Billing Information
SAFE DRINKING WATER FOR LESS THAN A PENNY/GALLON
It’s no secret: Running a professionally managed water department and maintaining water sources, treatment plants and a distribution system costs money. Our annual budget exceeds $1.4M. Despite the budgetary needs, a gallon of safe, clean, reliable water from the Precinct still typically costs you less than a penny per gallon. Compare this to the cost of a gallon of bottled water from your local store, or the cost of installing, treating and maintaining a well, and you will quickly see the economic benefit of public water.
The Precinct’s operations are paid for largely through customer water bills and miscellaneous fees. The Water Commissioners have the authority to also levy taxes if needed, but rarely do so. Bills are rendered quarterly on or about November 1, February 1, May 1 and August 1, and are due and payable upon presentation.
Prompt payment of bills helps to keep rates and fees as low as possible – thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation. Payments may be made by mail, in person, or online through the special link provided on this web site.
ACCEPTED FORMS OF PAYMENT
- Personal / Business Check
- Bank Checks*
- Money Orders
- Cash (at office only)
- Credit/Debit Cards**
*If paying electronically through your bank, please allow at least 7-10 business days for your payment to reach the precinct. Processing of electronic payments is slow, and may result in late fees if the payment is not received by the due date.
**You can now review your account history online and pay by credit or debit card. Go to Online Account to set up your account or pay online. The fee for using this service is $4.25 per transaction or 3% of the total bill (whichever is larger). This fee DOES NOT go to the Precinct.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
If you move, but still own the property, you MUST contact the Precinct and provide a forwarding address to ensure your bill is received in a timely manner. No late fee will be waived due to delays in forwarding mail. If you reside elsewhere part of the year you must also contact us when you leave and give the correct address to forward mail to. You must contact the office again when you return to town. Again, late fees WILL NOT be waived if no notice is given.
FINAL BILLS
If the property is to be sold, please make sure you contact the Precinct at least two business days prior to closing. Any unpaid water bills STAY WITH THE PROPERTY, not the former owner. To ensure that new owners are not burdened with bills that are not their own, a final bill must be ordered.
TENANT BILLS
Owners of rental properties must receive a copy of their water bills, even if their tenants pay utilities. This ensures that the owner knows payments are being made. Unpaid balances are the legal responsibility of the owner. Copies of bills can be sent to tenants for them to pay. Tenant finals can be done when renters move out. Please contact the Hooksett Village Water Precinct when service in your renter's name should cease.
METERS
Water meters are used to measure the amount of water delivered to all customers. To coordinate the installation of a new meter, please contact our office. For a detailed description of the ongoing meter replacement program, please see the Meter Upgrades portion of this website.
All water passing through the meter will be charged, whether used, wasted or lost by leakage. The customer must keep the meter accessible for reading and inspection at all times. If we are unable to read the meter, the bill may be estimated. Any meter damaged through negligence or vandalism will be repaired or replaced at the customer’s expense.
REPAIRS
The Precinct is responsible for repairs from your property line or curb stop to the water main in the street. You are responsible for any repairs made on your water service from your property line or curb stop to your water meter. You may hire a competent private contractor to perform your repairs so long as the work meets the Precinct’s required specifications. A visual depiction of customer and Precinct responsibilities is provided here for your convenience.
Please call our office at 603-485-3392 if you or your contractor have any questions.
RATES AND FEES
HVWP Guide to Quarterly Service Rates and Charges
HVWP Guide to System Development Fees
Rate & Fee Schedule - Effective January 1, 2023
ASSISTANCE
If you are struggling to pay your water bill, please reach out for help. We offer programs that may be of assistance including payment plans, senior discounts and participation in LIWHAP (see below). Additionally, we encourage you to contact the town hall or your church to inquire about local assistance programs. More info on utility bill assistance programs is listed below.
Senior Discount - The 10% Senior Discount applies to customers ages 65 and above, on domestic services ≤1” up to 10,000 gallons per quarterly bill. The Discount does not apply to deduct meters and irrigation-only accounts. To apply, please fill out the Senior Discount Application and stop by our office with your driver's license.
LIHWAP – The Precinct participates in the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), a federally funded grant program used to cover and/or reduce arrearages, rates and fees associated with reconnection or prevention of disconnection of water service. To learn more, read the LIHWAP Announcement or contact the Community Action Program of Belknap-Merrimack Counties (CAPBM) at https://www.capbm.org/fuel-assistance-program-fap.
Town of Hooksett – The Town of Hooksett’s Family Services Department administers General Assistance to Hooksett families in need under RSA 165 on a short-term, emergency basis. The Department also provides links to other local assistance programs. Learn more at https://www.hooksett.org/family-services.
211 NH – You can also contact 211 New Hampshire, a statewide service available 24/7 that provides access to all the health and human services available to you. Dial 2-1-1 and be connected, at no charge, to a trained information and referral specialist who can provide you with the information you need to get help. To learn more, visit them at https://www.211nh.org.
BILLING FAQs
What do I do if I believe my WATER bill is incorrect?
What do I do if I believe my SEWER bill is incorrect?
I didn’t receive my water bill. Am I still responsible for payment?
How do I obtain a Deduct Meter?
Why is my water bill so high?
What do I do if I believe my WATER bill is incorrect?
For questions concerning the accuracy of your water bill, contact us as soon as you receive your bill. Every effort will be made to make any necessary corrections before the due date.
What do I do if I believe my SEWER bill is incorrect?
Please contact the Hooksett Sewer Commission with sewer billing questions. The Hooksett Sewer Commission may then contact us to verify the accuracy of your reading.
I didn’t receive my water bill. Am I still responsible for payment?
If the Postmaster does not return your bill to our office as non-deliverable, the bill is considered delivered. Non-receipt of a bill shall not relieve the customer of the obligation for payment nor for the consequences of non-payment, which may include termination of service. If payment is not received in our office by the due date, a late payment fee will be assessed and the water service shutoff procedure will begin. This policy, while strict, has been put in place to maximize fairness and consistency.
How do I obtain a Deduct Meter?
The Precinct assists customers with meters which can be used for deduction on your sewer bill in certain applications. Please call for instructions and request or download a copy of our Deduct Meter Policy. Once the correct deduct meter is purchased from an approved supplier and properly installed, the customer must call us for an inspection. Once the inspection is completed, the address will be added to our deduct meter reading list. HVWP reads deduct meters each quarter and supplies the readings to the Sewer Department for credit. Please see the Hooksett Sewer Commission website for additional information. Each deduct meter carries a $30.00 (billed $7.50 per quarter) per year fee payable to the Hooksett Village Water Precinct. This fee covers a portion of our cost for administering the deduct meter program and reading the deduct meters.
High bills reflect either an increase in water usage or a water leak. Usage may increase for a variety of reasons, such as a change in the household (e.g. shower / laundry patterns), the use of water-intensive irrigation systems or the filling of pools. Leaks can be hidden or obvious, and from a variety of sources. Leaky toilets are the most common culprit, and you may not hear or see the leak. Another common problem is a leaky pipe or appliance in the basement. For more advice on evaluating and troubleshooting leaks, see our Water Leaks page.