Wastewater FAQs

Who do I call with questions about my sewer bill?

Please contact the JC Utility billing office at (573) 634-6328.

Where can I pay my sewer utility bill?

1. Automatic Draft - Jefferson City Utilities will draft the payment every month from a checking or savings account, fill out an AUTOMATIC DRAFT FORM and mail it in before the end of the month. Or call (573) 634-6328 to request an Automatic Draft Form be mailed to you. On or around the second business day of each month, Jefferson City Utilities would then deduct the amount of the monthly invoice from the pre-arranged account.

2. Phone Payment - Payment can be processed by calling (573) 634-6328 and using a credit or debit card to make the payment.

3. Drop Box - For after-hours (5 pm to 8 am) or weekend payments a drop box is located at the main entrance of City Hall located at 320 E. McCarty St. The drop box will be checked only once each business day at 8 am and any payments deposited into the drop box after the scheduled pick up will not be credited to the customer's account until the following business day.

4. Online Payments - Customers can pay by debit/credit card or by electronic check by creating a payment account at Jefferson City Utilities Online Payments Portal. In this portal, customers can also set up Autopay for payments to be deducted on the 15th of each month.

5. Mail - Customers can mail their payments along with the bill stub to the following remittance address:

Jefferson City Utilities

P.O. Box 1278

Jefferson City, MO 65102

6. Convenience Locations - Customers can drop their payments at one of the convenience locations listed below:

Schulte’s Fresh Foods – 1904 Southwest Blvd
Convenient Food Mart – 3714 W Truman Blvd
Convenient Food Mart – 426 Brooks St
Convenient Food Mart – 701 Eastland Dr
Hy-Vee – 3721 W Truman Blvd
Gerbes – 2805 W Truman Blvd
Gerbes – 2101 Schotthill Woods Dr.

Is my home or property connected to the City's sanitary sewer?

If you feel there is a question of whether your home or business is connected to the sewer system, please call the Wastewater Collection Systems Maintenance Office (CSM) at (573) 634-6455.

Who do I contact if I need to know (locate) where the City's sanitary sewers are?

If you need to know where the sanitary sewers are because excavation work is being planned, during or after hours call (800) 344-7483 (DIG-RITE). If you need to know the location of sanitary sewers for any other reason call the CSM at (573) 634-6455.

Who do I call if I have a sewer backup?

Call the City Collection Systems Maintenance Office (CSM) at (573) 634-6455 where personnel are on duty from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm during the work week.

If it is after working hours, call the Jefferson City Police Department at (573) 634-6351. They will page the person who is “on call” to call you and respond to your problem.

How do I determine if the backup is a City problem or a plumbing problem of my own?

If water is backing up slowly or rapidly in your basement or drain and you have not, or are not using water, it is best to call the City first. We can then check the City main line for a blockage and if none is found you can then call your plumber.

If you are using water and a drain is backing up, shut off the water and see if the water stops coming up. If it stops, you should probably call your plumber to see what the problem is.

Is there a charge if i call the CSM about a sewer backup and it is determined that there is not a problem with the public sewer?

There is no charge whether there is a problem found with the public sewer or not. However, if a problem is found with the Public sewer system and a plumber was called prior to contacting the City CSM, the city will not be liable for the plumber’s expenses or bill.

Who do I call about odor problems?

If the odor is inside or outside of your property contact the CSM at (573) 634-6455 and/or check the following comments.

A frequent cause for inside odors is a dry trap. Pouring a quart of water into all sinks, showers/tubs and floor drains may correct this problem.
If it is felt that the odor may be of an explosive nature the Fire Department should be called immediately at 911.

If the problem is outside there could be several reasons and here is a few examples. An overflowing manhole in the area, a neighbor’s service line clean out is running over or surfacing due to a blockage, a roof vent of yours or your neighbors is letting out orders from the main sewer line.

Why did you put that manhole in my yard while I was at work?

When manholes are built, the tops of the manholes are left accessible. Later when homes and businesses are built, manholes are occasionally buried in yards and driveways. The Maintenance Crews usually locates these "lost" manholes when they are cleaning or investigating the sewers in your area. The buried manholes are then scheduled to be adjusted unless the manhole is needed for immediate access. The manhole will be adjusted to grade so they are accessible again in the future.

Buried manholes can create a problem for you, your neighbors and the City CSM if a blockage would occur in the City’s main line and access was not available.

If you have any question about raising or lowering a manhole please call (573) 634-6455.

I have backups that only happen after heavy rainfall. Can I do something about this?

Yes.
The City CSM has a policy in place and when determined and approved by the City, the property owner may have a plumber install a backflow preventer at the property owners cost. The City CSM will then reimburse the property owner up to $500.00 when the plumber’s bill is submitted to the City. However, during this high flow period, use of indoor plumbing will be limited due to the water being held back from the backflow preventer.

What can I dump down the sewers or my drains?

Only domestic waste should be put down a home sewer. No fuel, oils, paint, poisons, fertilizers, or antifreeze should ever be poured down a drain. These substances are harmful to the sewer treatment facility and can cause damage to the collection system, sewer maintenance workers, or your home.

Can I pour cooking grease down the drain?

No.
You can clog the piping inside your house by pouring grease down the drain. It can also clog sewer mains and lead to overflows in yards, parks, creeks and streets. Grease also leads to higher sewer costs as all grease must be removed by expensive manual methods.

Are there normal household products that should not be flushed down the drain?

Yes.
You should always place diapers, tampons, condoms in the trash. These items can clog your indoor plumbing, cause overflows outside your home and add to cost of treatment.