FAQ
Water and Sewer Bills
Q. I did not recieve my bill this month or I have misplaced my bill. How do I pay my account?
A. Water and sewer bills are always mailed the last working day of the month and always due on the 15th of the following month. If you do not receive your bill by the 4th day of the month, telephone our Billing Office at 740-928-0302. We will confirm the mailing address, tell you the billed amount and mail a duplicate bill, if necessary.
Q. How do I correct my mailing address or name on my account?
A. Customers should either complete the change of address form on the back of their bill and mail to the Billing Office or; print the Transfer of Account/Change of Address form, complete and mail to the Billing Office.
Q. I just received the latest billing and it does not reflect my last payment. How do I know if you received my payment?
A. If the payment was mailed towards the end of the month, the bill and payment may have crossed in the mail. If payment was made earlier in the previous month, we may not have received it. Check your bank statement to see if we have cashed your check. Contact our Billing Office at 740-670-5440 if you have further questions.
Q. I believe my water bill was overestimated or misread. How do I know I am being charged correctly?
A. You can read your own inside water meter and compare it with the reading as shown on your statement. Should you still have questions, please contact our office.
Q. There is a late charge on my bill. I thought I had paid last month's bill on time?
A. Payments are always due on the 15th of the month. Check your previous month's records for when you believe the payment was made. If it was before the 15th, contact our office. We will accept postmarks of the due date.
Q. My water bill keeps increasing each month. Could I have a leak?
A. See Water Conservation Tips and Reading your Meter. Contact Billing Office if you have further questions.
Q. I am selling my property. How do I discontinue service?
A. See Establishing New Service.
Service Related Questions
Q. Why do I have to pay a sewer bill when no one lives at the property?
A. Sewer is considered a service to the property and we cannot shut off the service. As long as there is a structure on the property and the sewer line is open, we must bill for the service.
Q. The ground around the sewer cap is damp. What is causing this?
A. There is evidently a problem with the pump. Telephone our office at 740-928-0302 and we will dispatch an operator to check.
Q. The alarm from my sewer tank has been sounding. What does it mean?
A. The alarm indicates there is an operational problem with the STEP system. The customer can shut off the alarm but contact the County immediately for an operator to check for problems.
Q. I expect to be doing some construction in my yard. How do I know where my sewer or water lines are located?
A. Telephone our Billing Office or Buckeye Lake Sewer Plant at 740-928-3397. An operator can be scheduled to come to your property to mark the service lines. We require a forty-eight (48) hour notice. For other utility lines you should contact Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) 800-362-2764.
Q. I will be doing some plumbing work in my home. How do I get the water shut off during the work?
A. Contact our office and we will schedule an operator to shut the water off at the curbbox at the service address.
Q. A boil order tag was issued at my residence. What does this mean?
A. A boil alert is given when a service problem arises and the water level drops to the point that bacteria can enter the system. We must have two negative samples within a forty-eight (48) hour time period for the drinking water to be considered safe. We will tag your front door again when the boil order is lifted.
Hydrant Flushing Related Questions
Q. Why is hydrant flushing so necessary?
A. Hydrant flushing enhances water quality by flushing sediment from the mainline pipes, verifies the proper operation of hydrants and valves, and maintains firefighting capability.
Q. What should I do when the County Crews are flushing hydrants in my area?
A. If you see a crew flushing a hydrant on your street, avoid running tap water and using the washing machine or the dishwasher until the flushing is done. If you see hydrant-flushing crews working in the area, please drive carefully and treat them like any other road construction crew.
Q. What should I do after hydrant flushing?
A. If tap water is used during flushing, it could come out full of sediment that causes discoloration. If you encounter discolored water, shut the water off and wait several minutes. After waiting, check the clarity by running cold water for a few minutes allowing new water to work its way into your pipes. If the water is clear it's OK to use. If not, wait a few more minutes and check again. In some cases, there may be slight discoloration for a few hours. This discoloration only affects the appearance of the water; it does not affect the taste or water quality.
Avoid washing laundry during scheduled flushing times. Wait until the water runs clear at the tap, then wash a load of dark clothes first.
If pressure or volume seems low, check your faucet screens for trapped particles.
Q. Why does my water look funny after hydrant flushing?
A. When a hydrant is opened, there will be temporary incidences of discolored water while fine sediment particles are flushed out. There is no health hazard associated with the discolored water. Allow a few hours for discoloration to dissipate. To verify water is clear, run your cold-water tap for a few minutes.