If you’ve lived in Skokie for more than a minute, you know the drill. That quarterly envelope hits the mailbox, and for a split second, you wonder if you accidentally filled a swimming pool. Honestly, the village of skokie water bill can be a bit of a mystery if you don't know how the math works. It’s not just about how long your teenager spends in the shower. It’s a mix of wholesale costs from Evanston, infrastructure upgrades, and a mandatory minimum that catches people off guard.
Why the bill looks different this year
Basically, everything is getting more expensive. In early 2026, the Village Board had to make some tough calls. They approved a 14.9% increase in the retail water rate. That sounds like a lot because it is. Specifically, we’re talking about a $0.99 increase per 100 cubic feet of water.
If you’re wondering why, look at the pipes. Skokie is aggressively pushing to replace lead service lines—thousands of them. It's a massive, multi-decade project. While the village handles the "public side" of the line, homeowners have to deal with the "private side." The good news? The Village caps those private-side costs for residents. As of January 2026, that cap is roughly $3,090, adjusted slightly for inflation. You can even finance that cost over 15 years through your water bill at a low interest rate.
The math behind your usage
Skokie doesn't use gallons for the main line item. They use cubic feet.
One hundred cubic feet is about 748 gallons.
Currently, the rate is $7.64 for every 100 cubic feet.
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There is a catch, though. The minimum bill is now $76.43. Even if you go on vacation for three months and use zero drops of water, you’re paying that. It covers your first 1,000 cubic feet. If you go over that, the $7.64 per unit kicks in for everything extra.
Expert Tip: If your bill suddenly spikes and you haven't changed your habits, check your flappers. A leaking toilet can waste 200 gallons a day without making a sound. That’s enough to blow past your minimum and send your bill into the stratosphere.
Making the actual payment
You've got options. Most people just use the BS&A Online portal. It’s the official way to pay via credit or debit card, and the Village doesn't charge a fee for this—which is rare these days.
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If you're old school:
- The Drop Box: Located at Village Hall (5127 Oakton Street). It’s next to the USPS mailbox near the west entrance.
- In Person: Head to the Finance Department window on the first floor. They’re open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Auto-Pay: You can sign up for the Automatic Bank Payment Plan. You’ll need to mail in a voided check and an authorization form. They’ll pull the funds directly from your checking account on the due date.
Don't wait. You have 30 days to pay. If you miss that window, a 10% late penalty is tacked on immediately. For a $150 bill, that’s an extra $15 just for being a day late. Kinda painful.
Where the water actually comes from
We don’t pump our own water. Since 1941, Skokie has been buying Lake Michigan water from the City of Evanston. We recently entered a new 20-year contract with them. Even with the recent hikes, Skokie usually ranks as having one of the lowest water rates in the North Shore area compared to places like Wilmette or Glenview.
The Village’s goal is to reduce overall water use by 7.5% by 2030. It’s part of a larger environmental plan. Using less water doesn’t just save you a few bucks on the extra units; it reduces the strain on the pumping stations Evanston operates for us.
Managing your account
If you’re moving, you need to request a final water reading. Do this at least 72 hours before your closing or move-out date. You can do it online through the village website. If you don't, you might end up paying for the next guy’s 20-minute showers.
If you have questions that the website can't answer, call the Water Billing Division at 847-933-8418. Ask for the billing clerk. They are surprisingly helpful and can walk you through your usage history to see if there's a pattern that suggests a hidden leak.
To stay on top of your costs, start by checking your meter. Most Skokie homes use the Neptune E-Coder. If you see a small faucet icon on the digital display, you have a leak. Period. Finding and fixing that leak is the fastest way to drop your next bill. Also, consider signing up for e-billing through the BS&A portal to avoid the $10% penalty that often comes from "lost in the mail" excuses.
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Check your toilets with a few drops of food coloring in the tank; if color seeps into the bowl without flushing, replace the flapper immediately. This simple $5 fix can save you over $100 on your next quarterly cycle.