To serve you better, we've assembled a list of our customers' most frequently asked questions. If you don't find your answer here, feel free to contact us.
How could I have used this much water?
You may not have - the numbers on your meter may have been transposed or hard to read. You could possibly have a leaky toilet or faucet that's difficult to detect. Just call the office and we'll work with you to solve the problem.
What do I do if I am experiencing low pressure?
Check your meter and the surrounding area for possible leaks. Next, call our office and report low pressure for your area.
Why is my water discolored?
A repair could have been completed recently allowing air to enter the line, causing the milky look.
What chemicals does our utility district add to the water?
Only chemicals that are approved by the National Safety Foundation for treatment of drinking water. We only use gas chlorine.
My water tastes, looks, and smells funny. Is it safe to drink?
All public water systems are required to maintain a minimum chlorine level of 0.2 mg/L (tested at the end of each line) by state law. Systems that use chloramine as a disinfectant must maintain a level of 0.5 mg/L by state law. Our disinfectant levels are tested daily to ensure safety.
Why does debris come out of the faucet when running hot water?
Most likely your water heater needs to be flushed. CAUTION: Most manufacturers recommend hiring a professional to flush your water heater. If you plan on doing this yourself, read the owner's manual to keep from being hurt and or damaging the water heater.
Why do I have a previous balance when I know I sent in my payment?
We may have received it after the due date or we may not have received it at all. Call our office and we will help you solve the problem.
Where does our water come from?
GHCWD has 2 wells that pull water out of the Madison Aquifer. The water goes through a filtration unit where it is chlorinated. The water then fills 2 cisterns at each site. There are 2 distribution pumps at each site that pull the water out of the cisterns and into the main lines.
Why does GHCWD have watering restrictions?
The capacity of the district distribution pumps can and has exceeded the well pumps refilling the cisterns. The non-watering hours give the cisterns time to recharge.
Why doesn’t the district just drill another well so we have more water.
GHCWD has a water right of 300 gallons per minute. Currently each of the wells on the system draws approximately 150 gallons per minute. We are at our maximum amount that we can legally draw water.
Can a water meter register more gallons than has actually gone through the meter?
No, Much like an automobile or other mechanical device, the meter slows down with age and can eventually stop registering completely, but it cannot run faster than it was designed to run. The water has to go through the meter blades for it to register gallons. The mechanical parts are not capable of "speeding up" or registering a significantly higher reading than actual. The meter dial is like the odometer on your car. It reads your water consumption and is a cumulative total of the water that has run through that meter since it was installed. You can get the consumption for a period of time by comparing the beginning reading to the ending reading.
What parts of the water line to my house am I responsible for and which are the water district responsible for?
The water district owns and is responsible for upkeep to the curb stop (shut off valve) which is in the front of most homes. If a person has a meter pit then the district owns that also. The district is responsible for the meter in each home. Each property owner is responsible for their water line from the curb stop on. If a property owner suspects a leak, they should contact the water district and personnel will determine if it is the water district’s or the property owner’s responsibility. Water district personnel cannot locate a leak on personal property.
Water Softener in regen mode continuously running?
If your water softener is running in regen mode continuously, something is drastically wrong. You'll know this by seeing water discharging from the softener drain and by hearing water running through the softener continuously, for more than three hours.
Watch out: A water softener that is "stuck in regeneration mode" running continuously
- is wasting water (approximately 132 gallons per hour)
- is not providing softened water to the building, risking costly clogs in piping systems and appliances
- is wasting salt - if any salt is left in the brine tank
- risks flooding and ruining a septic drainfield
- is noisy and annoying
In that case, turn off the water softener or put it in bypass and call for repair.
Water Softener softens water and why does soft water feel slimy or slick in the shower?
The minerals that make water hard usually contain calcium and magnesium. Calcium and magnesium in water interfere with the cleaning action of soap and detergent. They do this by combining with soap or detergent and forming a scum that does not dissolve in water. Because these minerals react with soap and detergent, they remove the soap and detergent, thereby reducing the effectiveness of these cleaning agents. You can overcome this by adding more soap or detergent. However, the scum that is formed can adhere to what is being washed, making it appear dingy. An automatic water softener connected to water supply pipes removes magnesium and calcium from water and replaces them with a trace amount of sodium. Sodium does not react with soap or detergents. This will reduce the amount of soap you would need to use, and insures it will not remain in or on the item being washed, whether the item is tile, glassware, clothes, skin or hair.
Fluoride in the Water
While it is not in violation of the maximum content level for Fluoride, the content is fairly high. **This is an alert about your drinking water and a cosmetic dental problem that might affect children under twelve years of age.** At low levels, fluoride can help prevent cavities, but children drinking water containing more than 2 milligrams per liter (mg/l) of fluoride may develop cosmetic discoloration of thier permanent teeth (dental fluorosis). The drinking water provided by you community water system, Gore Hill County Water District, has a fluoride concentration between 2.6 and 2.9 mg/l.
Residence responsibility on water connection
ARTICLE 7. TAP FEE
7.1 The Board shall collect Tap fee from those residents of the District who hook up to the District’s water system after August 1, 1976. In return for this fee, the District shall provide a saddle, corporation valve, copper tubing and curb stop, and shall also provide the qualified labor necessary to make the connection between the District line and residents service line.
7.2 Installation and maintenance of the resident’s service line shall be his or her own responsibility. The service lines shall have a maximum diameter of ¾ inch and shall meet any and all specifications made by the Board.
Above is from By-Laws for district. The responsibility is from Curb Stop to residence. If you have a leak between the curb stop and your home your responsibility to repear.