Hillsborough Water Department

Hillsborough's water is recognized for its exceptional clarity, taste, and purity. This premium municipal supply meets all federal and state standards for watershed protection, disinfection treatment, bacteriological quality, and operational requirements at its source in the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

Due to this high quality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Department of Health Services (CDHS) have granted the Hetch Hetchy water supply a filtration exemption. This special status continues as long as the Hetch Hetchy source maintains all filtration avoidance criteria.

Both the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and Hillsborough Department of Public Works (DPW) are committed to delivering the highest quality water to your home. Municipal water typically contains minimal amounts of some contaminants, which doesn't necessarily indicate health risks. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, residents can contact the EPA's Safe Municipal Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Chloramine Treatment
Hillsborough water undergoes chloramine treatment, a disinfectant the SFPUC adds for public health protection. This chlorine-ammonia combination is currently considered the best technology for controlling certain regulated organic disinfection byproducts. Chloraminated water is safe for people and animals to drink and for general household use. However, like chlorine, chloramine must be removed for fish and amphibian environments and for specialized businesses requiring highly treated water.

When should I expect my water bill?

Residential and select commercial customers using under 5,000 gallons daily typically receive quarterly bills. Business customers with Average Daily Consumption (ADC) exceeding 5,000 gallons receive monthly statements. Your initial bill may cover only part of your first quarter depending on your move-in date and meter reading schedule. Regular quarterly billing follows thereafter. Each bill includes Pipeline, an informational publication covering public hearings, conservation tips, account adjustment policies, and other relevant topics.

Is electronic billing available?

Yes, we now offer Electronic Paperless Billing through our Go Green initiative. Visit our website for enrollment details.

What payment methods do you accept?

Please see our Payment Options page for complete information.

How is water usage billed?

Charges reflect the water volume passing through your meter since the previous billing period. Sewer charges aren't separately metered but are calculated based on water consumption. Your total usage is divided by billing period days to determine "average daily consumption." Higher ADC results in higher per-gallon costs, as our incremental pricing structure promotes conservation. "Comparable" consumption refers to usage during the same period in the previous year. Significant increases from comparable periods trigger alerts in your bill's message section. Sewer service costs more than water because wastewater treatment involves more complex processing than water filtration. Each bill also includes an Account Maintenance Fee.

Why did I receive an estimated bill?

Weather conditions, inaccessible meters, obstructions, locked gates or questionable consumption patterns may prevent actual meter readings, triggering our system to generate estimated bills. Residential estimates use the household's comparable historical usage. For new occupants, we use a preset 245 ADC. Commercial estimates utilize the previous tenant's consumption patterns. We'll leave a card requesting an actual reading if we can't access your meter.