Reconnections

Lock Off Policies
Waterworks is obligated by Ordinance 91-7-7, Water Revenue Bond, Series 1991, Article IX, Section 902 that if a bill and the penalty charges remain unpaid form the date on which it became delinquent, waterworks will shut off water service to the affected premises until all bill charges, penalty fees and reconnection fees are paid.

The water supply shall be disconnected (locked off) from any premises for all accounts that are more than one month delinquent. To avoid lock off, all unpaid balances (except penalty charges) from the prior bill must be paid before the lock off date.

Once locked off, water shall not be turned on except upon the payment of the entire balance due and payment of a $30 reconnection fee.

There shall be no call-outs after office hours to open meters that are locked off for non-payment of a bill. To have service restored on the same day, payment must be received by 4 p.m. on lock off day and by 3:30 p.m. on other days. Meter readers are not bonded to carry money and shall not collect for bills on the road.


Damage Liability
Waterworks will not be responsible for any physical or property damages incurred due to failure, turning off, discontinuation, turning on or reconnecting of water service effective Nov. 13, 1984.


Uncollected Customer Balances and Bad Debts
All bad debts are logged on computer. When a customer comes in to open or transfer an account, the name and address is checked to verify if a past due balance is owed. If a balance is owed, the customer must pay the outstanding balance before another service is opened.


Collection Procedures for Bills Remaining Unpaid 30 days After Service is Disconnected for Non-Payment of Bill

• Contractors / Developers: A reminder is sent to the contractor or developer notifying them that the bill must be paid in 10 days. If the account remains unpaid after the 10-day period, notice is sent to the Planning and Zoning Department. Contractors and developers will be denied issuance of permits until delinquent balance is paid.
• Parish Employees: A reminder ID sent to the employee notifying them that the bill must be paid in 30 days. If the account remains unpaid after the 30 day period, notice is sent to the parish attorney for collection.
• Customers with Another Open Account: A reminder is sent to the customer notifying them that the bill must be paid in 30 days. If the account remains unpaid after the 30 day period, the unpaid balance is transferred to the open account.
• Customers without Another Open Account: A reminder is sent to the customer notifying them that the bill must be paid in 30 days. If the account remains unpaid after the 30 day period, a letter of collection is sent to the customer notifying them that the bill must be paid in 10 days or the account will be turned over to the parish attorney for collection.