The Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) Board of Directors voted unanimously to eliminate an account delinquency fee.
The $45 fee charged customers who had two consecutive unpaid bills. OWASA had used the fee to recoup money from disconnections and reconnections for those customers.
OWASA said the elimination of the fee furthers the utility service’s priority on “equity of essential services for all customers.” The board said they wanted to eliminate the fee prior to the first possible disconnections of service in August now that OWASA is resuming standard collection practices.
“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity and a very positive step to move forward with eliminating the fee,” Board member Elmira Mangum said in a release.
OWASA collected an annual average of $33,615 from the fee between July 2016 and June 2019.
The elimination of the delinquency fee went into effect immediately.
Photo via Orange Water and Sewer Authority
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.
Related Stories
‹
OWASA Sets Downtown Chapel Hill Water Line Replacement, Road Closure for OctoberA significant OWASA water line replacement project is set to close parts of West Rosemary Street for roughly 18 months starting this fall.
Viewpoints: University Lake Dam and Recent Flooding of Morgan CreekAs OWASA works alongside our local government counterparts to repair damage caused by Tropical Depression Chantal, we are struck by the devastation our community has experienced.
Community Members Donate To Support Baxter Bar & Arcade Following Water Main BreakAfter suffering a water main failure, The Baxter Arcade and Bar turned to the community for support in the form of a GoFundMe campaign.
OWASA Prepares for Public Hearing While Weighing Latest Round of Rate IncreasesThe Orange Water and Sewer Authority, OWASA, is considering a 7% rate increase to help cover project costs for major infrastructure upgrades.
Water Main Break Closes Chapel Hill Road; OWASA Issues Boil Water Advisory for Affected CustomersThe Orange Water and Sewer Authority responded to a water main break in Chapel Hill on Thursday morning along Willow Drive.
![]()
On Air Today: Wonderful Water With OWASA's Director of Distribution and Collection Jesse DuClauOrange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) Director of Distribution and Collection Jesse DuClau joined 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey for our monthly Wonderful Water conversation. He discussed OWASA's role in supporting Western North Carolina during Hurricane Helene recovery.
Pair of Projects Set to Close E. Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill for Nearly 2 WeeksA popular downtown street in Chapel Hill will close for around two weeks due to a pair of projects, according to the town government. An update shared Thursday said East Rosemary Street between Columbia Street and Henderson Street will close to through traffic starting on Saturday. The projects are the Orange Water and Sewer Authority […]
![]()
Wonderful Water: OWASA Deputy Executive Director Monica DodsonOrange Water and Sewer Authority Deputy Executive Director Monica Dodson spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Wednesday, October 23. She discussed OWASA's compliance with a 2021 rule requiring an inventory of all of the utility's drinking water service lines. She shared that now lead was found in any of those service lines, but a little over 100 customers will need to have some pipes replaced. She discussed those processes and more.
![]()
On Air Today: Wonderful Water With OWASA's Katie Hall and DHHS's Kennedy HoltOrange Water and Sewer Authority's Public Information Officer Katie Hall and Department of Health and Human Services Toxicologist Kennedy Holt spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Monday, September 30. They discussed the third community chat on PFAS hosted by OWASA, which will be Wednesday, October 2 at the Chapel Hill Public Library.
OWASA Presents Early Plans for $75 Million Facility, Rate Increases to Address PFAS RegulationOWASA is planning a major facility to remove PFAS from customers' drinking water. But its price tag means steep short-term rate increases.
›
