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 Once enrolled, homeowners will receive an email detailing the date and amount due prior to being withdrawn.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.
24–Hour 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.
FAQ – Your Sewer Utility Questions Answered
The Fanwood Borough Council established the Fanwood Sewer Utility in April 2018 in order to begin the critical process of addressing ongoing support to the borough’s aging sewer infrastructure and to cover residential sewage treatment costs.
- Why does the borough use the last twelve months of water bills to determine usage?
ANSWER: Many municipalities, like Fanwood, base sewer charges on water usage because a water meter provides the most accurate way to measure how much wastewater a property generates. Residents who use more water pay proportionally more for sewer treatment services.
- Why doesn’t Fanwood solely use fall and winter months for billing?
ANSWER: This method was studied and evaluated as a solution. If the borough only uses the first and fourth quarters of the year for water usage, the base rate would need to be raised in order to meet our sewer utility budget obligations. Based on our current baseline rates, residents with the lowest water usage would subsidize those with higher usage. It is important to note funds raised via the sewer utility are used for the maintenance of our sanitary sewer system.
- Why doesn’t the borough charge a flat rate like some other municipalities do?
ANSWER: Flat rates mean light users subsidize heavy users. A single person would pay the same as a large family, even though the family generates much more wastewater requiring treatment. Usage-based billing ensures everyone pays fairly based on their actual use of the sewer system.
- How does this affect residents with pools and sprinkler systems?
ANSWER: While outdoor irrigation and pool water does not directly enter the sewer system, the only way to isolate those uses from your water bill is to install a separate meter for that purpose. We understand outdoor irrigation may raise your water usage and sewer bill. It is important to note that many residents use more water in spring and summer for a variety of reasons, such as for gardening and landscaping, so water usage in general is increased during these months even for those without an irrigation system or pool. Utilizing water usage to calculate sewer charges is a practical and equitable approach and is widely used across a variety of municipalities.
- What do I do if I want to install a separate water (dual meter system) meter for irrigation:
ANSWER: Residents can inquire with NJ American Water about the possibility of having a dual water meter installed. The homeowner would be responsible for the cost of installation.
- Is there an appeals process if I believe my bill is inaccurate?
ANSWER: Yes. If a resident believes their water usage has been recorded inaccurately, they can appeal by submitting copies of actual water bills to the Borough Tax Collector. All appeals shall be submitted in writing within 15 days after the billing date. If you would like to appeal your bill, you can send an email to: sewerbillinfo@fanwoodnj.org. Please send all inquiries to this email address and they will be responded to as quickly as possible.
- What do I do if I think my water bill is wrong?
ANSWER: Please contact NJ American Water directly if you suspect your water bill is inaccurate. Their email address is customerserviceinquiries@amwater.com