Water FAQs
Below are some of the common questions we receive in the water billing office. If you don’t find an answer to your question here please feel free to contact us at 330.297.2151 and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Questions about billing:
How can I request a duplicate bill?
You can submit a request for a duplicate bill for an account from the Utility Office by:
- Calling (330) 297-2151
- Faxing (330) 297-7512
- Walk-in or Mail your request to:
- Utility Billing
530 N. Freedom St.
Ravenna, Ohio 44266
- Utility Billing
How can I change my billing address?
- Calling (330) 297-2151
- Faxing (330) 297-7512
- Walk-in or Mail your request to:
- Utility Billing
530 N. Freedom St.
Ravenna, Ohio 44266
- Utility Billing
Water meter Q & A:
How do I read my water meter?
2. Read your water meter: Always read the dial from left to right. In the meter shown in Figure 2, the reading is 0000.24. This is the total number of hundred cubic feet of water recorded since the meter was installed. We bill in whole units of 100 cubic feet and the reading is simply 0. Your water bill is determined by subtracting last months’ meter reading from the current meter reading. NOTE: We only read the white dials when calculating your monthly bill.
Does your staff install water meters?
Yes, the City will install all water meters.
Who owns the water meters?
The City owns all primary water meters to which service extends.
Water Leaks:
What is the worst leak you can have in a home?
To determine if you have an overflow tube leak take the top off of your toilet tank and check the water level in the tank. If it is above the lip of the overflow tube you will see the water running down the tube. If it is close or right on the edge of the lip of the overflow tube and you are not sure, sprinkle some flour or baby powder on the water and you will be able to see if the water is actually running down the overflow tube.
If you do have an overflow tube leak you need to adjust your water level in the tank. This can be done a number of ways, depending on the type of working parts in your toilet tank. The two most common types of working parts are the fluid master and the arm and ball type.
The fluid master type has a metal clip, which slides up and down a thin metal post. You squeeze the clip together and slide it up or down to adjust the water level.
The arm and metal ball type has a small screw on the base of the point where the arm joins the main part of the assembly and you can turn the screw to adjust the water level. You can also adjust the water level on the arm and ball type by bending the arm downward, but you should be very careful. If you bend the arm, it is very easy to break the ball off of the arm and then you have to buy a new one and install it.
Are there any other types of toilet leaks?
The way to determine this is to take a flashlight and look directly down the overflow tube. If you see the water running or dripping from the end of the filler tube, then the siphoning effect is taking place
This is very easy to correct. Pull the filler tube up so that the end of the filler tube is above water level in the tank. If the filler tube is too long and it is made out of rubber snip the excess off with a pair of scissors
The line into my house is leaking. Whose responsibilty is it?
The line into the house is called the houseline. The houseline is the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain.
The valve by my meter is leaking. Whose responsibilty is it?
The main valve is the responsibility of the homeowner. If it is not working or it is leaking, it is up to the homeowner to have it repaired or replaced.
My meter is leaking at the connections. Whose responsibilty is it?
Swimming Pools:
How do I fill a swimming pool?
What is the cost to fill a swimming pool with city water?
If you know how many gallons your pool is please call and we can give you an estimate of what your bill should be.
NOTE: The Utility Billing Office does not allow sewer discounts when filling a swimming pool. This is because when you drain the pool at the end of the season it should be drained into the sewer system not the storm drains because of the chemicals in the pool water. The Storm water system drains directly into rivers and streams, the chemicals in pool water can kill wildlife
Water pressure issues:
The water pressure is low in my house and slowly getting worse. What can be done to increase it?
If you have an old galvanized houseline or galvanized interior pipes, over time these corrode and will reduce the interior diameter of the pipe to as small as a pin hole. To fix the problem requires replacing the old galvanized interior pipes with copper or plastic pipes. If that does not solve the problem, than you have to replace the old houseline with a new K copper houseline.
My water pressure was okay but now is suddenly very low or I have no water at all. What's wrong?
There may have been a water main break and the main is off for repair. The crews do try to inform residents before the main is turned off but, in an emergency, they do not have the time to inform the residents first.
Sometimes house lines develop leaks or break suddenly.
Water meters are designed with a small screen inside them to catch any debris in the mains which might be stirred up from a repair or someone using a hydrant, and prevent it from getting into the interior plumbing. This screen can become completely covered plugging the meter and preventing water from flowing through.
In the event of sudden loss of water or drop in pressure first check the main valve in the house and make sure it is open all the way. If there is still no water or pressure call the Utility Billing office at (330) 297-2151 and a service technician will be sent to try to find the reason for the loss of water or pressure.
Water pressure issues:
What are the major uses of water?
| Use Type | Gallons per person | % of daily use |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | 18.5 gallons | 26.7% |
| Showers | 11.6 gallons | 16.8% |
| Laundry | 15.0 gallons | 21.7% |
| Faucets | 10.9 gallons | 15.7% |
| Leaks | 9.5 gallons | 13.7% |
| Baths | 1.2 gallons | 1.7% |
| Dishwashers | 1.0 gallons | 1.4% |
| Other domestic use | 1.6 gallons | 2.2% |
I hear the water come on by itself. Is something wrong with my meter?
If you suspect a flapper valve leak, a simple way to determine whether you actually have one is to take the top off of the tank and put some food coloring in the tank. Let the toilet sit for a while, sometimes this might take a couple of hours if you have a small leak, and then look to see if the food coloring appears in the bowl without flushing it. If it does, then you definitely have a flapper valve leak. This type of leak may be intermittent but usually once a flapper valve starts leaking it only gets worse and should be replaced
How do I read my water meter?
That is called a water hammer. Water hammer is a vibration in the pipes. Water hammer has many causes:
- A hot water tank with its temperature set too high.
- A loose washer in a valve or faucet.
- Water pipes not securely fastened.
- Faulty parts in toilets.
- Air in the lines from a repair on a water main or someone using a hydrant.