Sewer | Water Tips | Water Conservation | DNR Information on RUC Water Supply | Consumer Confidence Report

SERVICE TIPS AND ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Turn your water off at the meter if you are leaving for a month (or even a week).

Lateral Responsibility: The water lateral from the main to the curb stop (including the curb stop) is the responsibility of the Water Dept. The section from the curb stop to the house is the responsibility of the home owner.

Meter. The instrument that actually measures the amount of water you use is the meter located in the basement, crawl space, etc. The outside remote reader (on the outside of your building) connects to the meter via a wire. It is the homeowner's responsibility to keep the meter from freezing and insuring that the meter is accessible to Utility employees for testing, repairs, readings, etc.

Hydrant Flushing. The Water Dept. normally flushes hydrants twice a year. This is done to verify performance of the hydrants in the event of a fire and to maintain water quality throughout the distribution system. If you notice discolored water, please notify the Water Dept. immediately.

Questions? All billing, final billing and change of address requests should be directed to the Reedsburg Utility Office view our Contact Us page or call us at 524-4381. For all other service questions call the Water Dept. at 524-4381

METER TESTING
Under Public Service Commission regulations, household water meters must be tested for accuracy once every twenty years. This is normally done during the winter months. If the Water Dept. has tried to pull your meter but no one was home, please call the Water Dept. at 524-4381  to make an appointment to have your meter tested.

WELL ABANDONMENT
All wells located in the City of Reedsburg shall be abandoned in accordance with the terms of this City ordinance Ch. 11.16 and Ch. NR. 812, Wisconsin Administrative Code unless a well operation permit has been obtained by the well owner from the Reedsburg Utility Commission. Information on well abandonment, may be obtained by calling the Water Utility Department (524-4381).

WATER LEAKS ARE COSTLY:

Conservation Checklist

Saving water is like any other habit. The more you do it, the more natural it becomes. Become water-wise, it's fun to find more ways to conserve.

Speaking of saving, be sure to save this American Leak Detection checklist. Hang it in a handy place - like your utility room. Use it to do a full leak check on your house four times a year. Just seeing it will remind you that conservation pays and preserves precious water.

Sometimes a small investment can pay large dividends. For example, buying a low-flush toilet can save over 18,000 gallons of water a year! It's up to all of us - individuals, businesses, industry - to save the earth's resources. So remember, wherever you go, take your water-consciousness along. What works at home, works at the office!

In General

·         Watch for leaks. Pay attention to the SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS of plumbing, pool and spa leaks as
      outlined below. Do a routine indoor/outdoor check every three months, or call professionals to do one for
      you.

·         Check all faucets for drips. If a drip fills an 8-ounce glass every quarter hour, it will lose about 180 gallons
      per month. That's 2,160 gallons a year, enough for 30+ showers or baths! Drips can usually be fixed by
      replacing inexpensive washers or valve seats.

·         Install flow restrictors or other conservation devices on all faucets. With these in the shower alone, you can
      cut your water use from about 5 to 10 gallons per minute to as low as 1.4 to 3 gallons per minute.

·         Wrap exposed indoor and outdoor pipes to prevent breakage in freezing weather.

Pools and Spas

·         Do regular leak checks-ups. A leak in the pool area can waste 1,000 gallons or more per day. Consult the
      SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS of pool and Spa Leaks previously outlined.

·         Pay particular attention to your automatic water filler. If it's faulty, your water bill suffers.

·         Keep track of the amount of chemicals you normally use. An increase in quantity used can also be a sign
      of a leak.

·         Use a pool/spa cover to cut down on water loss (and heating costs) caused by evaporation.

In the Kitchen | Laundry

·         One of the most common areas for water loss is the kitchen sink area. Check under cupboards once a
      week for wet spots or bowed cabinetry.

·         Keep drinking water in the refrigerator so you don't have to run the tap until the water gets cold enough to
      drink.

·         Only run full loads in your dishwasher.

·         Scrape food from plates with a utensil, not running water.

·         Don't continuously run water in the sink. Hand wash dishes in a sink full of soapy water; rinse all at once.
      Soak hard-to clean pans overnight.

In the Bathroom

·         Check sinks for drips or leaks once a week.

·         Check grout and tiles in shower area. Are any loose? Is grout missing, allowing water to flow beneath the
      tiles?

·         Check toilets for leaks. Drop a teaspoon of food coloring into the tank. If the color appears in the bowl after
      15 minutes, have the “flapper” valve replaced. If leaks continue, have a professional check your system.

·         Decrease the amount of water used per flush. Replace regular or older toilets with new ultra-low flush
      models or put water displacement devices inside every toilet tank. Make them from plastic water bottles
      weighted down with pebbles. DO NOT PUT BRICKS IN YOUR TANK. They can dissolve and clog siphon
      jets.

Outdoors

·         Walk around your property once a week to look for spongy or mushy ground where broken pipes might be
      hidden.

·         Check sprinklers for jammed or malfunctioning heads.

·         Use accurate, efficient sprinklers or drip irrigation systems instead of hand watering.

·         Water lawns during the coolest times of the day, before 10:00 a.m. or in the evening.

·         Deep-soak lawns long enough for water to seep down to the roots, where it is needed. Water deeper and
      less often.

·         Dig basins around individual plants to prevent run-off while watering.

·         Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to slow moisture evaporation.

·         Landscape with native plants that take little water.

·         Pull weeds as they steal water from desirable plants.

·         Sweep driveways, sidewalks and steps.

·         Use a commercial car wash.

Other Conservation Tips

·         Replace old appliances with newer, more efficient, energy-saving models.

·         Cut your air conditioner's workload by positioning shade trees or awnings to reduce heat gain through
      windows.

·         Close fireplace dampers in the summer.

·         Close unused rooms.

·         Close draperies

·         Turn off lights when not in use.

·         Drink Tap Water

Make your move today toward wiser use of our resources. When it comes to conservation, every effort helps. Check out what you can do; then make it a habit!

Save a resource. It's money in the bank.

 Information referenced from: http://www.americanleakdetection.com/tips-water-conservation.php