Town Hall 276-646-3232
Water & Sewer
Pay the bill, read the Town’s boil water advisories, and find the rates, applications and help with a leak.
Paying the Bill
Bills by email
The Town of Chilhowie is offering to email water bills to customers. To have your utility bill emailed to you, send your name and email address to Town Hall.
To pay in person or by mail: Town Hall, 325 East Lee Highway, or P.O. Box 5012, Chilhowie, VA 24319.
Boil Water Advisories
Each boil water advisory, newest first, with the streets it named. To ask whether one is still in effect, call Town Hall at 276-646-3232.
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Boil water advisory
Sulphur Springs, Vance Drive, Echo Lane, Crestwood Drive
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Boil water advisory
Sulphur Springs, Vance Drive, Crestwood Drive, Echo Lane
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Boil water advisory, since lifted
West Lee Highway, Sunset Drive, Skyview, Midnight Drive, Dry Branch Road
Rates, 2025–2026
| Where | Use | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| In town | First 2,000 gallons | $29.06 minimum |
| In town | All over 2,000 gallons | $7.26 per 1,000 gallons |
| Out of town | First 2,000 gallons | $47.38 minimum |
| Out of town | All over 2,000 gallons | $11.88 per 1,000 gallons |
| Where | Use | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| In town | First 2,000 gallons | $29.62 minimum |
| In town | All over 2,000 gallons | $7.40 per 1,000 gallons |
| Out of town | First 2,000 gallons | $51.94 minimum |
| Out of town | All over 2,000 gallons | $13.02 per 1,000 gallons |
| Where | Use | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| In town | First 5,000 gallons | $52.65 minimum |
| In town | Next 495,000 gallons | $9.00 per 1,000 gallons |
| In town | All over 500,000 gallons | $7.25 per 1,000 gallons |
| Out of town | First 5,000 gallons | $59.58 minimum |
| Out of town | Next 495,000 gallons | $7.29 per 1,000 gallons |
| Out of town | All over 500,000 gallons | $5.86 per 1,000 gallons |
| Use | Rate |
|---|---|
| First 5,000 gallons | $66.64 minimum |
| Next 495,000 gallons | $11.29 per 1,000 gallons |
| All over 500,000 gallons | $6.39 per 1,000 gallons |
Starting Service
Checking for a Leak
How do I check for a water leak?
- Turn all water-using appliances off so that no water is being used. This means turning off all water inside and outside the house including showers, sinks, washing machines and any appliance that uses water. If you have a sprinkler irrigation system, turn off the controller and manually shut off the two valves at the double check valve assembly (DCVA) to isolate the irrigation system.
- Take the lid off the meter box and lift the protective cover. Watch the meter. Your meter will have a triangular red or silver and black round disc that is commonly called a “leak indicator.” If it is spinning, you have a leak. If there is no indicator and the actual meter dial hand is moving, water is running somewhere in your system and you have a leak – go to step 3. If the hand is not moving, note the position of the hand and wait 10 minutes. Check the meter again, if it has moved, you have a slow leak – go to step 3. If not, you do not have a leak.
- Locate the main shut-off valve to the house. This is usually located close to the meter box.
- Turn off the valve.
- Turn on a faucet inside the house to test. If water still flows from the faucet after several seconds, the shut off valve is not working. If no water flows through the faucet, the shut off valve is working. Return to the meter.
- Check if the meter’s leak indicators hand is moving. If the leak indicator or dial hand is still moving, water is flowing between the meter and the shut-off valve. That means you have a leak between the meter and the customer-side shut-off valve. If it is not moving, then you have a leak between the customer-side shut-off valve and possibly somewhere in the house. Check toilets, washing machines, faucets, etc., for any leak.
To check a toilet for a leak: Flush the toilet and while the reservoir is still filling, add 2 or 3 drops of food coloring to the water in the reservoir. Wait 15-30 minutes. If the water in the bowl changes colors, the flapper valve needs to be replaced.
The Water and Sewer System
The Water Department operates out of the Mill Creek Regional Water Treatment Plant in conjunction with the Washington County Service Authority (WCSA). The plant was substantially upgraded in 2019 with a $3.4 million project and can produce up to 3.1 Million Gallons a Day (MGD), which the Town has 1.4 MGD and the WCSA 1.7 MGD. The Town serves a population of approximately 7,000 residential, commercial and industrial patrons in the Town of Chilhowie, in Smyth County outside of the corporate limits, and in Washington County.
The Sewer Department operates out of a modern .999,999 MGD multi million dollar facility adjacent to I-81 on the southwest corner of the Town. It serves the Town of Chilhowie and into the Seven Mile Ford area. Smyth County pays a proportional share of the Operation and Maintenance cost at the facility for its customers in the Green Hill area, and from Highway 107. The plant serves approximately 4,000 residential, commercial and industrial patrons.
The Chilhowie Public Works Departments maintains hundreds of miles of water and sewer lines and appurtenances in the Town and in Smyth and Washington Counties. It also has responsibilities in maintaining Town facilities, including the H.L. Bonham Visitors Center (containing the Smyth County Chamber of Commerce), the Old High School (containing the Chilhowie Branch of the Smyth County Library and other services), the Town Hall, Fire and Emergency Medical Buildings, the Town Shop Buildings, Town Parks and Streets within the corporate limits.
Who to Call
