What is a "C I Fee"?

You may notice a line item on your water bill which identifies the amount as “C I Fee”. This is not an additional line item, but rather a different identification of the same line item which used to be identified as “CITY FEE”. “C I FEE” more accurately represents the intended use of these funds which is necessary ‘capital improvements’ to the entire water system; such things as water tanks, wells, and distribution mains, which serve all customers of the system.

What is a water meter?

A water meter is a device installed in the service line of a home to accurately measure the amount of water that a customer consumes. There are standards set by the American Water Works Association which define the level of accuracy a meter is required to operate at. Meter manufacturers guarantee these standards are met when meters are purchased by the water utility. These standards ensure that water consumed by a customer will be accurately and fairly measured. Despite these standards, there will be situations when a consumer questions the accuracy of the water meter. 

How do I know my water meter is accurate?

The meter is calibrated to provide a true measure of usage. New meters are calibrated by the manufacturer before leaving the manufacturing facility. Meters removed from service are checked to ensure calibration by performing an accuracy test on the meter.

Why is my meter reading results higher?

This might occur when an existing meter is replaced by a newer meter that provides more precise measurements of water consumption. This increase in accuracy will result in a higher water bill for the consumer. Leaks in the plumbing system, exterior faucets left running, increased irrigation, or other unusual usage events may also result in an abnormal increase in the water bill.

Is my water meter running fast or over-registering?

Simply no, a household type water meter cannot over register, the result will always be under registration. In household type calibrated water meters, the motion of the measuring element, called a piston, is transmitted by gears to the register, which records the flow in a set unit of measurement usually as gallons. The calibrated meter will always register accurately, so long as the piston continues to make the correct number of cycles for each gallon that passes through the meter. In the event that the piston fails to make the required number of cycles per unit of volume, the meter reading will under register.

(THE RESULT WILL ALWAYS BE UNDER REGISTRATION AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL THE METER OVER-REGISTER)

Under normal conditions, inaccurate registration can occur due to several factors:

• Excessive Wear
• Temperature Extremes
• Corrosion
• Materials in Suspension
• Detection of abnormally low usage may be used as an indication that the meter is experiencing one of the problems listed above and therefore must be replaced.

Why does my water appear milky or cloudy?

A milky or cloudy appearance is usually caused by air bubbles in the water, which pose no health risk. If the water is allowed to sit, the air will dissipate and the water will clear. If the cloudiness does not disappear, please contact us so that we may investigate.

What causes the spots on my dishes?

Spots are caused by hard water, or minerals that remain after the water has evaporated. Spots can be eliminated through use of a dishwasher rinse agent.

Should I buy a water softener?

The hardness of water varies with the water’s source. The choice to buy a softener is an aesthetic one, since hard water is not harmful to health. However, water softeners typically increase the sodium content of the water, a factor that should be considered by people on low-sodium diets.

Should I buy a home filtration unit?

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, home treatment units are rarely necessary for health reasons. Most often, water treatment units are used to remove substances that affect the aesthetic qualities of the water. If you do choose to install a home treatment unit, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions, because improperly maintained units can actually cause water quality problems.

What should I do if my coffee has an oily appearance?

Clean your coffee maker with vinegar and water as directed by the manufacturer.

What causes odor in the hot water?

The most common cause of odor in hot water is the water heater. If your cold water smells fine, check your water heater to ensure that the temperature setting is correct. Water heaters also need to be maintained (see manufacturer’s instructions). Please contact us if the odor persists or if it is present in both the hot and cold water.

What causes some water to be discolored?

Color in water is usually caused by naturally occurring organic matter, minerals, or mineral build-up in the pipes. We flush our water system regularly to clean mineral build-up and other sediment from the pipes. If you receive discolored water, you should let your faucets run until the water is clear. Such substances typically do not pose a health hazard; however, we ask that you please report any instances of discolored water so that we may investigate.

Is bottled water higher quality than tap water?

Tap water providers and bottled water providers must meet the same water quality standards. In fact, tap water providers are required to conduct more frequent water quality testing and reporting than bottled water providers. Some consumers prefer the taste of bottled water, and some choose bottled water because they have special health needs. But tap water is a much better deal at costs of 1,000 times less than bottled water.

Why do our employees open fire hydrants?

We conduct regular water system flushing to remove any mineral build-up and sediment from the pipes and also to ensure that water circulates adequately throughout the system. Fire hydrants may also be opened to conduct fire-flow capability tests.

Why does water need to be disinfected?

Disinfectants are required because they prevent the spread of germs that cause diseases. Years ago, before disinfectants were used for drinking water, diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery were common. Drinking water disinfection has vastly improved the quality and safety of drinking water.

Why does my water have a chlorine taste (or smell)?

We disinfect your water to ensure that it is free of harmful bacteria. To reduce any chlorine taste or smell, try refrigerating your water before drinking.

Why is there dirt or sand in my water?

Dirt or sand can occur naturally in groundwater or as a result of a water line repair. We try to reduce the instances of dirt or sand in the water through regular flushing, which improves water quality by increasing the circulation of water in the pipes and removing most of the sediment from the water.

Why does the taste of my water change throughout the year?

Water sources change at certain times of the year due to the availability of supplies. Surface water, or water that comes from sources like rivers and lakes, tends to taste slightly different than water pumped from underground aquifers.

What is the Water Bill Adjustment Policy?

The Water Works Board is absolutely prohibited from providing free water service or forbearing on non-payment of bills under the Trust Indenture pursuant to which the Board has been allowed to borrow bond fund proceeds for necessary capital improvements to the water system.

This means that the Board is not allowed to adjust any charges for water that has been delivered through a customer's water meter. The point of delivery and sale for water is at the meter. Once water has been delivered through the meter, the water system has met its obligation. We have no control over the condition or operation of water service lines and appurtenances after they leave the point of sale. That is the responsibility of the customer.

Water rates are calculated to satisfy legal requirements for operating and maintaining the water system, and meeting debt service requirements. Once the water system has delivered water to the customer at the point of sale, the Water Works Board has incurred the cost of delivering that quantity of water and must collect for the water delivered.

We hope that this will help in understanding and appreciating the reasons for our policy of not making adjustments to water bill amounts.