Please read these Terms & Conditions carefully. By applying for, receiving, or continuing water service from the Lake Sara Area Water Cooperative (“LSAWC,” “the Cooperative,” “we,” or “us”), or by using our online bill payment platform at lsawc.authoritypay.com, you (“Member,” “Customer,” or “you”) agree to be bound by the following terms. If you do not agree, please contact the Cooperative office before initiating or continuing service.
These Terms & Conditions constitute a binding agreement between you and the Lake Sara Area Water Cooperative for the provision of potable water service to residential, agricultural, and commercial properties within the Cooperative’s designated service area near Lake Sara, Effingham County, Illinois.
Service is provided subject to all applicable rules, regulations, and rate schedules adopted by the LSAWC Board of Directors, as well as all applicable Illinois state laws and regulations governing rural water cooperatives. In the event of a conflict between these Terms and any applicable law or regulation, the applicable law or regulation shall control.
By requesting connection to the Cooperative’s system, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms & Conditions in their entirety.
Water service from LSAWC is available to property owners or authorized lessees located within the Cooperative’s service territory. To establish service, applicants must:
Membership in the Cooperative is tied to the service address. Membership rights are non-transferable except as provided in the Cooperative’s bylaws. Members are entitled to receive water service, vote in Cooperative elections, and attend annual and special meetings in accordance with the bylaws.
Water usage is measured by meters installed and maintained by the Cooperative. Meters are read on a regular schedule, and bills are issued accordingly. The Cooperative reserves the right to estimate usage during periods when meters cannot be read due to weather, access issues, or equipment malfunction, with adjustments made on subsequent billing cycles.
Rate schedules are established by the LSAWC Board of Directors and are subject to change with reasonable advance notice. Contact the Cooperative office or visit lsawc.com for current rates and fee schedules.
Payment Due Date. Payment is due on or before the date printed on each bill. Bills not paid by the due date are subject to a late payment penalty as specified in the current fee schedule.
Returned Payments. Any payment returned by a financial institution for insufficient funds, closed accounts, or any other reason will result in a returned payment fee and may require future payments to be made by cash, money order, or certified check. The Cooperative may also require a security deposit following a returned payment.
Disputed Bills. If you believe your bill contains an error, you must notify the Cooperative in writing within 30 days of the bill date. The Cooperative will investigate and respond in a timely manner. Undisputed portions of a bill remain due by the original due date.
LSAWC offers members the convenience of paying bills online through our secure payment portal, powered by AuthorityPay. By using the online payment platform, you agree to the following additional terms.
Access the LSAWC online payment portal at:
https://lsawc.authoritypay.com/
Third-Party Platform. The online bill payment portal at lsawc.authoritypay.com is operated by AuthorityPay, a third-party payment processing service. By using this platform, you are also subject to AuthorityPay’s own terms of service and privacy policy, which are made available through the portal. LSAWC is not responsible for the operation, security, or availability of AuthorityPay’s systems.
Processing Fees. A convenience fee may be assessed by AuthorityPay for certain payment methods, including credit card transactions. This fee, if applicable, will be disclosed to you before you confirm your payment. LSAWC does not collect or retain any portion of convenience fees charged by AuthorityPay.
Payment Timing. Online payments are generally applied to your account within one to two business days of a successful transaction. To avoid late fees, submit online payments at least two business days before your due date. LSAWC is not liable for delays caused by the payment processor, your financial institution, or internet connectivity issues.
Automatic Payments. If you enroll in automatic recurring payments, you authorize LSAWC and/or AuthorityPay to charge your designated payment method on each billing due date. You may cancel or modify your automatic payment enrollment through the payment portal or by contacting the Cooperative office at least five business days before your next scheduled payment date.
Account Security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account login credentials. Notify the Cooperative immediately if you suspect unauthorized access to your online payment account. LSAWC is not liable for unauthorized transactions resulting from your failure to safeguard your credentials.
Payment Errors & Disputes. If you believe an online payment was processed in error, contact the Cooperative office as soon as possible. Credit card and ACH disputes initiated with your financial institution will be investigated, and any chargeback fees assessed to LSAWC may be passed on to your account.
