Utility Billing

Services & Rates
The City of Altoona provides water, sanitary sewer, storm water, trash, and recycling services.  You can find the utility billing rate structures below.

Residential Rate Structure

Commercial Rate Structure

Billing Schedule
Utility bills are mailed out on the 15th of each month, and due on the 3rd of the following month at 4:30pm. If the 3rd of the month falls on the weekend or a holiday, the bills are due by 3:00 p.m. the next business day. The billing period is the month prior to the billing date.

Understanding your Bill
Utility bills include a variety of charges for different City utilities. They are coded as follows:

WT         – Water

SW         – Sewer

GB          – Garbage

RE           – Recycling (state required)

IR            – Irrigation

MC         – Miscellaneous

SU           – Storm Water Utility

TX           – Sales/Excise Tax

WD        – Water Billed Deposit

Late Fees / Bounced Checks
If payment is not received by 4:30 on the due date, a ten percent (10%) late penalty is applied.

Note, if the 3rd of month falls on the weekend or holiday, bills are due at 3:00 p.m. on the next business day, and the ten percent (10%) late penalty is applied at 3:01 p.m.

A $15.00 fee is charged for all checks not honored by the bank.

Delinquent Bills / Water Shut Off
If payment is not received within 23 days of the billing date, RED TAGS are delivered and a $35.00 service fee is assessed. Red tags serve as a last-chance warning that water service will be shut down soon unless the utility bill is payed.

Water service is disconnected if the bill is not paid in full within 25 days of the billing date, as per Altoona City Code Section 98.12.

Reconnect Fee:
Once a resident’s water has been shut off due to a delinquent bill, it will only be reconnected once the utility bill and service fees have been paid in full. If a payment is made online or through the automated voice system, the resident should then call Utility Billing (515-957-5120) to request their water be reconnected. To avoid accidental flooding, utilities will not connect service unless someone is present at the property.

Once the billing department has verified the payment was received, and the property owner has confirmed that someone is at home, a utilities staff member will return to the property to reconnect the service. A reconnect fee will be assessed as follows:

  • $25 reconnection fee (within business hours, 8:00am – 4:30pm)
  • $75 emergency reconnect (after hours – for health emergency only)
How to Pay a Utility Bill
In person / by mail

Cash, check, or money order payments can be made at the Altoona City Hall within regular business hours:

Altoona City Hall
900 Venbury Dr, Ste A
Altoona, IA 50009

Office hours are:
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Monday – Friday

24/7 Deposit Dropbox

Cash, check, or money order payments can be dropped in the 24-hour payment drop box at City Hall. The drop box is located in the center island in front of City Hall. Payments can be dropped from either side of the box. Envelopes are provided in the box; please do not lick the envelopes. Please tuck the envelope flap inside. If your check and envelope are separated, staff will still be able to apply your payment to your bill.

Hy-Vee Service Counter

Cash, check, or money order payments can be made at Hy-Vee customer service counter. Payments are accepted from the 15th of the month to the 3rd of the next month. Payments cannot be made in the period of time after the 3rd and before the 15th.

Automated Phone Payments

Payments can be made through an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system by calling (833) 271-0804.

You will need your utility account number, your address, and either a Visa or Mastercard to complete the transaction. There will be a $1.25 for each transaction made through the IVR system. This fee is retained by the service provider, and is not paid to the City of Altoona.

Online Payments

Payments can be made online with a debit or credit card. Each online transaction will require a $1.25 service charge. This fee is retained by the service provider, not paid to the City of Altoona.

To pay online, click here.

You will need your account number (with the dashes) and your last payment amount. Once logged in, you have two online payment options:

Quick Pay allows you to perform a one-time-payment. Each time you use Quick Pay, you will need to enter your utility account number and last payment amount.

Member Accounts allow you to create a unique user name and password. You only need your utility account number and last payment amount the first time you set up a Member Account. After that, you can log in with your user name and password. Additionally, you can view past consumption and payment history as well as store your credit card information on the secure site for future payments.

Auto Draft

You can sign up for Auto Draft for your utility bill to be directly debited from your checking or savings account on the due date. You will receive a one-time $5.00 credit on your next bill for signing up on the automatic plan.

You can apply for auto draft online here

Alternately, paper applications can be downloaded here. This form will need to be dropped off in the drop box in front of City Hall with a cancelled check before the end of the month to be effective for the current bill.