Show All Answers

1. What causes discolored water or unpleasant odors?

Iron and manganese, which occur naturally in well water, can cause a rusty color. The City has pressure iron filters at the source to remove iron. It is not harmful. Run your water until it clears.

An unpleasant odor (usually described as smelling like rotten eggs) is almost always a problem with the water heater. A heating anode in the unit would be the culprit. Consult your plumber.

2. How can I avoid freeze-ups?

If you are going away on vacation in the winter, avoid turning your thermostat down as far as it will go. If the temperature falls too low in the basement where water service enters your home, your water meter or pipes might freeze and burst, resulting in water damage to your home. If your water meter freezes, you will be responsible for the charge for repair or replacing the meter.

3. Why are the hydrants flushed?

Hydrant Flushing is done twice a year to clean the mains from iron build up. During hydrant flushing you may experience discolored water which is not harmful. If you experience rusty looking water run your cold water faucet until it clears up.

4. Recently, my water pressure dropped or there is no water at all. What is happening?

Most often, reduction in water pressure is caused by something within the house. The valves on the water line coming into the house may not be open all the way. More frequently, however, a reduction in pressure is the result of a water softener no longer working properly. Most softeners are equipped with a manual bypass valve.

To check your softener, bypass it manually and water will not flow through the softener. If the pressure improves, the softener is the problem. If the pressure does not improve, call the Water Department at 262-473-0560 for further assistance.

5. Who is responsible for maintaining the sewer line to my home?

The homeowner is responsible for any service line blockage between the home and the City sewer main. This includes debris and tree roots. The homeowner is responsible for any repairs on the service line from the home to and including the connection at the property line. The City will repair sewer lines located within the public road right-of-way.

6. The valve on the street side of my water meter is leaking. Will the City repair it?

The City maintains the water line within the public road right-of-way and the meter itself. The rest of the system is the responsibility of the homeowner. The City does not provide repair service. The Utilities Division will shut off the water at the curb box if needed for a repair.

In an emergency situation, call the Water Works Department at 262-473-0560 or, if it is an evening or weekend, the Police Department at 262-473-0555 so a maintenance worker can be dispatched to shut off your water. If your repair is not an emergency, please call the Water Works Department at least 24 hours before the repair is to be made to schedule the water shut off.

The curb box will be located ahead of time and checked for operability. A maintenance worker will meet with you or your representative at the scheduled time to shut off the water.

7. I am setting up my water softener. What is the hardness of Whitewater's water, and what is the iron content?

The hardness is 17 grains per gallon. After leaving the water treatment plant, the iron and manganese content are both less than 0.008 parts per million.

8. Planning to dig in your yard?

If so, before you start, please call Diggers Hotline at 800-242-8511. Diggers Hotline will arrange for utility companies to mark the buried utility lines in your yard. It's a free service and could save your life.

Calls should be made at least 48 hours prior to the start of digging. Power outages should be reported to Electric/Power Outage Hotline by calling 1-800-662-4797.

9. My yard has been painted with different colors. What work is being done?

Utility companies have the right to work in the street right-of-way to lay or maintain their lines. Before work begins, the company calls to notify other utilities of the work to be done. The other utilities then mark their existing lines in the area.

Gas lines are marked in yellow, telephone and cable in orange, electric in red, water in blue, and sewer in green. To find out what work is being done, contact the utility companies.