Pay Water/Sewer Bill Remotely to Earn Discount
Tara A. Spears
Many seasonal residents had to forego their winter visit to Mexico due to the global covid pandemic. Besides missing the warm weather, sunshine and good people, many thought that they would miss out on the discount for paying the annual bill for water and sewage. But, there are options besides trekking into the La Penita office: you can pay the SIAPA bill with a bank transfer or direct deposit. You still can’t use a credit card –as you can with the hydro/CFE and telephone bills.
For those new to Jaltemba Bay area, it often comes as a surprise that the water and sewer expense is not directly billed to the customer: it operates on an ‘honor system’ whereas the property owner is expected to come into the office to ask how much is owed and pay it. The SIAPA (sistema de Agua potable y Alcantarillado de la Penita de Jaltemba) is still using a large paper accounting book to look up accounts and post the payments! The receipts are generated by a computer, surprisingly. “There is a set amount for residential service” explained the office staff. “The rate varies by community (meaning Los Ayalas has a different rate than La Penita, et cetera) but all households have the same amount within each town.” Unlike urban areas where each property has a meter and customers pay according to what amount of water they use, rural Jaltemba Bay has a flat rate per property and a business consumption rate.
“SIAPA Compostela assured the public that the 10% discount is made to individuals paying their annual bill at the facility, online or through bank transfer until February 28, 2021”, according to Meganotacias.mx. Payments made in March are entitled to a 5% discount. For the first time in 2021 the SIAPA office announced another discount for retirees with a senior card.
The municipal water agency has a very challenging task to keep pace with the rapid growth of the Jaltemba Bay area in the last 15 years. Not only do they maintain the sewage treatment plant but keeping all the lines operating for the five water wells that serve the communities of La Colonia, La Penita, Guayabitos and Los Ayala. It is a huge area in a very harsh, humid climate that is hell on plumbing. I applaud the efforts of the director, Victor Guzman the field workers and the office staff that keep the aging system running.
In learning about the remote payment option I was unable to determine from the staff if remote payment is a new policy in reaction to the pandemic or if this method has been available for a while. It makes it possible for those out of the country to pay in a timely fashion. Nonetheless, the following is an English translation of the format available in the SIAPA office.
Since 2020 was a year of such bizarre occurrences, it fits that the second drill for the replacement water well for Guayabitos and Los Ayalas, completed in August, has problems that prevents its usage. Residents have been eagerly awaiting a new water source since 2014 when the original well was condemned. Hopefully, a solution will be found to get clear water to the people. The state and federal governments have budgeted funding for the project.
The SIAPA office is one street south of the main La Penita Avenida. Hours 8:30- 2:00pm M-F
Calle Esteban Baca Calderone #79
Telephone: 327 274 0518 
