Payment channels

Pay Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) – Water and Wastewater Services

Use the provider’s verified online, telephone, mail, or counter instructions. Check the final confirmation screen for the amount, processing date, and any transaction fee before submitting.

Primary online route

Use the official payment portal

The direct portal is the fastest route when it is available. The provider identifies its payment gateway as City of Seattle Utility Services Website; current public pages do not identify a separate payment-gateway vendor. Never enter account credentials into a lookalike site reached through an unsolicited message.

Open payment portal ↗

Telephone payment

Phone IVR

(877) 398-3531 for 24/7 automated card or checking-account payments; (206) 684-3000 for the City customer-service line and payment support

Have your account number and payment instrument ready. Follow the provider’s recorded prompts and retain the confirmation number.

Alternative channels

Mail, text, and in-person payment instructions

Pay by text

Seattle's current SPU pages document text reminders through long-term PromisePay payment plans and account notifications, but they do not publish a standalone bill-payment keyword or short-code enrollment path. Customers should create a profile at myutilities.seattle.gov, enroll in electronic billing or a PromisePay plan, and keep the mobile number current so scheduled-payment reminders can be delivered. A text message is not a substitute for payment confirmation; verify the account in the City portal or call 206-684-3000.

Mail-in address

City of Seattle P.O. Box 35177 Seattle, WA 98124-5177. Make checks payable to City of Seattle and include the SPU account number in the memo line; customers should follow the remittance address on the current combined utility bill if it differs.

Counters, drop boxes, and office hours

Seattle offers walk-in payment at multiple City customer-service centers. The downtown City of Seattle Customer Service Center at Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Avenue, 4th Floor lobby, is open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Other published locations include Ballard, 5604 22nd Ave NW, Tuesday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Central District, 464 12th Ave, Tuesday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Lake City, 12525 28th Ave NE, Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Southwest, 2801 SW Thistle St, Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Southeast, 3815 S Othello St Suite 105, Monday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; and University District, 4534 University Way NE, Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Centers accept Visa, Mastercard, and personal checks; verify current hours and cash acceptance before traveling.

Accepted digital instruments

What you can use online

SPU accepts one-time or recurring online payments through the City Utility Services Website using a credit card, debit card, or checking-account number. Customers can also use the 24/7 automated phone payment line with card or bank-account information, and can enroll in recurring electronic payments. The current official payment pages do not identify Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, or PayPal as supported SPU instruments; personal checks and cash remain available at designated walk-in locations.

2026 transaction pricing

Convenience fees

No convenience fee. Seattle Public Utilities states that it never charges an additional convenience fee for its listed online, phone, in-person, and mailed payment methods. Customers remain responsible for any bank, card issuer, wireless, or carrier charges outside SPU's own billing system.

Fees can vary by payment type, channel, account class, and processor terms. The checkout screen is the final fee disclosure.

Payment guidance

Choose the payment channel that fits your deadline

The safest payment path is the one published by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) – Water and Wastewater Services and matched to the account information on your bill. Online portals are convenient, but telephone, mail, counter, and drop-box options may follow different posting schedules and may use different fees.

For a routine payment, save the final confirmation page or IVR number and check when the transaction will post. For a same-day shut-off notice, do not assume that submitting a card payment automatically stops a field order; ask the provider what amount and confirmation are required.

Never send your account number, password, card details, or bank information to Water Ledger. Those details belong only on the provider’s verified payment channel or at an authorized counter.

Return to utility profile →Review shut-off rules →