Utility Department

(Water & Storm Water)

Contact in Case of a Water Emergency:

Water Operator Dennis Hevener: 440-320-8037
Utility Administrator David Valentine: 440-986-1162

Click the link for: Important Information Regarding Water Main Breaks

Mission Statement

We are committed to providing our customers with cost effective systems and services through teamwork, innovation, and continuous improvement.

All Utility Customers

Please make sure that your contact information is up to date in case we need to contact you regarding your account or through the Emergency Notification System.

Water Advisories

Currently, there are no boil alerts.

If you are under a boil alert, you should boil water vigorously for one minute for water used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, making ice, or other consumption. You do not need to boil water for bathing, washing, dishes, laundry or other external uses. If your water is brown, orange, or yellow, you may not want to do laundry.

New Water Customers

If you are a new homeowner or enter, we would like to welcome you to the village. There is a security deposit of $100.00 for residential and $200.00 for commercial customers, plus a $25.00 turn on fee, if the water is currently turned off. Security deposits are returned by applying the deposit to your water account if you are a homeowner. Renter’s security deposits are returned after you move from the village.

The following forms must be submitted with the security deposit and returned to the Utility Department at the Village of South Amherst Village Hall 103 W Main St. South Amherst OH 44001:

New Resident Welcome Info Sheet

New Customer Form

Payment:

Check, cash, money order, bank draft, credit card. Check or money orders should be made out to South Amherst Utilities or SAU.

To pay with a bank account draft, click the link below. This will take you to our payment website to set up your bank account information to utilize this feature.

PAY NOW (Bank Draft Only)

To pay with a credit card, click the link below. You can create an account, store payment methods, view your bill, sign up for bill notifications and payment reminders, plus set-up for automatic recurring or one-time payments with a credit card.

PAY STAR (Credit Card Only) Water

(Step by step instructions for PAYSTAR, click the following link Credit Card Help)

To pay in person please visit one of the following:

South Amherst Village Hall at the reception desk or drop in the mail slot at the front of the building.
Piggy’s Main Street Market
Drug Mart in Amherst or Oberlin

Monthly utility invoices are processed within the last few days of the preceding month in which they are due. All invoices are mailed via the postal service. Several years ago, the USPS made the decision to move bulk mailing away from smaller post offices to large facilities. Our water invoices are now taken to the Amherst Post Office, then sent to Cleveland, then come back to the Amherst Post Office to be sorted locally and delivered. Due to this multi-step process, the date on which you receive your water invoice can vary from month to month. We cannot guarantee you will receive your invoice by the 1st of the month. If at any time you have not received your invoice in a timely manner, please contact our office and we will let you know the amount due. Bills are due monthly on the 20th.

Billing Cycle

Water meters are read on the 24th and 27th day of the month, unless it is a weekend or holiday. Pleae keep in mind if the cycle has more or less days than the previous month, the water bill will reflect the difference.

Stopping Water Service

If you need to stop service, please contact the Water Clerk at 440-986-2222 ext. 1 in order to finalize your water account. You are required to provide your name, your new address, and your current telephone number, as well as the date for termination of services. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT A FINAL READING CAN’T BE BACKDATED. The Village of South Amherst shall have a reasonable time in which to read, remove or disconnect the service and/or meters after receiving notice from the consumer. The Village shall ascertain that all obligations of the consumer have been settled in full prior to the return of any deposits by the Village to the consumer. Upon discontinuance of service, any remaining deposit in excess of any indebtedness owed the Village shall be refunded to the consumer.

Water Rate & User Fee Increase effective January 2024.

June 12, 2023 the South Amherst Village Council passed an ordinance for a water rate increase to $19.57 per 1000 gallons with a minimum of 1000 gallons and a user fee of $20.00 per month which is used for water system improvements. Click on 1768-23 Residential Water Rates for a copy of the ordinance.

Water Administration and Supplier Information

The Utility Department administers the South Amherst water system, including billing and repair of water lines located within the Village. village water is delivered to us by Rural Lorain County Water System.

Quality of Water

The EPA requires all Public Water Systems to publish an annual report about the quality of their water. It is called a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Please click the link below to obtain a copy of the report.

Consumer Confidence Report for Calendar Year 2023

Ohio EPA Backflow Prevention & Cross-Connection Control Brochure

To report any potentail or actual cross connections, please call David Valentine at 440-986-1162.

Questions regarding the Lorain County Stormwater Management District?

Click HERE.