Q. Do the sanitary and storm system work together? Top
A. No. The City has a separate system. The storm sewer works to drain rainwater directly to the area rivers and streams. The sanitary system takes all wastewater to the sewage treatment plant for treatment prior to its discharge into the river.
Q. Do I have to be home when they clean the sanitary main? Top
A. No. All lines are cleaned routinely and the homeowners on that street need not be home. If the cleaning activity is a result of the homeowner calling in a complaint about a flooded basement, it is preferable that the crew be able to go inside to investigate the problem, but this is not absolutely necessary.
Q. What do the green paint marks mean? Top
A. Green paint is the color designated for sewer lines by the Ohio Utilities Protection Service or OUPS. Whenever any one is going to do utility work that requires digging into the ground (gas or water lines, light poles, electric, telephone, or cable lines, etc.) they must call OUPS two days in advance and a representative from the utility company will go to the proposed site and mark any utility they have underground with their designated color. This is done to prevent damage to their utilities that may be in the way of the work to be performed.
Q. How does grease get into the main? Top
A. Grease enters from homes and / or restaurant pouring there used cooking grease down the drain. This grease will solidify in their own service lines as well as the sewer main and will lead to blockage of the lines causing backups and flooding. Residents should allow cooking oil and grease to cool down discard them in the trash can. Restaurants and other businesses should have grease traps installed and properly maintained.
Q. How often should I have my house lateral cleaned for roots? Top
A. There is no rule of thumb here, it would depend on the condition of the lateral, as well as if trees or shrubs were near the lateral causing a root problem.
Q. Why do I get an odor in my basement? Top
A. This condition would most likely be caused by the water in a basement fixture trap (toilet, sink, floor drain etc.) evaporating allowing sewer gas to come through the trap. Poor water into all fixtures that have a trap to correct the situation.
Q. Is my house lateral hooked to the catch basin? Top
A. No. They are two separate systems. However, if it is found that a lateral was illegally hooked into the catch basin at some time in the past, the line would be disconnected. The property owner would be financially responsible to have the lateral connected to the sanitary sewer main.
Q. What are the procedures for a broken house lateral? Top
A. After it has been confirmed that a lateral is in fact broken the procedures for repair will depend on where the break is, if the break is on your side of the curb it can be repaired by a liscened plumber after a permit is pulled. If the break is in the street side of the curb the plumber must pull the permit and then get in contact with Sewer Maintenance to have City crews do all work that would be required from the Sewer main to the curb. The City would then charge the plumber for work to the main and the plumber charges you.
Q. What is Montgomery County Sewer Maintenance number? Top
A. Montgomery County Sewer and Water emergencies can be reported at 496-7004.
Q. Who do I call about the animals in the catch basin? Top
A. Animal nuisance problems are not the responsibility of the Division of Sewer Maintenance. These complaints should be forwarded to a private animal nuisance professional or the Combined Health District.
Q. How much does it cost for a sewer tap? Top
A. That depends on a number of factors such as, length of lateral, depth of main, class of street etc. a schedule of prices can be obtained from the Division of Sewer Maintenance by calling 333-4915.
Q. Why does my basement flood when it rains heavy? Top
A. An overtaxed sewer main due to heavy rain could be caused by a number of things. Roof downspouts draining to close to the house, a problem with the perimeter or foundation drains, problems with a sump-pump, or a blockage of the main could also be the cause etc.(are all examples of internal plumbing problems.) An overtaxed sewer main due to the heavy rain or a blockage of the main could also be the cause. Although we may not be able to determine the exact cause of the problem, Sewer Maintenance can determine if it is being caused by a problem with the sewer main, or if it is an internal plumbing problem.
Q. Can I use pine-sol or is your disinfect better? Top
A. Pine-sol or any other disinfectant is good to use in the event of sewage back up, the product our crews use is actually to de-odorize and not a true disinfectant.
Q. Will sewer odor hurt me? Top
A. Sewer Odor should not cause serious health problems, but may cause nausea, ventilate or leave the area if you feel sick from the odor.
