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1. What is included on my bill?

The items included on your utility bill are water, wastewater, and clean water fees.

2. Why is my bill so high?

Water is a precious commodity in Southern California. Our water comes from the Colorado River at Lake Havasu in Arizona through the Colorado Aqueduct and from the California Aqueduct from the northern part of the California delta region. Then the water is treated and transported by San Diego to our facilities here in the City of Del Mar.

Conservation and water-wise use of water will lower your water bill. In the event that you consider your bill higher than usual or suspect a water leak, please contact the Finance Department to request a re-read of your water meter. If you feel the meter is providing the wrong reading, Public Works can remove your meter and have it calibrated. This work would be at the residents expense. If the meter is found defective, the charge will not apply.

Note: Check for leaks by turning off all the water in your house. Look at your water meter and, if the small dial is moving, water is being used on your property and may indicate a leak. If this occurs, please contact your plumber.

3. I have questions about my utility bill. What do I do?

Please contact the Finance Department at 858-755-9354 and we will review the bill with you.

4. How do I sign up for auto pay?

We offer two automatic payment plan options, Automatic Debit and Automatic Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover). With Automatic Bill Payment, your recurring utility bills will be paid automatically. This is a free service that eliminates the need for you to write out a check each time a bill is due and saves the cost of postage for mailing your check to the city. Your payment is always made on time, so there are no worries about late payments or late fees, even when you are on vacation.

In order to participate in this program, please register for an online account and schedule your payments. Please have your 8 digit account number handy. Please refer to Auto Pay guide for step by step instructions.

5. Does the City of Del Mar accept credit card payments for utilities?

The City of Del Mar accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover payments online, in person, or by phone.  Visit the Utility Billing page for more information. 

6. What is a Backflow?

The definition of backflow is the undesired reversal of flow in a water system. Commercial and other high risk water users must install and maintain a backflow prevention device to prevent used or contaminated water from re-entering the water system. This device must be tested annually by a certified tester.

Public Works maintains an up-to-date list of qualified testers and includes this information to assist the property owner in choosing a tester who meets all requirements. All backflow preventer test information is then maintained at the Public Works office for Health Department inspection. If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact the Public Works Department at 858-755-3294.