: At this time we do not accept credit card payments over the phone.
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Q: Can setup automatic payments from my checking account to pay my water bill?
A: Yes! Automatic Payment is available. To sign up, complete an application and send it to our office with an original voided check or a copy if a paid check from the financial account you wish debited. Then continue to pay your utility bill as usual until you receive your invoice that says "Automatic Payment, No Payment Required" (in about six to eight weeks)
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Q: How is the sewer charge figured and why is it more than water?
A: For residential customers the first year the sewer charge is based on the number of residents in the home. After one year of wintertime water usage (Jan-April), the sewer charge is adjusted based on average for the four months. Following a second consecutive (Jan-April), the rate will be further adjusted according to the demonstrated water usage for the total eights months. Every year thereafter, the rate will be adjusted using the previous 3 years history average, then multiplied by the current sewer rate as determined by Public Works and approved by City Council. This determines the sewer charge to be applied to the account until the following July. Because the cost of sewage treatment is higher than our cost for clean water, the sewer rate is higher than the water rate.
Non-residential sewer charges are based on actual bimonthly water usage.
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Q: What is the service charge on my water bill for?
A: A bimonthly service charge is asessed based on meter size. This charge is to recover costs not directly related to water consumption such as meter reading, repair, customer service and insurance requirements. For residential customers, this charge includes the first 2000 gallons of water per billing period.
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Q: How often are the water meters read and billed?
A: Meters are read and bills are sent approximately every 60 days.
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Q: How do I get archived permit information?
A: Information for permits that have been electronically archived can be accessed through a public computer located in the Building Division lobby. The computer is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. During those hours a permit technician is available to show you how to use the public terminal and to answer questions regarding archived permits.
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