WE'RE PROUD TO BE YOUR NEW WASTEWATER SERVICE PROVIDER

New Jersey American Water has completed the acquisition of Bound Brook’s wastewater system on August 11, 2022. We’ve proudly served as the Borough’s water service provider for more than a century, and we look forward to providing you with the same level of quality service to meet your wastewater needs.

You’re in good hands.

Our focus is to provide you with safe, reliable wastewater service – and we have the people and technologies in place to get the job done right. As our valued customer, we wanted to share with you some information about the services we provide, as well as some changes that will be taking place over time.

About your rates.

As part of the sale agreement, New Jersey American Water committed to adopting the Borough’s 2021 wastewater rates. Those rates will remain in place for a minimum of two years and will not increase more than three percent per year over the following three years. New Jersey American Water is regulated by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and any future proposed changes in rates will be subject to extensive review and approval. To learn more, visit newjerseyamwater.com/rates.

We’re transitioning you to monthly billing.

The Borough currently bills you annually for service with payment due in three installments. Beginning in January 2023, New Jersey American Water will transition customers to monthly billing. Receiving 12 smaller bills instead of one large bill due in three installments makes it easier for many customers, especially those on fixed incomes, to include the cost of wastewater service in their monthly household budgets. In addition, if you are both a water and wastewater customer of New Jersey American Water, your water and wastewater charges will be included in one bill.

Here’s how the billing transition will work: Earlier this year, the Borough billed you for wastewater services through December 31, 2022. Those invoices should be paid to the Borough to the address provided on their bill. You will begin to see line items for wastewater service on your New Jersey American Water bill beginning in August; however, the line items will show a zero dollar charge through the end of the year. In January 2023, we will begin to bill you for wastewater service. Your January wastewater charges will be prorated and will cover wastewater services from your end of December water meter reading date through your January water meter reading date.

Please note: Bound Brook will not be accepting payments on our behalf. If you prefer to pay in person, there are 21 authorized payment locations located within a 15-mile radius of Bound Brook, one of which is centrally located in Bound Brook – International Check Cashing Services located at 337 Talmadge Avenue. The Manville Walmart Supercenter also accepts in-person payments of New Jersey American Water bills. For a complete listing, click here.

Additional benefits of being a New Jersey American Water customer.

Regular investment in our water and wastewater systems. We regularly evaluate our systems and facilities, prioritize projects and then make necessary capital investments to help improve service. Statewide, we invested $432 million in 2021 alone to improve the water and wastewater treatment and pipeline systems. Locally, we plan to invest more than $11 million in the first 10 years of ownership, including sewer main upgrades, wastewater pump station improvements, engineering studies, and safety and security improvements.
Paperless Billing and Auto Pay. Enroll in Paperless Billing, and we’ll notify you by email when your bill is available to view online. Take it one step further and sign up for our recurring Auto Pay. Your bill will be paid on time, every time, directly from your checking or savings account AUTOMATICALLY! No checks to write and no stamps required. Both of these services are free, and you can discontinue them at any time. It’s easy to enroll online using our self-service tool MyWater at mywater.amwater.com. All you need is your account number, which you will receive with your first bill.
High-quality service. Our team of water and wastewater experts and licensed operators has an exceptional track record when it comes to meeting regulations. With New Jersey American Water’s strong reputation for leadership, innovation and expertise, we have what it takes to meet the needs of your community.
Emergency notification system. In case of emergencies, we use a notification system to quickly alert customers via phone, text and email. Visit mywater.amwater.com to choose how you want to be notified and to update your contact information. You can also report an emergency online or through MyWater.
Commitment to our customers and the environment. We promote wise water use, support environmental programs and offer water experts to speak to your school, civic and neighborhood groups.
A helping hand for customers in need. Through our H2O Help to Others Program™, we offer financial assistance to help customers who qualify pay their water and/or wastewater bill. For more information or to see if you qualify, visit newjerseyamwater.com/h2oprogram, or contact our program administrator New Jersey SHARES, toll-free, at 1-877-652-9426 (1-877-NJAWH2O).

We’re here to answer your questions.

Our customer service representatives are available to answer your questions at 1-800-272-1325, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For emergencies: we’re available at this number 24/7.

You can also access MyWater anytime to view and pay your bill, track water use, and sign up for paperless billing and more. Visit mywater.amwater.com to register. It’s that easy. Be sure to have your account number handy.

It’s a privilege to serve you.