Q. Who is responsible for the sewer lateral? Top
A. The property owner is responsible for the lateral from the house to the sewer main. A plumber who is licensed with the City of Dayton is required to pull a plumbing permit to make repairs to existing laterals or make new installations of service laterals, when a problem exists in a home owners lateral. All work done in the street must be completed by city crews. The City charges the plumber for all work done in the street and the plumber charges the property owner.
Q. How long will it take the sewer maintenance crew to get here? Top
A. The crew will respond to all calls as quickly as possible. However, the order the calls come in, as well as the nature of the problem, will dictate the order they are responded to. Our goal is to answer all calls within ninety minutes of time received.
Q. Why is my toilet gurgling? Top
A. As part of the maintenance of sewers, equipment used to clean has a hose and nozzle that sprays water at very high pressure to scourer the inside of the pipe. Sometimes this high pressure can create an air vacuum effect, drawing air through house laterals and this vacuum or backpressure could cause a "gurgling" in the toilet of homes.
Q. Would you locate my sanitary main? Top
A. The Sewer Main is the sole responsibility of Sewer Maintenance to clean or repair. If some special need would arise that required the homeowner to obtain the Main location, it would be provided by calling Sewer Maintenance at 333-4915. All utilities can be located by calling Ohio Utilities Protection Service at 1-800-362-2764. This needs to be done 48 hours before you dig.
Q. Would you come out and locate my house lateral? Top
A. No. How ever this information can sometimes be found by calling plumbing inspection at 333-3892 and asking for a "lateral location" for the property. Also, the homeowner can hire a plumber who can use an electronic probe or other methods to help determine location.
Q. Who do I need to talk to about getting a catch basin put in front of my house? Top
A. Call the Division of Sewer Maintenance at 333-4915 to report problems with drainage near your property and street flooding, as well as any other sewer related problems. We will work with other city agencies, such as Water Engineering to determine what steps are needed to correct these problems.
Q. Why did water splash out of my toilet? Top
A. As part of the maintenance of sewers they are cleaned using a hose and nozzle that sprays water at very high pressure to scourer the inside of the pipe. Sometimes this high pressure can force water to travel backward up the service line of homes causing water to be forced out of drains inside the home.
Q. Will I be charged to have a catch basin cleaned? Top
A. No. Catch basins are part of the public storm sewer system and are the responsibility of the Division of Sewer Maintenance. A seasonal program is used to clean the (thousands of catch basins located throughout the city. The storm water fee you pay helps to maintain this program.
Q. Will I be charged for a broken catch basin in front of my house? Top
A. No. Catch basins are part of the public storm sewer system and are the responsibility of the Division of Sewer Maintenance. If a problem exists in your area, Contact the Division of Sewer Maintenance and a crew will investigate the complaint for potential repair.
Q. Why am I paying a Storm Water fee? I don't have a storm sewer. Top
A. The storm fee was created due to a new EPA mandate to improve the quality of water being discharged to rivers and streams to reduce pollution. The fee is charged to any property within the City's corporate limit having its rain water runoff conveyed either through the storm water sewer system directly or indirectly through other channels to the public storm sewers discharging to a river and/or stream. A portion of the fee is designated to the overall maintenance of the existing storm water system. The fee is also used to help educate the public and private industries on how to employ best practices to reduce pollution in the rainwater leaving their properties going to local rivers and streams. Additionally, street sweeping is also an activity supported by the fee in an effort to reduce litter and other contaminants on the street from reaching the rivers.
Q. How much is my bill? Top
A. Call Water Revenue at 333-3550
Q. When is the next meter reading? Top
A. Call Water Revenue at 333-3550
Q. Can you come over and read my water meter before I move? Top
A. Call Water Revenue at 333-3550
Q. Can you put on / take my name off a bill? Top
A. Call Water Revenue at 333-3550
Q. Can you make payment arrangements for me? Top
A. Call Water Revenue at 333-3550
Q. Can you fax me a copy of my bill? Top
A. Call Water Revenue at 333-3550
Q. I am a landlord and I want my tenant’s water turned off to evict them. Can you turn off the water off for them? Top
A. This is a landlord tenant dispute. Please settle this through civil court. We can not turn off water in a residence that is occupied.
