FAQs

Emergency Shut-offs

In the event of a line leak inside or out that is causing excessive water use, you may call this office at (309) 543-6133 ext. 4 during normal business hours and we can send someone out to shut the water off. If an emergency should occur after normal business hours, please call (309) 543-3321 to report the problem.

Where and how can I pay my bill?

• In City Hall located at 227 W Main St, Havana, IL.  Business hours are M – F 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The office is closed on all major holidays.  We will accept check, cash or money order. We currently do not have a way to take credit/debit cards in office.
• Pay Online (with credit or debit card) using the “Utility Payment” button on the havanail.gov homepage. This button is located in the blue banner titled “Helpful Quick Links”. Convenience fees do apply. If you have any payment processing issues, please contact Court Money at (877) 222-0377.
• Drop off located by the back door at City Hall, off of Orange St. Put payment in the drop box (only checks and money orders accepted)
• Automatic bank draft – forms are available at our office, or you can print one off the website and attach a voided check and return to this office. You will still receive a bill each month that will list your usage and dollar amount. It will be deducted from your account on the due date.
• Current payments may also be made at any of the local banks
  1. Havana National Bank
  2. TBK Bank
  3. Petefish, Skiles & Co Bank

How often will I receive a water/sewer/garbage bill?

You will receive a bill each month. Meters are read the first of the month for the previous month. The readings are then uploaded then mailed out by the 24th of the month and are due within 15 days after the mailing date. Disconnection begins 8 days after the bills are due. Customers that are disconnected must pay their bill in full, along with a $50 reconnection fee.

Why is my water bill so high?

Running toilets are the most common cause of high water bills, even though they are not always the easiest to find. The best way to check for a leak in the toilet is to add a couple of drops of food coloring to the water in the back tank of the stool. Wait 15-20 minutes without flushing the toilet, check the water in the bowl of the toilet. If the water in the bowl has changed color, then there is evidence that your toilet needs repair. This also may require several times testing to discover the leak.
Other possible explanations:

• A change in the number of people in the household
• New appliances such as dishwasher, hot water tank, heating system or lawn sprinklers
• Result of higher seasonal demands such as filling pools, watering lawns or washing cars
• Slightly more water usage could have caused your meter to run into the next billing “tier”. We bill per 1,000 gallons of usage, so if you used 1,001 gallons of water in a month, the meter would interpret that usage as 2,000 gallons, and you would be billed accordingly.
• Family or friends visiting for extended period
• Hosting party/event

Why is my bill so much higher than my neighbor’s?

Many times neighbors like to compare water bills. However, this comparison does not accurately reflect what may be occurring in your household. Water usage habits vary widely from the number of people in your household to how often hands are washed to how long you shower. Other factors could include what type of toilet(s) you have, the size of your washing machine or if you bathe rather than shower.

Here are a few water usage facts:

• It takes 20 gallons of water to wash dishes by hand
• Taking a bath uses approximately 36 gallons of water
• Taking a shower uses anywhere from 25 – 50 gallons of water
• 5 to 7 gallons are used each time the toilet is flushed (lower if you have a newer model)

Because of the different variables that could contribute to the amount of water used, the most accurate way to compare the usage would be to go back to a year ago and compare the usage. This allows for a more exact comparison.

We will be out of town for an extended period, should we have the water turned off?

This is strictly the owner’s decision. A few things to consider:

• If you do not notify this office that the water is to be turned off, monthly bills will be mailed as usual.
• Will someone be checking the house in case problems arise?
• If your furnace has a built-in humidifier or if you have a sump pump that uses water you may want to leave the water on.
• If you decide to leave the water on, we recommend that you leave a contact name and number with us in case we notice an increase in water usage while you are away.

How did I use so much water this month?

Slightly more water usage could have caused your meter to run into the next billing “tier”. We bill per 1,000 gallons of usage, so if you used 1,001 gallons of water in a month, the meter would interpret that usage as 2,000 gallons, and you would be billed accordingly.

Other possible explanations:

• A change in the number of people in the household
• If you have family or friends visiting, or if you have hosted any events, parties or get-togethers
• New appliances such as dishwasher, hot water tank, heating system or lawn sprinklers
• Result of higher seasonal demands such as filling pools, watering lawns or washing cars
• Running toilet
• Family or friends visiting for extended period
• Hosting party/event