Water & Sewer Rates

Water rates for the City of Winooski are $38.00 per 1,000 cubic feet (approximately 7,480 gallons). There is a minimum charge equal to 1,000 cubic feet applied to all accounts. Sewer rates are $44.50 per 1,000 cubic feet based on actual usage. Water and sewer readings are taken quarterly and bills are sent to the owner of record unless other billing arrangements are made with the City Clerk. The minimum water charge is applied to all accounts unless water has been shut off by the Department at the curb stop (outside shut off). Customers can schedule shut offs by calling City Hall.
 

Current Activities

The Water Department is very busy this year with a new Superintendent in place, and many projects in the works. We have updated the Water Ordinance that was last adopted in 1993. We are also developing a Cross Connection Control Policy to protect all of our water users from the threat of backflow (look for more about this topic on our web page). We are already planning our maintenance schedule for the upcoming summer months that will include gate valve exercising, hydrant flushing, map updates, tie page improvements, and valve and hydrant replacements. We hope to be able to provide current activity information on the City web page to help keep residents up-to-date on our water distribution activities.

The Public Works, Water and Wastewater Departments have been working with Civil Engineering Associates on the West Canal Street Reconstruction Project. This project includes the total replacement of a large wastewater (sewer) line, replacement of the old water main that was installed around 1920, and road reconstruction including drainage improvements and sidewalks. A bond vote for this project was approved in March 2011 at Town Meeting.
 

Service Line Responsibility

The City is responsible for repairs and maintenance on those service lines connected to a City owned water main; from the main to the curb stop. The property owner is responsible for maintenance from the curb stop (split at the curb stop) to the water meter, and all internal plumbing, but not the meter which is the City’s responsibility. The property owner is also responsible for protecting the meter and remote reader from damage and freezing. When the service line is large enough that a gate valve was installed, the property owner is responsible for the entire service line, from the gate valve (split at the valve) to the building, and all internal plumbing, but not the meter.
 

Helpful Hints

Customers should know where important valves are in their homes in case of emergencies. Knowing where your internal plumbing shut-off valves are will reduce water losses and possible damage in the event of many emergencies.

The main valve is located just before the water meter, where the piping comes into the building. This valve will shut off the water to the entire building. There may also be a similar valve located downstream of the water meter that can also be used to shut water off downstream of its location. Customers should tag these shut off valves to quicken the shut-down process in an emergency.

Valves for the dishwasher and clothes washer should also be located and labeled. These valves can be used to isolate these two fixtures without affecting the rest of the house.

Make sure the incoming cold water and outgoing hot water valves at the hot water tank are accessible. These valves can be used to isolate the hot water tank or hot water lines in an emergency.
 

Water Leak Investigations / High Bills

Finding water leaks can save you money in water and sewer bills. These basic steps can be done by the customer before calling in a professional.

1. Turn off all fixtures so that no water is being used. This includes inside and outside appliances and faucets.

2. Check the water meter for water flow activity. Most water meters have a red needle and a red triangular arrow that turn when water is flowing through the meter. If either of these is moving then you have a leak somewhere in the house beyond the meter.

3. If the needle and triangular arrow are not moving, make a light mark over each one on the meter head and recheck the meter in an hour. If neither has moved then it is unlikely there is a leak. However, if either one has moved then a leak can be suspected.

4. If a leak is suspected, check all faucets, hoses and fixtures for any obvious leaks. Be sure all valves are closed tightly, but do not over tighten them.

5. Toilets are the leading cause of leaks and high bills in homes. To check a toilet for leaks, flush the toilet. After the tank has filled, add 2-3 drops of food coloring into the tank reservoir. If the food coloring shows up in the bowl after 15-30 minutes, the toilet is leaking. Leaks in toilets can occur at the overflow pipe or the flapper valve at the bottom of the tank reservoir. The water level in the tank should come up to about ½” below the top of the overflow pipe. The float level can be easily adjusted to insure the proper level. Flapper valves wear out and become leak points in toilets, but a flapper valve repair kit can be purchased from a local hardware store.

6. Sometimes the toilet can be heard filling when no-one is around. These “ghost flushes” are a good sign of a faulty flapper valve that might not show up during a meter inspection. Often the only way to determine if you are experiencing “ghost flushes” is to mark the needle and arrow on the meter head after the last person uses water at night, and recheck the meter before anyone uses water in the morning. If the needle or arrow has moved and no one has used water, then a leaking toilet might be the problem.

7. Water leaks can also occur at sinks and faucets. These leaks are commonly caused by warn out “O” rings. A 2-drop per minute leaking faucet can result in more than 1,000 gallons of wasted water in one quarterly period. Larger leaks or multiple leaks can increase that amount ten-fold. A leaking faucet can be repaired by turning off the supply line to the fixture, disassembling the fixture, and replacing the “O” ring or washer. The customer should always check for leaks after turning the water back on. While the replacement of “O” rings and washers is not difficult, some people may feel more comfortable with calling a plumber to make the repairs.

8. Customers often see an increase in their water and sewer bills after the summer billing period is over. A common cause of leaks or water loss during the summer can occur when outside faucets or garden hoses are left on. Most hoses and hose fittings are not designed for continuous pressure and can begin slowly leaking, often leading up to a significant break in the line. Outside faucets should be shut off when not in use, and lines should always be drained to prevent freezing in cold weather.

Customers can save money in their water and sewer bills by making some simple changes to use water more efficiently. By reducing household water use customers can reduce their water bills, reduce energy costs, and affect global climate changes.
 

Retrofit your home with energy efficient fixtures like the dishwasher and washer/dryer.
 

Retrofit your toilet with a water efficient model that has the WaterSense Label.  If your toilet was installed before 1992 it probably uses at least 3.5 gallons per flush. New WaterSense toilets use less than 1.5 gallons per flush.
 

According to the EPA, the average home retrofitted with WaterSense labeled toilets and faucets or faucet accessories can save more than 11,000 gallons per year. The WaterSense label will help you identify high-efficiency products and programs.
 

Repair or replace leaking faucets. Faucets that leak one drop per second can waste 3,000 gallons per year.
 

Wash full loads when doing laundry. The average washer uses 41 gallons per load. High efficiency washers use less than 28 gallons per load.
 

Insulate your hot water pipes to get hot water faster.
 

Take showers instead of baths. A full bath tub uses about 70 gallons of water while a five minute shower only uses 10-25 gallons.
 

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or washing dishes. The average bathroom faucet flows at a rate of 2 gallons per minute.
 

Utilize drip irrigation systems for lawn watering. They use 20%-50% less water than a conventional in ground irrigation system, and water is not lost to wind, runoff, or evaporation. Water your lawn only when it needs it, in the early part of the day.
 

Use a broom to clean driveways and sidewalks, not a hose.
 

Don’t let the hose run when washing your car; use it only for rinsing. By washing your car on the lawn you also water the lawn in the process.
 

Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. Running water until it is cold is wasteful.
 

Check out the EPA WaterSense web page for more information: www.epa.gov/WaterSense/.