Billing and Payments

Water Billing and Payment Collection

This Policy establishes the process whereby water bills are sent to customers, payments are collected, and delinquent accounts are handled.

1. The rates for all water supplied by the NTFD shall be set by the Administrative Board and shall be available at the NTFD Office or online.
2. Water bills are sent to customers quarterly, approximately the first of the month, in January, April, July, and October. Major users and some commercial users are billed monthly.
3. Rhode Island Sales Tax is added to all commercial accounts.
4. Customers are advised to read their water meters regularly to detect leaks or waste early and avoid large water bills. Cellular customers are also advised to utilize the Eye on Water app.
5. Due Date of water bill payment is stated directly on the bill, approximately 30 days from Billing Date.
6. Payments received after the Due Date are subject to a Late Fee, per billing period.
7. Owners are responsible for tenant non-payment of water bills. (See e.g. RIGL §39-15-12).
8. When water is supplied to a property (curb stop turned on) and available for consumption there will be a minimum charge assessed to said account regardless if there is usage or not registered on the meter.
9. Failure to receive bills does not relieve the property owner of the obligation of payment nor of the penalty for non-payment.
10. Tiverton Wastewater District (TWWD) may order the termination of water supply service to a property for nonpayment of sewer user fees, charges, and assessments.
11. The quantity of water recorded by the meter shall be accepted as correct by both the customer and NTFD except when the meter has been found to be registering inaccurately as provided for herein.
12. When a meter has been found to be registering inaccurately as provided for herein, the quantity of water used will be determined by the average registration of the meter when working or by such other fair and reasonable methods as shall be based on the best information available.

Tax Billing and Payment Collection

This Policy establishes the process whereby tax bills are sent to customers, payments are collected, and accounts in arrears are handled.

1. This Policy establishes the process whereby tax bills are sent to customers, payments are collected, and accounts in arrears are handled.
2. North Tiverton Fire District is a quasi-municipal agency established in 1927, independent from the Town of Tiverton, by State of Rhode Island legislation. NTFD is chartered to provide drinking-quality water for residential and commercial use, as well as water for firefighting purposes. NTFD is empowered to tax. District taxes are used to pay for the maintenance and upgrade of the water treatment and distribution systems.
3. The criteria for assessed taxes are as follows: WATER IS AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE AND A FIRE HYDRANT IS LOCATED WITHIN 500 FEET OF THE PROPERTY LINE. No allowance is made for property with a well as district water is available for use and for firefighting purposes.
4. Taxes are based upon assessed building and land value, as recorded with the Town of Tiverton Tax Assessor on December 31 of the prior year, taking into account any Blind, Elderly, or Veteran exemptions. Assessed taxes on commercial property are also based upon tangible assets.
5. Tax bills are sent to property owners in October, approximately the first of the month.
6. Due Date of tax bill payment is stated directly on the bill, approximately 30 days from Billing Date.
7. Payments received after the Due Date are subject to a Demand Fee added in March, and Monthly Interest.
8. Failure to receive bills does not relieve the property owner of the obligation of payment nor of the penalty for non-payment.
9. Accounts that are in arrears two years or more, become eligible to be sold at Tax Sale, held annually in November, in conjunction with the Town of Tiverton’s Tax Sale. (See e.g. RIGL §44-9-1, et. seq. and NTFD Enabling Legislation)
10. Once the Tax Sale process has been initiated on a property, the account will incur all fees and charges associated with the process until the taxes are paid. These include, but are not limited to, the following: title search charges, mailing costs, share of newspaper advertisement costs, share of auctioneer’s fee, share of Collector’s Return charge, and Collector’s Deed charge.
11. Once a property has been sold at Tax Sale, the account will incur all fees and charges associated with the Redemption process as provided by Rhode Island General Laws.