News from the Field

phone (517) 485-5470 fax (517) 371-4818

WEST SIDE WATER has been involved in a very aggressive water main replacement for the past ten years. Much of our old cast iron water main has been replaced with new ductile iron; however, we still experience a substantial number of breaks during winter months.

The procedure for repairing these breaks is time consuming and very expensive. Whenever possible our service crew will notify the effected customers in advance of any shut down. There are exceptions to the rule, again during the winter months. Freezing road conditions and property flooding will be considered an emergency in which the water will be turned off immediately. We asked that you put your self in this predicament and try to understand why time is of the essence.

WEST SIDE WATER will respond to water main breaks 24 hours a day including weekends and holidays. If you notice a large amount of water running or pooling, please contact our office at 517-485-5470.

WINTER TIME poses other problems for the water department in conjunction with water main breaks and frozen meters. We also check fire hydrants to see that they are in operating condition and are accessible to the fire department. We would ask that our customers help clear snow from around fire hydrants near their property. These hydrants are set for the safety of you and your neighbors in case of a fire emergency. Gradually crews will clean around the hydrants, but until such time these hydrants may not be noticed by the fire department, which may take precious moments to locate another hydrant, moments that could be used in fighting the fire.

NEW WATER METERS are being installed to update our reading program. There is no charge to our customers to have this service performed and takes approximately 20 minutes to accomplish. Installers need someone home at the time so we have access to the water meter. Please call our office for an appointment; every attempt will be made to work around the customer's schedule. Our office hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, 517-485-5470.
 

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

West Side Water will be flushing the water system between the hours of 8:00 am and  5:00 pm May 8th through May 12th  2006.  The project will take place on the WESTSIDE of the Township only.

Flushing is done as maintenance of the water system to remove any mineral deposits or sedimentation that has collected over the winter months.  The department asks that for the five-day period residents refrain from doing laundry during the daytime hours and to check your cold water first before doing laundry.

Although the water may be discolored for a small period of time it is completely safe to consume and is not a hazard to your health.  If you have any questions please contact the department office at (517) 485-5470.
 

High water usage a problem?  Toilets are the biggest source of indoor water use. They are also a major source of leaks. In fact, some studies show that as many as 20 percent of all household toilets leak.

Even if you don't hear or see water running, your toilet may have a "Silent Leak". To test for a silent leak, put a few drops of food coloring into the tank. DO NOT FLUSH. Wait for about 10 minutes. If the coloring appears in the bowl, without flushing, you have a silent leak. This is usually caused by a worn plunger ball or flapper valve in the bottom of the toilet tank. If you are not sure how to repair this type of leak you should call a plumber to avoid any further problems or before the leak gets worse. 

If you hear water trickling through the toilet long after you've flushed it, - it's leaking. The most common causes of a running toilet are found in the tank bowl. In order to fix a leak, take the top off the tank and look inside. It might be something as simple as the chain being tangled. Also take a look in the drain (flush valve seat), underneath the tank ball (stopper). Clean out any debris collected there. If that doesn't work, you may need to replace the tank ball. 

Another potential cause of a running toilet could be the float ball. If you pick up on the float ball and the water shuts off, then you know the problem is right there. Simply bend the tube connected to the float ball down until the natural level of the water does shut the valve off - about an inch and a half below the overflow tube. 

Another problem could be that the float ball has filled up with water and lost its buoyancy. In that case, buy a replacement and simply screw it on, which will restore the toilet to good working order. 

If adjusting the ball float does not stop the toilet from running, the problem is probably in the ball cock valve itself. It is very easy to take the ball cock valve apart and install a new o-ring and valve. If this does not do the trick, then you may have to replace the entire ball cock. Make sure to get one that's exactly the same height as the one you're replacing because they come in various sizes. 

For more help on fixing your leaking toilet, do a web site search on toilet repairs.

West Side Water will perform the leak check test for our customers free of charge please call for an appointment 517-485-5470