Customer Service
Billing
How to Read Your Bill
We want your water bill to be clear and easily understandable. At VRWD, we believe in transparency and making sure our customers are well-informed about their water usage and billing. Here's a breakdown of how to read your monthly statement.
Rates and Fees
Annually, Ventura River Water District conducts a thorough review of our rates to guarantee their fairness, adherence to legal requirements, and affordability for our valued customers. Our commitment is to keep rates as cost-effective as we can while maintaining District infrastructure.
Water rates, which represent the price you pay for the water you consume, encompass the expenses associated with water production, planned capital improvement projects, and are categorized based on the customer type, be it residential, commercial, or multi-family.
Should you have any additional questions or need more information, please feel free to contact the District at 805-646-3403 or reach out via email at customerservice@vrwd.ca.gov. We're here to assist you.
Water Budget Program
Ventura River Water District's Water Budget Program introduces personalized water allocations for each customer. Think of your allocation as a practical guide tailored to your specific property characteristics, aiming to promote efficient water use. This tool empowers customers to assess their water consumption in comparison to their actual water needs. Prioritizing efficient water usage is vital for the sustainable management of our water resources.
For our residential customers, the water budget consists of two main components. The first is the "Health and Safety" factor, which allocates 10 units of water per single-family home to ensure essential needs are met. The second component pertains to outdoor water use, which varies depending on individual parcel features such as size, irrigated or non-irrigated areas, the presence of pools, and livestock. These factors collectively determine your outdoor water allowance.
Your monthly water budget is not fixed; it's ever-changing, or dynamic. This is because the outdoor portion of your water budget adjusts monthly in response to the weather. For example, plants tend to require more water in August compared to February. In acknowledgment of these weather fluctuations, your water budget for August will be higher to accommodate the increased demand.
To request adjustments to you water budget fill out and return the Water Budget Adjustment Form located in our Forms & Documents Center
Water allocations should reflect responsible water usage. Occasional exceedance of your allocation for a single month is not a cause for concern. However, if your water consumption consistently surpasses your allocated amount, we encourage you to reach out to us for a conversation. This may lead to the need to enhance your water efficiency practices, or it might be necessary for VRWD to consider an adjustment to your allocation. Your proactive engagement is key to finding the best solution.
If your monthly water consumption surpasses your water budget, a financial penalty will be applied. For details regarding the current penalty rates, please refer to our rate schedule.
Payment Options
We strive to provide you with a variety of convenient payment options for your bill. You can choose to pay by mail, in person, online, or set up autopay for a hassle-free experience. For any specific requirements or additional inquiries, please feel free to reach out to us at 805-646-3403 or via email at customerservice@vrwd.ca.gov. We're here to assist you.
By Mail
When sending your payment by mail, remember to include the bill stub. Please keep in mind that it may take up to 7 days for your payment to reach us for processing. Payments can be addressed to:
Ventura River Water District
409 Old Baldwin Rd
Ojai CA 93023
In Person
You have the option to make your water bill payment in person at the Ventura River Water District office, situated at 409 Old Baldwin Rd, Ojai, CA 93023. Our office is open from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. Additionally, for your convenience, an after-hours payment dropbox is accessible outside the office and available for use 24/7.
Pay By Phone
You can make a single, immediate payment over the phone by dialing 855-594-0615. To complete the transaction, please have your phone payment ID ready, which can be found in the top right corner of your statement. Please note that a convenience fee will be applied for this service.
Online Payments via Credit Card or eCheck
To access Online Billing, click here. Take control of your account online, where you can review past statements and easily make payments. If this is your first time using the service, you'll need to set up a username and password for your account.
Autopay
Our District provides the convenience of an Autopay program, designed to automatically settle your water bill by deducting the payment from your checking account on the 5th of every month. For a nominal fee, Autopay can also be configured to work with credit or debit cards.
Please see the District’s Rules and Regulations regarding Termination of Service due to non-payment.