Leak relief and household assistance

A high water bill may have a path to review

Hidden plumbing failures can produce an alarming bill before the problem is visible. This guide separates what Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities publicly describes from the practical steps every customer can take while requesting help.

Provider-specific review

What the public record says about a leak adjustment

The City’s Utilities pages direct customers with unusual bills to its leak information and CityLink, and explain that seasonal use, prevailing volume rates, and meter-size readiness charges can change the total. The reviewed 2026 pages do not publish a fixed leak-credit percentage, receipt requirement, filing deadline, or one-adjustment limit. Customers should document the suspected leak and repair, retain invoices or material receipts, and contact CityLink before assuming that an adjustment will be granted.

Stop the loss

Shut off the failing fixture or supply and arrange a qualified repair.

Keep proof

Save dated invoices, parts receipts, photographs, and meter readings.

Request review

Submit the request promptly and keep paying any undisputed amount.

Utility assistance

Customer assistance and eligibility

Winston-Salem offers payment arrangements rather than a published universal monthly credit: at least half of the delinquent balance must be paid first, followed by three-to-six months of interest-free installments while current bills remain paid on time. The reviewed pages do not publish a senior, disabled-veteran, or utility-owned bill-credit cap.

State and federal connections

Where to ask for broader aid

The official payment page directs customers to North Carolina’s ePASS portal and Forsyth County Department of Social Services for LIHWAP water assistance. Customers can call Forsyth County DSS at 336-703-3800, extension 3, and should apply through https://epass.nc.gov/ while also contacting CityLink about the account status. The reviewed utility page does not publish a local charity grant cap.

Research status for this provider

4 of 4 relief signals publicly identified

Verify with official provider ↗

Emergency route

Published detail

Leak policy

Published detail

Utility aid

Published detail

State/federal aid

Published detail

Leak and assistance notes

Build the file before asking Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities for relief

A high bill can have several causes, including a hidden plumbing failure, irrigation use, a meter issue, a change in occupancy, or a rate adjustment. The provider’s leak policy determines whether any credit is available; an unusually high bill does not automatically qualify.

Keep a dated record of the reading, the suspected source, the repair, the contractor or parts receipt, and the return to normal use. Ask whether the utility requires a specific form, a licensed repair, a meter test, photos, or a request within a fixed number of days.

For income-related difficulty, ask about local assistance, payment arrangements, state programs, and community referrals separately from a leak adjustment. These programs often use different applications, documents, funding limits, and deadlines.

Return to utility profile →Review shut-off protection →Open payment methods →