Q. A plumber said to call and get my water turned off. Can you send someone out to do that and does it cost anything? Can you come out now? Top
A. Is this a licensed plumber? A licensed plumber can turn on/off at the curb stop and do that for you. If she is not a licensed plumber, we have to come out. Only licensed plumbers and water department personnel may turn off/on. There is a $10 charge for turning off and on which equals $20 total. This is then added to your water bill.
Q. I just got a tag for a "dead" meter. No one told me I had a "dead" meter. Now what? Top
A. A "dead" meter order comes from water revenue when they come to read your meter. "Dead" means the numbers on the dial haven’t moved from the last read. There is no charge for a meter change.
Q. I want to get my swimming pool filled up. What do I need to do? Top
A. Call THE ONE STOP CENTER for a permit. That number is 333-3883.
Q. I have water running in my basement by the meter. What do I need to do? Top
A. If the water is coming from the meter, water distribution will come out and replace it. There is no charge for that. If the water is leaking from the pipes on either side of the meter, you will need to call a plumber. We cannot recommend a plumber. You can check the phone book and get a plumber who is licensed and bonded.
Q. There is water coming up in my front yard. Just going straight up in the air! It looks like the four fountains are supposed to look downtown. Do I have to pay for all that water? Top
A. What is your address? I can send out the Leak Investigator. If the leak is on the city, you do not have to pay for it, if the leak is your side, unfortunately you will have to pay.
Q. I just turned my kitchen facet on and the water is brown. And now that I have been doing laundry I just know that my clothes are ruined. Now what? Top
A. What is your address? Make sure you keep the clothes wet, even though the water is brown, I’ll have someone come over with a bottle of Rust Remover. You will need to run the cold, not hot water, to get the rust out.
Q. I must have low water pressure. Can you send someone out to turn it up? Top
A. There is a minimal $10 charge to check water pressure, which is added to your bill. Is this a sudden drop in pressure or has it been low for a while? If it is a sudden drop, please check for water bubbling in your yard, or if someone left the garden hose on. Is the pressure low all over the house or just in certain areas? Let me ask this, do you have galvanized or copper plumbing? If you have galvanized, more than likely the pipes are clogged. We will come out and change the meter and make sure the curb stop is turned on. If that doesn’t help, and the problem is clogged pipes, the service line will need replaced. The service line is the homeowner’s responsibility. The service line runs from the curb stop to the meter. It is underground. If the pressure is low just in certain areas of the house, it then appears to be internal and you will need to call a plumber. Is it low just at the kitchen sink? Do you have an aerator? If so, unscrew it from the facet, clean it out, and screw it back on.
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Q. I want to talk to a supervisor because when the meter setter was here, he said the pipes before the meter are my responsibility. I can’t help it that the pipe is galvanized and could break when he replaces my meter. He refused to replace my meter. Top
A. The lines before and after the meter are the homeowner’s responsibility. Before the meter can be replaced, the plumbing must be repaired. After it is repaired, call us back and we will schedule the meter change.
Q. What is pressure supposed to be in this area? Top
A. Call Water Engineering at 333.3739.
Q. My water pressure is low, what can I do? Top
A. You can contact Water Distribution at 333-4905 and they will come out and check your meter and your curb stop. The meter may be clogged or the curb stop may not be on all the way. Also older galvanized plumbing may be the problem. Over time, a build up in the piping causes water flow to be restricted.
Q. Sometimes my water is cloudy for a moment when I open the faucet what is wrong? Top
A. This is caused by air in the water mains. It most likely is a result from water main break where the line may be opened to make repairs. The air becomes trapped at high and low points in the water system. We try to solve the problem by flushing the water main after a repair has been completed but it is difficult to get all of the air out. The water is safe to drink, bath, and wash with. If the cloudiness does not clear up in a short time contact Water Distribution at 333-4905 to help resolve the problem.
