When the ownership of a residential or commercial property is scheduled to change, the North Reading Water Department generates what is knows as a Final Water Bill on the property. The Water Department will visit the property, typically one day prior to the scheduled closing date, and conduct a final water meter reading for the property. Based on this meter reading, the Final Water Bill is generated.
A Final Water Bill may be requested in one of two ways – either by email to the Water Department at water@northreadingma.gov – or by telephone to the Water Department’s voice mail line at (978) 664-6009. Please note that if the closing is scheduled within 48 hours of notifying the Water Department, requests should be made to the voice mail number.
Whether the request is made by email or by telephone, the information required by the Water Department is the same. We will need the following information:
1. Address of the property that is being sold;
2. The date of the scheduled closing;
3. The name(s) of the new owners of the property;
4. The adress of the new owners of the property (to which future bills are to be mailed, if not the property address);
5. The name of the person requesting the Final Water Bill; and
6. A telephone number where the person requesting the Final Water Bill may be contacted.
Properties in North Reading are equipped with external water meter reading devices that – in most cases – allow the Water Department to read the water meter without entering the property. Should the Water Department not be able to obtain a water meter reading from the property, we will contact the person requesting the Final Water Bill.
Final Water Bills are generated and available at the Tax Collector’s Office in Town Hall by 12:00 noon on the day prior to the scheduled closing. Copies of Final Water Bills can be faxed upon request.
Persons wishing to make payment of the Final Water Bill and take a copy of the paid receipt to their closing are advised that the Town of North Reading will only accept bank checks or cash for the payment of Final Water Bills. Personal checks will not be accepted.
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