A. Meters will be read and bills rendered as follows:
1. Meters read once a month-billing once a month.
Meter Readings for each billing cycle are completed during the following time periods:
Billing Cycle 1 (Bills due 5ᵗʰ of each month) are read between the 1st and 9th of each month. 
Billing Cycle 2 (Bills due 15ᵗʰ of each month) are read between the 10th and 19th of each month.
Billing Cycle 3 (Bills due 25ᵗʰ of each month) are read between the 20th and 28th of each month. 
Bills are calculated and mailed as soon as possible after the meters are read. Billing dates for each cycle are as follows:
Billing Cycle 1 Billed by the 20th of the month Billing Cycle 2 Billed by the 28th of the month
Billing Cycle 3 Billed by the 10th of the month

Robeson County Water Department reserves the right to vary billing dates and reading dates as needed. In the event you do not receive your bill, please call the Robeson County Water Department. 
We will verify your address and advise you the amount of your bill. Please be sure we have your correct address, so you will receive your bill in a timely manner. Failure to receive your bill will not prevent the bill from becoming delinquent nor from being disconnected for nonpayment.
2. The County reserves the right to vary any of the dates mentioned herein above, temporarily or permanently, if necessary or desirable.
B.   Bills for water will be figured in accordance with the County's published rate schedule then in effect and will be based on the amount consumed for the period covered by the meter reading.
C.   Charge for service shall commence when meter is installed. The first billing may be within 2 weeks to 60 days from the installation.
D.   Readings from different meters will not be combined for billing, irrespective of the fact that said meters may be for the same or different premises, or for the same or different consumers, or for the same or different services.
E.    Bills are due when mailed to consumer and become late after 5:00 p.m. on the due date. Late fees of $10.00 are applied to the account. Service may be discontinued by the County if bill is not paid within 10 days (beginning with the due date). If service has been discontinued by County and customer has not paid bill in full at the end of 90 days, County will initiate legal procedures to collect amount due County. Remit payments to Robeson County Water Department located at 330 Sanchez Drive, Lumberton, North Carolina, 28358.

1.Tampering with a fire hydrant is illegal and will result in a $2,000 fine.
2. Fire Departments use fire hydrants for fires and training. It is illegal for a fire department to fill up a swimming pool for anyone. It is also illegal for any other person to fill up a swimming pool from a fire hydrant.
3. Any and all misuse of a fire hydrant for any unauthorized water use will be fined.

A. Water lines on the consumer's premises must be so arranged that the connections are conveniently located with respect to the county's lines or mains.

B. If the consumer's line on consumer's premises is so arranged that the County is called upon to provide additional meters, each place of metering will be considered as a separate and individual account.

C. Where meter is installed on premises of a consumer, a suitable location shall be provided by consumer for placing such meter- unobstructed and accessible at all times to the meter reader. It is the customers responsibility to maintain an unobstructed  meter (whether automated or regular). Automated meters will need to access a signal to send the readings (without obstruction or damage to meter). Regular meters must be read by the staff without any obstruction. It is the customers responsibility to maintain a clean meter box.

Examples of meters obstructed:
Meters in fence (locked or unlocked). Meters must not be inside a fence.
Vehicles parked over meters
Debris, bushes, dirt or anything covering meter
Dogs/or any animal tied next to meter which hinders the reading, turning off, repairing of a meter, removing or installation.  (Employees may contact Animal Control & Sheriff’s Department if they feel threatened)
Any Obstruction that prohibits any type of service at the water meter. Customer will be notified by letter or telephone (if we have the current number). If the situation is not correct by the next billing, the service may be removed.

D. The consumer shall furnish and maintain an approved type cut off valve that shall be installed between the meter and the structure. Cut off valve distance requirement is 18”-24” from meter box. The County is to provide a like valve on the County's side of such meter. The consumer may not turn the county’s cut off valve on or off for any and any damage caused by the consumer tampering with the County’s cut off valve will result in money damages charged to the consumer.
E. The consumer's lines and apparatus shall be installed and maintained by the consumer at the consumer's expense in a safe a and efficient manner and in accordance with the County's rules and regulations and in full compliance with the sanitary regulations of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
F. The consumer shall guarantee proper protection for the County's property placed on the consumer's premises and shall permit access to it only by authorized representatives of the County.

G. In the event of any loss or damage to the property of the County, or any accident or injury to persons or property, is caused by or results from the negligence or wrongful act of the consumer, his agents or employees, the cost of the necessary repairs or replacements shall be paid by the consumer to the County; and any liability other-wise resulting shall be assumed by the consumer.

H. The amount of such loss or damage or the cost of repairs shall be added to the consumer's bill; and if not paid, service may be discontinued by the County.

I.   The water maybe turned on by the water user or installer, upon completion similar of inspection.
J.  That any consumer identified as a Fire Department, Church, or other non-profit or organization shall be required to name an individual living within the boundaries of Robeson County to be referred to as the RESPONSIBLE PERSON IN CHARGE. The responsible person in charge shall serve as a contact, person responsible for all communications
K. It is the responsibility of the water customer to establish the location of the water service on his property or at a location agreed upon by the person and the County. The customer is requested to erect a device provided by the County to identify this location. In the event the customer fails to identify this location and the water service will not be installed.

A. Duly authorized agents of the County shall have access at all reasonable hours to the premises of the consumer for the purpose of installing or removing County property, inspection piping, reading or testing meters or for any other purpose in connection with the County's service and facilities.

B. Each consumer shall grant or convey shall cause to be granted or conveyed, to the County a perpetual easement and right-of-way across any property owned or controlled by the consumer wherever said perpetual easement and right-of-way is necessary for the County water facilities and lines so as to be able to furnish service to the consumer. If the service is not accessible, as stated in Section 8. A. Service will be suspended.

Reconnect/Connect fees are $50.00

An unusually high water bill is most often caused by a water leak or a change in water usage. Some common causes of increased water consumption include:

•  A leaking toilet or a toilet that continues to run after flushing.
•  A dripping faucet — even a small drip, can waste 20 gallons of water per day or more.
•  Filling or refilling a swimming pool or hot tub.
•  Watering lawns, new grass, or trees; also check for open hose spigots.
•  Cleaning vegetables for freezing or canning.
•  Furnace-mounted humidifiers that are improperly adjusted or are not functioning correctly;
•  Sump pumps with water-powered backup systems.
•  Children home during summer or school holidays or visiting guests.
•  Water-cooled air conditioning systems.
•  Broken water pipes or visible leaks; check plumbing in basements or crawlspaces and inspect the water heater for leaks.
•  Water softener malfunctions that cause continuous cycling.
•  Running water during cold weather to prevent pipes from freezing.

Learning how to save water at home is important. A typical family of four uses approximately 40–50 gallons of water per person per day, or 160–200 gallons daily per household.

The largest indoor water users include:

•  Toilets: up to 27% of household water use
•  Washing Machines: 20.9%
•  Showers: 17.3%
•  Faucets: about 15.3%
•  Household leaks: approximately 13.8%

Dishwashers, baths, and other activities account for the remaining water usage.

Water consumption typically increases during the summer months due to lawn watering, gardening, and pool use.

All non-property owners are required to pay a $300.00 deposit

The deposit is refundable once the customer becomes the owner of the property and provides a registered deed, or upon moving and requesting service disconnection, after all outstanding balances have been deducted. Please allow 4 weeks for this refund.