We are excited to be your new wastewater service provider. For more information, please review this welcome packet. We also invite you to visit us online at newjerseyamwater.com or like us on Facebook.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about us and for allowing us to serve you.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Are my rates changing as a result of this acquisition?
As part of the sale agreement, New Jersey American Water committed to adopting the Borough’s 2021 wastewater rates. Those rates will remain in place for a minimum of two years and will not increase more than three percent per year over the following three years. New Jersey American Water is regulated by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and any future proposed changes in wastewater rates will be subject to extensive review and approval. For more information about rates, visit our "Your Water and Wastewater Rates" page.

PLEASE NOTE: All other fees for Borough of Bound Brook wastewater customers will be in accordance with the New Jersey American Water tariff approved by the NJBPU.

Will future rate changes have to undergo regulatory or governmental approvals?
Yes. New Jersey American Water is a regulated utility subject to governmental review and approval of any changes in rates. Wastewater service rates are regulated by the NJBPU. The process for any future changes in rates will be open, transparent and comply with all regulations.

Will I continue to be billed annually with payment due in three installments for wastewater service? If not, how will the transition in billing happen?

No. Beginning in January 2023, New Jersey American Water will be transitioning customers to monthly billing. Receiving 12 smaller bills instead of three larger bills a year makes it easier for many customers, especially those on fixed incomes, to include the cost of wastewater service in their monthly household budgets. In addition, if you are both a water and wastewater service customer of New Jersey American Water, your water and wastewater charges will be included in one bill.

I have a bill from Bound Brook due in November 2022. Who should I send the payment to?
Please pay the November 2022 installment to Bound Brook at the address provided on the bill.

If I have a past or current amount due with the Borough of Bound Brook, who do I pay that to?

Borough of Bound Brook wastewater bill: Any amounts due for wastewater service that were billed in 2022 or prior by the Borough of Bound Brook should be paid to the Borough of Bound Brook to the address provided on their bill.
New Jersey American Water water/wastewater bills: Any past or current due balance billed by New Jersey American Water for water service and/or wastewater service should be mailed to us. Borough of Bound Brook cannot accept payments on behalf of New Jersey American Water.

Can I pay my sewer bill in person at the Borough of Bound Brook office?

No. Borough of Bound Brook cannot accept payments on our behalf. If you prefer to pay in person, there are 21 authorized payment locations located within a 15-mile radius of Bound Brook, one of which is centrally located in Bound Brook – International Check Cashing Services located at 337 Talmadge Avenue. Here are a few other nearby locations:

WAL-MART STORES, 100 No. Main St, Manville
FRIENDLY CHECK CASHING, 19-21 South Bridge St, Sommerville
WAL-MART, 1303 Centennial Ave, Piscataway

For a complete listing, visit our Billing & Payment Info page.

I’m on a fixed income. Do you have any programs to assist customers?
Yes, we have a customer assistance program for our water and wastewater service customers. For nearly two decades, New Jersey American Water has been assisting residential customers who qualify through its H2O Help to Others Program™ in three ways:

Grants: Customers who qualify may receive a grant of up to $500 to help pay their bill.
Discount on the fixed service charge for water and/or wastewater service for those who qualify.
Water-saving kits

To qualify for these programs, customers have to be at or below 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. For more information or to see if you qualify, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com/h2oprogram, or contact our program administrator New Jersey SHARES, toll-free, at 1-877-652-9426 (1-877-NJAWH2O).

For more information on government-funded Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), please visit https://njdca-housing.dynamics365portals.us/en-US/dcaid-services/.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

When did New Jersey American Water acquire the wastewater system?
August 11, 2022

Did it require regulatory approval?
Yes. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved New Jersey American Water’s Petition to provide wastewater service in the Borough of Bound Brook at its July 13, 2022 meeting.

Does New Jersey American Water plan to invest in Borough of Bound Brook’s wastewater system?
Yes. We believe in investing in our infrastructure. We regularly evaluate our systems and facilities, prioritize projects and then make necessary capital investments to help improve service. Statewide, we invested $432 million in 2021 alone to improve the water and wastewater treatment and pipeline systems. Locally, we plan to invest more than $11 million in the first 10 years of ownership, including sewer main upgrades, wastewater pump station improvements, engineering studies, and safety and security improvements.

Does American Water provide water and wastewater service to other areas?
Yes. You’re in good hands. New Jersey American Water is the largest water service provider in the state, serving approximately 2.8 million people in 190 communities. We also provide water service to 30 additional communities through bulk purchase water agreements. Our focus is to provide you with safe, reliable water and wastewater service – and we have the people and technologies in place to get the job done right. Plus, we have access to national resources. Our parent company, American Water, is the largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility in the U.S., with extensive experience and a strong reputation for leadership, innovation and expertise in water and wastewater services.