Sewer Utility


The Fanwood Borough Council established the Fanwood Sewer Utility (FSU) in April 2018 in order to begin the critical process of addressing ongoing support to the Borough’s aging sewer infrastructure. At that time an annual fee for residential and commercial users was created to fund the Utility. The rate structure is set annually by the Borough council, and bills are determined by prior year water usage.

The sewer utility rates for 2026 are as follows:

Annual Water Usage Residential Mixed Use Commercial
0-35,000 Gallons $150 $289 $353
35,001-70,000 Gallons $266 $532 $648
Per 10,000 Gallons above 70,000 $58 $110 $139
Maximum charge $1,000 N/A N/A

 

Sewer utility bills are mailed once a year. Payments are applied to interest and fees first, then the oldest principal balance. Interest is calculated at 8% per annum on the first $1,500 of any delinquency and 18% per annum for any delinquency over $1,500.

Sewer bills are considered a utility bill, and mortgage companies do not pay these charges even if they pay your property taxes. Unpaid sewer charges are subject to tax sale which will result in a lien being placed on your property.

If you need a duplicate bill, you may access a PDF copy on our online payment portal by accessing your Utility account and clicking View Current Bill.


How to Pay

Online

Payments can be made via the Utility module on our online payment portal.

AutoPay is now available. If you choose to sign up, sewer charges will be debited automatically on the due date. Once enrolled, homeowners will receive an email detailing the date and amount due prior to being withdrawn.


Bank BillPay

BillPay initiated via your bank is now accepted electronically. This is a quick and easy option available to residents with no fee charged by the Borough. There are some important instructions to follow when setting up your payment.

Payee Name: Fanwood Sewer Utility

Address: 75 N Martine Avenue, Fanwood NJ 07023-1341

Your account number is listed on your sewer utility bill as shown below

Don’t forget to use the full account number including the -0. This number is completely different from your property tax account number. It is imperative to use the correct account number as payments are applied electronically.

If you wish to pay both taxes and sewer via bank BillPay, you must set up two separate payees.

If your bank informs you that the payment will be sent via a paper check rather than electronically, you may have entered some information incorrectly.

Please double check the address and your account number before submitting the payment.


24Hour Drop Box

There is a drop-box to the left of the main entrance of Borough Hall.

Do not put cash in the drop box under any circumstances. Payments left in the drop box are credited on the next business day.


In person

Payments can be made at the tax collector’s office located inside the Scotch Plains Municipal building at 430 Park Avenue, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076

Check or Cash only – Credit Card payments can only be made on the website.


By mail

Make your check payable to the Fanwood Sewer Utility and mail to:

Borough of Fanwood Tax Collector

75 N Martine Avenue, Fanwood NJ 07023-1341

Postmarks are not accepted. Allow ample time when mailing payments – we must have physical possession of your payment by the end of the grace period in order to avoid interest charges.

Do not post-date your check. Any post-dated checks will be returned to you and could result in interest charges.

There is a $20.00 service charge for checks returned for insufficient funds and certified funds may be required for future payments. Please note that separate checks are required if making both tax and sewer payments.

To update your mailing address, please contact the Tax Assessor. There can only be one mailing address per property. We do not have the ability to record separate mailing addresses for tax and sewer bills.


Tax Sale

The Tax Collector is required by state law to hold a tax sale each year for delinquent tax and sewer charges. If you do not pay the full amount of taxes or sewer charges from the previous year by the date of the sale, the past due balance will be auctioned off to a third party, and a lien will be placed on your property. Once you have received a notice of tax sale payment can no longer be made using the online portal. A certified check, money order or cash is required to remove the property from tax sale.

If a lien has been placed on your property, please contact the office at (908) 322-8236 Ext 126 or 122 for further information and redemption instructions.