Direct Payment Program Replaced with Improved Payment Options

Background

OMWD initiated the Direct Payment Program over 25 years ago to offer its customers a convenient way to pay their water bills. Participants of DPP authorized OMWD to deduct from their checking or savings account the total amount due for their water bill each month.  

Customers were required to submit to OMWD a voided check and signed authorization form to enroll in DPP.  Customers were required to provide a 30-day written notice in order to modify their payment account information or unenroll from DPP.  

OMWD now offers an online portal that allows customers to enroll in paperless billing, set up automatic payments, view their consumption, set up usage alerts, and more.

Administering two separate autopay systems is not only operationally inefficient, but has also been a source of confusion for customers who have enrolled themselves in both programs. For example, a customer enrolled in DPP may attempt to update their banking account information online, instead of by providing OMWD with 30 days written notice, which would not result in changing the banking account used for their automatic payments. Additionally, DPP participants that are enrolled in online billing, but not online autopay, may receive notices that they have a payment due.  

To be cost-effective and to best serve our customers, OMWD has discontinued DPP effective September 30, 2023. OMWD encourages customers to enroll in autopay via our online portal.

Having trouble enrolling for the online portal?

Online Enrollment Video Tutorial

 

Consolidated/Group Billed Accounts Video Tutorial

Benefits

The online customer portal offers many features to assist customers, including the following:

  • More autopay options, including ability to set up autopay with a bank account (free) or a credit card (convenience fee applies).
  • Ability to start, stop, or modify autopay options effective the next business day.
  • Ability to view your water usage online.
  • Ability to set custom thresholds to be alerted of unusual consumption.
  • Automatic notification if payment card is about to expire.
  • No maximum payment amount on credit card payments.
  • Optional reminders of pending payments and/or past due balances.
  • Optional text message notifications.
  • 24-month bill history.
  • Available in Spanish.

What to expect?

Effective September 30, 2023, DPP will be discontinued. Water bills with a due date after September 30, 2023 will not be paid through DPP. Customers who wish to have their monthly water bills paid automatically must 1) create an online account at www.olivenhain.com/ebills, 2) activate their online account by clicking the link in their enrollment confirmation email, and 3) log into their online account and enroll in autopay. Please note that customers may select to receive bills statements in the mail or electronically. If you have any questions, please email us at customerservice@olivenhain.com or call 760-753-6466.