Q. I see a water leak. How do I get someone to check it out?

All main breaks are considered an emergency situation. Please call (740) 687-6631. A repair crew will be dispatched as soon as possible.

Q. How do I get fire flow information?

Please contact the Distribution Supervisor at (740) 687-6631.

Q. What part of the service line is the Water Department’s responsibility and what part is mine?

Anything beyond the curb box, which is usually located in the right-of-way or at the property line, is the owner’s responsibility. The Water Department is also responsible for the meter (up to 1 ½ inch) itself and the connection. Meters larger than 1 ½ inch are the responsibility of the property owner.

Q. The water pressure in my area is low. Why? Who should I contact?

Possible causes for low pressure in your house might be, 1) the main valve at the water meter is off or partially off; 2) screens on the faucets are plugged; 3) a plumbing problem. Possible causes for low pressure in your area might be, 1) a main break in your area; 2) a major fire; 3) water main maintenance work; or 4) water main construction work.

If experiencing low pressure problems, please contact the Water Department at (740) 687-6631.

Q. Why is my water cloudy?

If the water is cloudy, it will clear up after it sits for a short time. Cloudiness in the water is caused by air in the distribution lines. If the cloudiness does not dissipate, please contact (740) 687-6631.

Q.  My water is discolored.  What should I do?

If the discoloration is sudden, there may be some activity that has disturbed the direction or rate of flow in the City water main, such as use of a fire hydrant or a water main valve in your vicinity. Discolored water comes from internal pipe rust and sediment getting stirred up. When this happens the water is still safe. However, the water may be unappealing, so we recommend that you wait until it clears before drinking it.

The water should clear on its own. Try running the cold water for a few minutes to see if it is clearing or still discolored. If the water does not clear, let the water sit for 1 to 2 hours. Then run cold water for a few minutes in your bathtub or shower. If your home is located on a dead-end line, it may take longer to clear up. If the water remains discolored, please contact Division of Water at           740-687-6631.

Avoid running hot water if the cold water is still discolored. This will minimize filling the hot water tank with turbid water. If you are washing clothes at the time, it is better to stop the cycle while it is full and wait until clean water is available to finish. If you allow the water to empty from the washing machine and go into the spin cycle it is more likely to cause permanent staining to the laundry items.

Q. Why do we feed chlorine to our water?

Chlorine is added to disinfect the water. Chlorine levels vary depending on the distribution system. The chlorine levels in the water discharged from the treatment plants range from 1.0 mg/l to 1.5 mg/l (milligrams per liter or parts per million).

Q. How do I obtain information on the chemical analysis of the water at the tap?

Should you have any questions, please contact the Laboratory Technician at (740) 687-6631.

Q. What can I do to conserve water?

You may install water saving aerators on your sinks and shower heads and turn off the sink water while you are brushing your teeth, the average person wastes 4 to 6 gallons of water needlessly for each brushing. The average family of four uses an estimated 200 gallons of water per day, so a little savings each day goes a long way. A typical water usage breakdown for a family of four shows in a percentage of water used:

     (1) Toilet Flushing – 40 % 
     (2) Bath and Shower – 32 % 
     (3) Laundry – 14 %  
     (4) Dishwashing – 6 % 
     (5) Cooking and Drinking – 5 % 
     (6) Bathroom Sink – 3 %