LIVINGSTON COMMUNITY WATER AUTHORITY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is my bill so high?
Often, when residents receive their bills, they wonder why it is so high. Residents are billed once each quarter for their water usage. One thing to keep in mind is that the bill reflects usage for the previous three (3) months. In other words, a bill received in the fall will have summer usage on it. By this time we find that many residents forget how frequently they may have watered over the summer, and are shocked at their bill.
Irrigation systems are the biggest source of high water bills. An average sprinkler head can use two gallons per minute. If your system has 20 heads, and runs for 20 minutes each day, the result would be 24,000 gallons in a month or 72,000 gallons during a quarterly bill. One thing that you can do to monitor your watering is to take a reading at the start of a water cycle and again at the end. By performing this check, you will know exactly how much water is being used by your system. Based on this information, you can adjust you watering accordingly.
How often will I receive my water bill?
Residential and commercial water bills are mailed out quarterly. You will receive four per year.
What are my options for payment?
1/04/2011: PLEASE NOTE: Charter Township of Brighton does not accept credit card payments or allow ACH transactions.
There are several options for paying your water bill. Payments can be made by cash or check written to the “Livingston Community Water Authority” through the Green Oak Charter Township Treasurer’s office located at 10001 Silver Lake Road. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For your convenience, a 24 hour drop box is located at the entrance of the township hall. Payments can also be mailed for processing.
There are two electronic options. Residents can pay their bill by credit card through Official Payments, or with permission from the resident; we can debit (ACH) your account for the amount of the bill. Since Official Payments is an outside service, their user fees apply. We do not charge for using ACH debiting from your account.
Can I make partial or extra payments on my water bill?
You can make additional payments or partial payments on your account using any of the options described above. Be sure to include your account number to ensure correct posting of your payment.
What is the penalty for late payment?
A 10% penalty is charged on the current water and sewer charges after the specified due date. Postmarks are not accepted.
What do I do if I am selling my home and need a final meter reading?
If you are planning to move, a final water reading should be performed on your residence. Please schedule a final reading at least 48 hours in advance. Contact the LCWA water billing staff in the Green Oak Charter Township Treasurers’ office at 810-231-1333.
I think I have a leak in my water system, how do I know?
A leak can occur in several different places in your home or business. The following tips will help you determine where the leak could be:
Water Meter
- Make sure no water is being used indoors or outdoors. Turn off all faucets, shower, washer, irrigation system, etc.
- Check to see if the small water meter dial is moving by watching the meter for three to four minutes. If it does not move, chances are you have no leaks.
- Check for slow leaks by reading the meter at night and again in the morning during a period when you have not used any water overnight. If the meter shows usage, you have a leak. If you have a water softener, check on a night when you are not recharging the system.
Toilet
- Look at the toilet bowl after the tank has stopped filing. If water is running into the bowl, or if you can hear it running, your toilet is leaking. Most toilet leaks happen at the overflow pipe or the plunger ball/flapper valve inside the tank.
- Overflow Pipe – Take off the tank lid and flush. The water level should be ½ inch or so below the pipe. If it flows over the edge and down the pipe, you are losing water and need to adjust your float level accordingly.
- Plunger Ball or Flapper Valve – You toilet could have a silent leak. To check, drop a little food coloring in the tank. Do not flush and wait for about ten minutes. If the food coloring appears in the bowl, you have a silent leak and can probably be repaired with parts from your local hardware store.
- If your toilet is leaking and you cannot get it repaired right away, shut it off at the valve behind the toilet when you are not using it.
Outdoors and Everywhere Else
Check all faucets, shower heads and outside spigots for drips. A slow drip loses 15-20 gallons per day. During winter months, it is recommended that the water supply to outdoor spigots be turned off at the inside valve to prevent frost damage to the pipes.
- Check for standing water on your basement floor, especially around the water heater, washer, water softener or water meter.
How much water can be lost from a leak?
The following chart illustrates how much water is wasted from a continuous leak over a three month period:
Diameter of Leak (Inches) |
Water per Quarter 60 psi pressure (gallons) |
¼ inch leak |
1,181,500 |
1/8 inch leak |
296,000 |
1/16 inch leak |
74,000 |
1/32 inch leak |
18,500 |
In addition, a toilet running continuously amounts to the following amount of wasted water:
- 210 gallons per hour
- 5,040 gallons per day
- 35,280 gallons per week
- 141,120 gallons per month
- 423,360 gallons per quarter
How can I conserve water and reduce my water bill?
These facts about water usage will help illustrate how much water you are actually using and where. We are also offering some suggestions on how to limit your usage.
Indoor Uses:
Showers – Take shorter showers!
- Showers make up 23% of home water use.
- A 10 minute shower uses 50 to 100 gallons of water
- A standard shower head uses 5 to 10 gallons of water per minute
- One 5-minute shower daily uses nearly 10,000 gallons per year.
- Low-flow shower heads reduce water use by 50%
Bathes – Don’t fill the tub full!
- A full bath tub uses much more water than a shower.
Toilets – Replace older toilets with new more efficient models!
- Toilets use 5 to 7 gallons of water with each flush.
- The average toilet is flushed 8 times each day – that takes 390 gallons per week, or 20, 280 gallons each year.
- Displacing water in the tank can save 1-2 gallons per flush or up to 5,800 gallons per year. Use a displacement bag or plastic bottle.
Faucets – Turn off the water while brushing teeth, shaving and washing your hands!
- Normal faucets flow at 3 to 5 gallons per minute
- Most people use 2 to 3 gallons of water to brush their teeth.
- A low-flow faucet aerator reduces flow by 50%.
- Low-flow faucets can save up to 280 gallons per month for a family of four.
Outdoor Uses:
Lawns – Manage your outdoor water uses
- Most people water too much. Lawns only need about 1 inch per week. To measure, catch sprinkler water in an open can and determine how long it takes to 1 inch to accumulate and then water for that amount of total time.
- Keep your grass 3 inches in length – the roots will grow stronger and deeper.
- Use short frequent sprinkler cycles to give the lawn time to absorb the water (typically 5 to 15 minutes long per cycle).
- When necessary, comply with any voluntary water use restrictions.
Gardens – Add mulch to landscaped beds and trees!
- Mulch conserves water by retaining moisture and eliminating weeds.
What are my current water rates?
Your current water rate is $3.90 per 1000 gallons used.
What factors help to determine whether there will be a raise in water rates or maintain the current pricing level?
There are costs involved in operating and maintaining existing system facilities and capital improvement programs necessary to meet existing and future customer demands.
Who approves a rate increase?
The rates are approved annually by the Livingston Community Water Authority Board based on staff recommendations.
How does the Livingston Community Water Authority determine my water usage?
A residential water meter is read once each quarter (whether on an individual meter or a master meter system). This reading is obtained from outside the home by one of two methods: a touchpad read or through a radio read unit. The touchpad and radio read devices are able to electronically transmit a meter reading outside the building identical to that of the inside water meter. For residents on a master well, a beginning and end read for any service flushing or fire department use is documented and subtracted from the total quarterly read.
Posted 07/25/2008
Facility Location:
9220 Rickett Road,
Brighton,
Michigan 48116
- Emergency Contact:
Anthony Dowson at 248-889-1922 or - Green Oak Charter Township at 810-231-1333 (8 am to 5 pm)
Operator:
Highland Treatment Company, Inc.
938 N. Milford Road
Highland, MI 48357
Phone: 248-889-1922
Fax: 248-887-6256
E-mail: highland.treatment@verizon.net
