|
Questions Specific to the Meter
Replacement Program:
How are the District's
operations funded?
All operations of the District are
funded by the fees collected for services and water
usage. No property taxes from the Town of West
Boylston are used to fund the District. On occasion, the District
will apply for grant money from State or Federal
agencies to help fund particular projects.
Can you please explain my
Sewer Bill?
We'd like to help, but we are not responsible for
Sewer Bills. Though your Sewer Bill is based on
the amount of water that you use in a quarter, the
billing for sewers is handled by the Town of West
Boylston's Sewer Division, a division of the
Department of Public Works. Their offices are
located on the second floor of the DPW building at 35
Worcester
Street (behind the Police Station). You can reach them at 508-835-6133.
For more information, see their web page at
Town of West Boylston, MA - Sewer Division.
How is my water bill
calculated?
Water Bills are based on the amount of water that you
use in a quarter. See the
Rates and Billing page for more
information and an example.
How often do water bills
go out?
You will receive a water bill once every quarter, or
every three months. But bills are sent out to
one-third of the town each month. So, the months
that you get your bill depends on where you live in
town.
Where does the water come from?
All of the water supplied by the West Boylston Water
District is ground water and comes from three
gravel-packed wells. The three wells in operation
are:
- the Lee Street well, located in the Lee Street
well field
- the Oakdale well, located in Oakdale near the
Rail Trail
- the Pleasant Valley well, located on DCR land
near Route 140 and the Wachusett Reservoir
For more information on the wells, see our
Water Sources page.
Why don't we use the water
in the Wachusett Reservoir?
The Wachusett Reservoir is operated by the
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and provides
water for Boston and surrounding communities.
Since the reservoir is located in town and was
constructed by large land-takings by the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, the Town of West Boylston, through the
Water District, has the right to use water in the
reservoir. But, reservoir water is surface
water, which generally requires a lot of treatment
before it is safe to drink. So, while we can, we
will stick with our clean ground water.
What kind of treatment does
the water receive?
Currently, the water is treated with 2 additives at
each water source: potassium hydroxide and sodium
polyphosphate. These additives are used to help
control corrosion and the staining of fixtures.
Occasionally, if the need arises, we will also add
chlorine to kill bacteria. We are NOT adding
chlorine at this time. See the
Water Quality page for
more information.
My water is discolored.
Why is that?
Your water may be discolored for several reasons.
Sometimes when the water is treated with chlorine, the
chlorine can react with the iron and manganese found
naturally in our wells, causing discoloration.
Water is also often discolored when the Water District
flushes the hydrants and water mains. You should
avoid washing your laundry when the Hydrant Flushing
Program is going on in your neighborhood. Your
water should be clear again several hours after the
flushing stops for the day. For details on the
Hydrant Flushing Program, see the
description
on the Notices page.
Why do I need a new water meter?
The new meter will ensure accurate readings and
eliminate the need for water district personnel to enter
your home or business to obtain water meter readings.
In addition, the older meters are more costly to
maintain.
Will I be charged for the new meter?
There will be no charge to individual customers for
the meter replacement program. Costs related to
the meter replacement program will be paid from the
District's operating funds. This expenditure
represents an investment in improved billing efficiency
and customer service.
Will my water bills increase due to the new water
meter?
New water meters will ensure that all customers are
charged an equitable amount for the water service based
on the actual amount of water consumed. If you
existing water meter has been under registering the
volume of water used at your property, you water
consumption may appear to increase. The amount
charged for each gallon of water consumed will not
increase as a result of the water meter replacement
program. You water bills are based on your actual
water usage. The only difference is that your
actual usage will be more accurately measured.
What are my options regarding
appointments?
Appointments for the meter replacement program will be
conducted Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
What if my water service pipe is old and in bad condition?
Water District Personnel will inspect the condition of
the pipe before installing the new meter. If the
condition of the pipe is uncertain, we will not be able
to install the meter. According to the District’s Rules
and Regulations, the property owner is responsible for
the maintenance of the service pipe on the property.
What if I am a tenant and do not own this property?
If you are a tenant, you will be asked to provide access to
the meter for installation personnel. We also ask that
you notify the owner of the property about this letter.
I have tenants, but do not reside
at the property. What should I do?
If you have tenants but do not reside on your property, you
are responsible for calling the water district for an
appointment and for providing access to the meter.
Will my water need to be shut off during installation?
Yes. Under routine circumstances water service will be
interrupted for about 30 minutes. After service is
resumed, you should run a water faucet for about 2
minutes to clear the water pipes of air.
How do you know that my reading is accurate?
The new meters are tested before installation. These state
of the art meters have electronic registers, which
verify the meter reading before it is sent to the
transmitting unit. This type of meter reading is deemed
more accurate than visually reading the meter.
How do I know that you have my reading and not someone else’s?
Each radio frequency device has a unique identification
number that is transmitted along with the meter reading.
The unique identification number is compared to your
account record to ensure that there is a match.
Is there a hazard from the radio transmitter in my home?
No, this type of equipment is regulated by the FCC and
transmits with only 1 watt of power. Each radio
transmission lasts only on a fraction of a second.
Will the radio interfere with my television, cordless telephone
or pacemaker?
No, the radio transmissions occur on a frequency very
different from those used by television signals,
cordless telephones and pacemakers. You will not see any
interference with your television reception.
What powers the radio transmission device?
The radio transmission
device is a battery-powered device. The expected life of
the battery is 20 years, which exceeds the expected life
of a residential water meter.
|
Frequently Asked Questions