Frequently Asked Questions - Water

How do I get water hooked up and how much does it cost?
How do I check for water leaks?
Where do I report a water outage or leak?
My water/gas meter was not read this month!
I have a leak in my yard or neighborhood that I have already reported. Why hasn't it been fixed?
Why has my water pressure changed?
Common sense tells you that I could not have used this much water!
When I came home from work or when I woke up this morning my water was off. Why wasn't I notified?
What is a Boil Water Advisory?
My water was off today. Am I on a Boil Water Advisory?
Why is my water bill so high?

 
Answers

Start Service
If you are a new customer in the city or service area, the appropriate deposit and paperwork must be presented in your name. All paperwork should be complete and accurate. To see details on the required deposit(s), view and print our new service form, or check to see if you are in our service area, click the appropriate link below:

Services Offered
Fees and Rates
New Utility Service Form 2005-A PDF File
Service Area Map PDF file

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Checking for Water Leaks
A small hole only 1/8" in diameter can leak almost 100,000 gallons of water in a month. Any leak, regardless of how small, should be repaired promptly. Check faucets for leaks. Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons per day. To check toilets for leaks, put a bit of food coloring in each toilet tank. Without flushing, watch for a few minutes to see if the color shows up in the bowl. It's not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day from one of these otherwise invisible toilet leaks. Investigate any running or standing water that is outside your residence. Monitor water consumption by reading your water meter. We also have leak detection kits at the office and available for you to pick up.

 

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Reporting Leaks
Leaks can be reported online or by calling the Utilities Commission office at (606) 474-7569 or (606) 474-5731 after hours. Please specify type of leak, Water, Sewer, or Gas (If gas leak please call office, after hours emergency number, 606-474-5731 or 911), Name, phone number and location of leak with a description.  Save changes you make to Water or Sewer Leak Report as your initals and date (example: HSH 12.19.11).  Leaks are rated by assigning each leak a rating based on priority criteria and are handled accordingly.

Was My Meter Read?
All meters are read unless estimated.  If the meter is estimated it will have the word estimated printed on the bill for that month. Consumption is estimated only if the meter cannot be read after several attempts or problems are detected with the meter.

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Reported Leak Not Fixed
The Commission attempts to give prompt repair to all leaks. All reported leaks are investigated in the order that they are received. The maintenance employee gives the leak a rating based on priority criteria. Sometimes a customer may want a minor leak repaired immediately when other leaks in the distribution system must be given priority. A judgment must be made by the Commission on minor leaks during off hours concerning the cost of repair and support services required versus the loss of water.

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Water Pressure Change
Many factors could play a role in why the water pressure has changed. Please read the article on water pressure for a more detailed explanation.

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I Couldn't Have Used That Much Water!
Even minor leaks are often very costly. A small hole ony 1/8" in diameter can leak almost 100,000 gallons of water in one month. A slow drip on a faucet can waste 15 to 20 gallons per day.

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Water Cutoff Notification
Every attempt is made to notify customers of planned water outages. However, the Commission is not responsible for unplanned service outages.

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Boil Water Advisory Defined
A boil water advisory means a type of consumer advisory that provides notice to the consuming public through radio, television, direct mail, e-mail, posting, newspaper, or other media that conveys in the quickest and most effective way possible the following:

  1. Information that water provided by a system may cause adverse human health effects due to possible biological contamination if consumed, unless it is first boiled for three minutes at a rolling boil.
  2. What action to take, (click this link to see what the CDC says about boil water advisories).

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Does the fact that my water was cut off for a short period of time automatically place me under a Boil Water Advisory?
Boil Water Advisories are posted under Advisories on the home page and they are listed on the Advisories page. You can also call our office at 474-7569 to ask the staff, listen to WUGO 99.7 FM, WGOH 100.9 FM, or WGOH 1370 AM on the radio, WGOH/WUGO website, or–if you have access to local television channels–you can watch the local Access Channel, TV-14, for all advisory announcements.

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High Water Bill
Often times when customers see their bills progressively get higher they blame other possibilities and the bill continues to get higher. Customers with high bills are encouraged to locate and correct leaks promptly. See "Checking for Water Leaks."

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