A county water problem, and not sure who runs the system
Many homes around Jasper are not on City of Jasper water at all. They are served by the Pickens County Water & Sewer Authority, which the county's water page says was established in 1969 by House Bill 978. When something goes wrong with water at a county-served home, whether it is a meter box leak, a sudden loss of pressure or a bill that does not add up, the authority is the office to contact, not City Hall.
This page gathers what the authority publishes on its rate sheet and the county water page: contact details, rates, account fees, billing and disconnection rules, and what it says about leaks. For private plumbing on the customer's side of the meter, the rate sheet is clear that the water authority is not responsible for water loss there.
Contacts and the after-hours line
The authority's office is at 1266 East Church Street, Suite 117, Jasper, GA 30143, open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm, with an office phone of 706-253-8718. For emergencies after hours, the rate sheet lists 706-669-3538. The water board meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm in Room 149 of the Pickens County Government Administrative Building at the same address.
Use the after-hours number for problems at the meter or in the street, such as water bubbling from the meter box or a main break. For leaks inside the house or between the meter and the house, close your own shutoff valve and call a plumber; the first-hour checklist walks through the order of steps.
Rates and minimums
The rate sheet, effective January 1, 2024, sets a monthly minimum that covers up to 1,000 gallons and rises with meter size: $36.00 for a 3/4-inch meter, $51.00 for 1-inch, $66.00 for 2-inch, $76.00 for 3-inch, $81.00 for 4-inch and $111.00 for 6-inch. Above 1,000 gallons, water is $5.38 per 1,000 up to 3,000 gallons, $6.45 up to 5,000 and $7.53 above 5,000 gallons for 3/4-inch and 1-inch meters; 2-inch to 6-inch meters pay $7.53 up to 10,000 and $9.68 above 10,000 gallons. A leak that runs for weeks can therefore reach the highest tier quickly. The leak cost calculator has a county option.
| Item | Charge | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4-inch meter minimum, up to 1,000 gallons | $36.00 | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| 1-inch meter minimum | $51.00 | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| 2-inch meter minimum | $66.00 | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| 3-inch meter minimum | $76.00 | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| 4-inch meter minimum | $81.00 | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| 6-inch meter minimum | $111.00 | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| Above 1,000 up to 3,000 gallons | $5.38 per 1,000 gallons | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| Above 3,000 up to 5,000 gallons | $6.45 per 1,000 gallons | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| 3/4-inch and 1-inch meters: above 5,000 gallons | $7.53 per 1,000 gallons | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| 2-inch to 6-inch meters: above 5,000 up to 10,000 gallons / above 10,000 gallons | $7.53 / $9.68 per 1,000 gallons | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
Water still moving? Close your own shutoff valve first, then send a Free Quote Request.
Free Quote RequestOpening, moving or closing an account
To start service, the rate sheet says customers must complete a water service application and provide a valid driver's license or photo ID, and buyers or renters must provide proof of ownership or a lease. A $100.00 service charge is due when applying and is non-refundable. A $50.00 reconnection fee applies when applying for service at an address previously in the customer's name. To end service, the account holder must complete a service termination form; only the account holder may terminate service.
New meters carry separate meter fees, starting at $2,500 for a 3/4-inch meter, covered in the tap and meter fee page.
| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Service charge when applying for service (non-refundable) | $100.00 | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| Reconnection fee at an address previously in the customer's name | $50.00 | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| Late fee, unpaid by 8:00 am on the 6th | $25.00 | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| Disconnect reconnection fee | $25.00 | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| Return check or ACH payment fee | $30.00 | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| 3/4-inch meter fee | $2,500 | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
| Illegal connection fee (effective June 17, 2025) | $250 minimum, up to $1000 | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
Billing, due dates and disconnection
Bills are due on the 5th of each month with no grace period. If the balance is still unpaid at 8:00 am on the 6th, a $25 late charge is added; if the 5th falls on a weekend or holiday, customers have until the next business day. Disconnections are scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month, and past-due balances must be paid before 8:00 am that day to avoid disconnection. Partial payments are not accepted to restore service, and payments received by 5:00pm restore service the same day. The county water page adds that customers get a courtesy robocall before penalties or disconnections.
The rate sheet also warns that the mailed bill is the only statement customers receive, and that anyone who illegally turns water back on faces an illegal connection fee of a minimum of $250 and up to $1000, plus possible legal action. The shutoff and reconnection page compares these rules with the City of Jasper's.
Before you call the authority
Have your account number, service address and the most recent bill in front of you, and note the meter reading if you can reach the meter box safely. Describe whether the problem is on the street side of the meter, such as a leak in the meter box, or inside the house. If water is pooling near the meter or in the road, say so first; that is the authority's equipment. If the leak is on the customer side, shut the house valve and arrange a plumber, then ask the authority what records it needs for a bill review. Write down who you spoke with and when, in case you need to follow up.
Leaks on a county account
Because the authority is not responsible for water lost on the customer's side of the meter, a leak is normally billed in full. The authority's Policy #8 provides a one-time adjustment per meter location every two years for qualifying leaks, with smaller leak bills placed on a payment plan. The leak adjustment guide explains the thresholds. Once the water is off, the Free Quote Request on this page passes your details to an independent plumber who serves Pickens County.
Where these facts come from: Pickens County Water & Sewer Authority: Water Rates & Meter Fees, effective January 1, 2024 (Water Rate Sheet, PDF); Pickens County, GA: Water department page (billing, disconnect schedule, water-loss facts); Pickens County Water and Sewer Authority: Policy #8, Leak Adjustments (amended February 20, 2023, PDF). Checked 2026-10-26.
Describe the problem once. Independent plumbers who work in Pickens County can follow up.
Free Quote RequestQuestions Pickens County homeowners ask
What is the after-hours emergency number for Pickens County water?
The Pickens County Water & Sewer Authority rate sheet lists 706-669-3538 for emergencies after hours.
What does it cost to open a Pickens County water account?
The rate sheet lists a $100.00 non-refundable service charge due when applying for service, plus meter fees for a new meter.
When are Pickens County water disconnections?
Disconnections are scheduled on the third Tuesday of each month; past-due balances must be paid before 8:00 am to avoid disconnection.