Platform Availability. LSAWC and AuthorityPay make reasonable efforts to keep the payment portal available at all times; however, the portal may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, technical issues, or circumstances beyond our control. During such times, payments may be made by mail, phone, or in person at the Cooperative office.
Water service is provided for lawful purposes only. Members shall not waste water or allow leaks on their side of the meter to go unrepaired. The Cooperative may issue mandatory water conservation notices during periods of drought, supply shortage, or emergency. Failure to comply with conservation orders may result in service restrictions or termination.
Members are prohibited from:
Any tampering with Cooperative infrastructure is a violation of Illinois law and may result in immediate service termination, civil liability, and referral for criminal prosecution.
LSAWC will make every reasonable effort to provide continuous, uninterrupted water service. However, service may be temporarily interrupted for maintenance, system improvements, emergencies, or circumstances beyond the Cooperative’s control, including but not limited to severe weather, natural disasters, equipment failures, or regulatory actions.
The Cooperative will provide advance notice of planned service interruptions where reasonably practicable. Emergency interruptions may occur without advance notice. LSAWC is not liable for damages, losses, or inconvenience arising from service interruptions caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control.
In the event of a water quality emergency or boil order issued by LSAWC or applicable public health authorities, members are required to comply immediately with all instructions provided.
Members are responsible for all plumbing, fixtures, and service lines located on their side of the meter (“customer-side infrastructure”). This includes:
Members are responsible for all water usage recorded at their meter, including usage resulting from leaks or damage on the customer side. The Cooperative may, at its discretion, offer a one-time leak adjustment to members who can demonstrate a significant, undetected leak was promptly repaired.
LSAWC reserves the right to suspend or terminate water service under the following circumstances:
Restoration of service following termination for non-payment or policy violation may require payment of all outstanding balances, applicable late fees, a reconnection fee, and, where appropriate, a security deposit. Service will be restored within a reasonable time after all conditions for reconnection are satisfied.
Voluntary Disconnection. Members wishing to voluntarily terminate service must provide written notice to the Cooperative office. Members remain responsible for all charges accrued through the date of disconnection.
LSAWC collects personal information — including name, service address, contact information, and payment information — solely for the purpose of administering water service and fulfilling our obligations as a cooperative. We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties.
Information may be shared with:
When you use the online bill payment portal at lsawc.authoritypay.com, your payment and financial information is handled in accordance with AuthorityPay’s privacy policy and applicable Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards. LSAWC does not store credit card or bank account numbers on its own systems.
Meter usage data may be used in aggregate, anonymized form for system planning and reporting purposes.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, LSAWC’s liability to any member or third party for damages arising from water service, service interruptions, water quality issues, or use of the online payment platform shall be limited to direct damages only, not to exceed the total amount paid by the member for water service in the preceding twelve (12) months.
LSAWC shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages of any kind, including but not limited to property damage, loss of business, or personal injury resulting from water service interruptions or fluctuations in water pressure or quality, except where such damages result directly from the Cooperative’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Water service is provided “as is” and subject to the operational realities of a rural cooperative water system. LSAWC makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the uninterrupted or error-free delivery of water service beyond its reasonable operational control.
These Terms & Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to its conflict-of-law provisions. Any disputes arising out of or relating to water service or these Terms that cannot be resolved informally through the Cooperative’s complaint process shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Effingham County, Illinois.
Members are encouraged to first submit any complaints or disputes in writing to the Cooperative office for review. LSAWC will make good-faith efforts to resolve disputes promptly and fairly.
LSAWC reserves the right to amend these Terms & Conditions at any time. Amendments will be communicated to members through bill inserts, posting on the Cooperative’s website at lsawc.com, or other reasonable means of notice. Continued use of water service after the effective date of any amendment constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
For questions about these Terms, your account, billing, or service, please contact the Cooperative office:
Contact Information:
Lake Sara Area Water Cooperative
114 W. Washington Avenue
Effingham, IL 62401
(217) 342-9658
Website: lsawc.com
Online Bill Pay: lsawc.authoritypay.com
All formal notices from members to LSAWC should be submitted in writing to the Cooperative’s mailing address or delivered in person during office hours. Notices from LSAWC to members may be made by mail to the address on file, by bill insert, or by electronic communication where the member has opted into electronic notices.