Q. If my water is rusty colored can I drink it? What causes that? Can I wash my clothes? Top
A. Rusty water is caused by a large unusual flow in the water main. This is generally a result of a fire in your area or a main break. You can drink the water without the worry of a health hazard. It will how ever stain your laundry. If you have washed any clothes in rusty colored water you can contact Water Supply & Treatment at 333-6030 and they will supply you with a chemical and instructions to help the problem.
Q. I need to repair some plumbing and I want the water off at the curb. How do I get it shut off? Top
A. Contact Water Distribution at 333-4905 and they will come out and turn the water off. A $10.00 charge will be assessed to your bill for a non-emergency trip.
Q. My curb box is about three inches above ground level. Who repairs it? Top
A. Contact Water Distribution at 333-4905 and they will come out and lower the curb box at no charge.
Q. Why does it take so long to get through to Water Revenue Customer Service? Top
A. When the city changed telephone service providers in 1999 some changes occurred in the way calls were received. Each Customer Representative can have as many as ten calls waiting to be served. If staff availability is low on a particular day it may take a little longer to get through. Water Revenue has worked very hard to cut down on the amount of time a customer is on hold.
Q. What is the wellfield charge and why is it back on my bill? Top
A. The wellfield protection charge is a fund set aside to protect the city water supply. The fund was established with a high and low dollar limit. A few years ago the high limit was reached and the charge was deferred from customers bills until the fund was lowered near the low limit. The fund is used for any clean up costs that may occur and public education.
Q. Why was the storm water billing added to my water bill? Top
A. To help customers with the convenience of paying along with water and sewer billing.
Q. Why does my storm water bill vary on each water bill? Top
A. The storm water utility is based on two different items. First is the impervious area in square feet to be billed. Second is the number of days in the billing cycle. Residential properties are billed a flat rate over 365 days. Business customers are billed $.0134 cents per square foot of area over a 365 day span. So if the billing period is 89 one quarter, and 93 the next the amounts will vary.
Q. How do I get the lead out of my water? Top
A. The most common cause of lead in drinking water is the corrosion of plumbing fixtures and solders containing lead. The drinking water supplied to the distribution system of the City of Dayton does not contain lead at a detectable level. In addition, the treatment process adjusts the pH level and mineral content to deliver non-corrosive drinking water to the distribution system. As a precaution, lead usually can be eliminated from drinking water by allowing cold water to run until it gets as cold as it will get, before using the water for drinking or cooking. The City of Dayton Water Quality Laboratory extensively samples and tests drinking water from sites throughout the distribution system.
Q. Why does the City add flouride to my water? Top
A. Fluoride occurs naturally in City of Dayton well water and in groundwater throughout the United States. Our water treatment plants supplement the natural fluoride to protect teeth from dental caries (cavities). The natural fluoride is increased from approximately 0.35 parts per million to 1 part per million. After City of Dayton residents voted in favor of fluoridation the Ohio EPA required Dayton's water plants to feed fluoride continuously.
Q. Why are there white spots in my coffee pot(s)? Top
A. Minerals dissolved in water settle out when water is heated. The minerals will accumulate as "white spots in coffeepots". To remove these spots, fill the coffeepot with vinegar and let it sit overnight. In the morning, rinse out the coffeepot several times with water.
Q. Why is my water cloudy (or milky)? Top
A. "Cloudy water" is usually caused by the release of dissolved air from water. This is quite common and harmless. When watched closely, the dissolved air (cloudiness) slowly travels upward, out of solution. Cloudiness can also be caused when natural minerals in water come out of solution.
Q. Why do you add chlorine to drinking water? Top
A. Chlorine is added to drinking water as a disinfectant . Disinfectants destroy disease causing bacteria and viruses. Treatment plants add chlorine at a constant dosage to maintain an adequate concentration throughout the distribution system, as required by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Q. Why is my water rusty? Top
A. Residents from throughout the distribution system occasionally experience reddish or brownish discolored water. This is usually caused by increased flow through water mains which dislodges iron deposits. This is usually not a health threat, but consumers should refrain from using the water until the disturbance is over. After that, the water should be allowed to run until it clears before using.
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