Show All Answers

1. My water pressure is low, what can I do?

You can contact Water Distribution at 333-4905 and they will come out and check your meter and your curb stop. The meter may be clogged or the curb stop may not be on all the way. Also older galvanized plumbing may be the problem. Over time, a build up in the piping causes water flow to be restricted.

2. Sometimes my water is cloudy for a moment when I open the faucet what is wrong?

This is caused by air in the water mains. It most likely is a result from water main break where the line may be opened to make repairs. The air becomes trapped at high and low points in the water system. We try to solve the problem by flushing the water main after a repair has been completed, but it is difficult to get all of the air out. The water is safe to drink, bath, and wash with. If the cloudiness does not clear up in a short time contact Water Distribution at 333-4905 to help resolve the problem.

3. If my water is rusty colored can I drink it? What causes that? Can I wash my clothes?

Rusty water is caused by a large unusual flow in the water main. This is generally a result of a fire in your area or a main break. You can drink the water without the worry of a health hazard. It will however stain your laundry. If you have washed any clothes in rusty colored water, you can contact Water Supply & Treatment at 333-6030 and they will supply you with a chemical and instructions to help the problem.

4. I need to repair some plumbing and I want the water off at the curb. How do I get it shut off?

Contact Water Distribution at 333-4905 and they will come out and turn the water off. A $55 charge will be assessed to your bill for a non-emergency trip.

5. My curb box is about three inches above ground level. Who repairs it?

Contact Water Distribution at 333-4905 and they will come out and lower the curb box at no charge.

6. Why does it take so long to get through to Water Revenue Customer Service?

When the City changed telephone service providers in 1999, some changes occurred in the way calls were received. Each Customer Representative can have as many as ten calls waiting to be served. If staff availability is low on a particular day, it may take a little longer to get through. Water Revenue has worked very hard to cut down on the amount of time a customer is on hold.

7. What is the wellfield charge and why is it back on my bill?

The wellfield protection charge is a fund set aside to protect the city water supply. The fund was established with a high and low dollar limit. A few years ago the high limit was reached and the charge was deferred from customers bills until the fund was lowered near the low limit. The fund is used for any clean up costs that may occur and public education.

8. Why was the storm water billing added to my water bill?

To help customers with the convenience of paying along with water and sewer billing.

9. Why does my storm water bill vary on each water bill?

The storm water utility is based on two different items. 

• First is the impervious area in square feet to be billed. The impervious area of a parcel is any area where rain water cannot penetrate the ground (grass, dirt, gravel areas). Examples of impervious areas would be parking lots, driveways, concrete slabs and the structure itself. This area is measured and billed in square feet. All of these areas require the rainwater to runoff into the storm sewer instead of being absorbed into the ground. 
• Second is the number of days in the billing cycle.

Residential properties are billed a flat rate over 365 days. Business customers are billed $.0363 cents per square foot of area over a 365 day span. So if the billing period is 89 one quarter, and 93 the next the amounts will vary.