FAQS
Frequently Asked Questions
High utility bills are often caused by a leak or a change in water usage. Some common causes of high utility bills include:
· A leaking toilet, or a toilet that continues to run after being flushed (see additional information below)
· A dripping faucet; a faucet drip can waste 20 gallons of water a day or more
· Filling or topping off a swimming pool (the town has a policy for pool fills check the links for more information)
· Watering the lawn or garden, check for open hose bibs
· A broken water pipe, water softener problems or a leaking water heater
A leaking pipe, unseen or unfixed, can waste hundreds and even thousands of gallons of water. If a home has an unfinished crawlspace or basement you may not even notice a leak. It is important to routinely check your plumbing and home for leaky faucets, toilets and leaking pipes.
The most common cause for a high utility bill is running water from your toilet. Water can flow through an open fill valve at a rate of three to five gallons per minute, that’s up to 4,000 gallons per day being wasted each day! That is extreme, but 200 gallons per day is not uncommon, if you flush your toilet at 11:00 pm and don’t discover that it did not shut off until 6:00 am, that equals 60 gallons of water wasted. Multiply that by 30 equals 1,800 gallons per month.
A simple dye test can determine if your toilet leaks. Place one teaspoon of food coloring into your toilet tank. Wait 10- 15 minutes. DO NOT FLUSH the toilet during this time. Look inside the toilet bowl. If the water is clear, you do not have a leak. If the water is the same color as the dye that means water is leaking into the toilet bowl. Toilet rebuild kits are available at any home improvement store. Replacing your toilet with a modern high efficiency toilet uses less water and can save you $30-$40 per person per year.
· The owners responsibility is anything from the house to the curb box which is usually located in the right of way or on the property line. Anything from the street to the curb box is the responsibility of the Hebron Water Department. The Water Meter and its connection is also the responsibility of the Hebron Water Department.
· Ground water from our wells is very hard, around 27 Grains per Gallon. We soften the water to 7.5 – 8.2 Grains per Gallon. A white coating on sink aerators and coffee makers can be cleaned with vinegar.
We use chlorine, which is an ingredient in bleach, to disinfect the water. The Town of Hebron chlorinates the drinking water to prevent the growth of disease-causing microorganisms in the distribution system.
Chlorine is added to the water to achieve a level of around 1.2 parts per million entering the distribution system. It is added at this level to be sure that some remains even in the furthest parts of the distribution system. This is a very safe level of chlorine. Daily samples are taken to verify that a safe level is present throughout the distribution system.
Chlorine levels up to 4 milligrams per liter (mg/L or 4 parts per million (ppm)) are considered safe in drinking water. At this level, harmful health effects are unlikely to occur.
Some people are more sensitive to the taste/smell of chlorine than others.
The concentration of chlorine may depend on the distance your home is from a treatment plant. The further away from the treatment plants you get, the lower the chlorine level will be.
You may taste or smell chlorine more in the morning and early evening because more people are using the water at those times.
You also may smell chlorine after you first turn on your water in the morning because it has set in your pipes overnight.
Additionally, if there is build up in your faucet aerators, the chlorine may be combining with the substance present, which can give off an odor.
A filter pitcher can remove the chlorine from your water.
You can also just fill a container of water and place it in the refrigerator for about an hour and the taste and smell should go away.
If you only smell it first thing in the morning, let your water run a few minutes before using it. It is a good idea to flush your lines after water has been sitting in the pipes anyway.