Valparaiso City Utilities - Water Department

Frequently Asked Questions

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The cost of a new meter depends on the size. This is determined by a calculation called the maximum gallons per minute demand and usage. You should consult with your plumber, architect, or design engineer to determine the required meter size. Please call the Meter Department at (219) 462-6174 extension 1322 or e-mail the Distribution Team Leader should you have any additional information.

The price includes tapping the main, cost of labor and materials to install the service line to the customer's property (usually within the right-of-way), all curb-box inspections, and the meter installation.

After all necessary plumbing, you can pick up the meter horn at the main office at 205 Billings Street. Once the meter horn and wiring are installed, the you can contact the Meter Department at (219) 462-6174 extension 1322 or e-mail the Distribution Team Leader and schedule a meter installation. The Water Department requires at least two (2) working days notice for an appointment.

Most meter repairs can be done within the same working day. However, you should try to schedule the repair work at least two (2) days in advance. Should you have any questions or need your meter checked, please call (219) 462-6174 extension 0 or 1316 to make an appointment.

Q: I see a water leak. How do I get someone to check it out? How long will the water be off?

All main breaks are considered an emergency situation. If sited during office hours (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday), please call the Main Office at (219) 462-6174 extension 0 or the Distribution/Shop at (219) 462-6174 extension 1318. A repair crew will be dispatched as soon as possible. If it is a main break, a Water Department crew will be dispatched as soon as possible. The time the water is off will be affected by many factors, including weather conditions, location of main break, size of main, type of main break, depth of main, etc.. The crew will attempt to notify all affected customers and businesses and will work to have the water turned on as soon as possible.

Q: There was a water main break in my front yard and the crews dug it up. When can I expect them to fix my yard?

The Distribution Supervisor schedules all yard, sidewalk, and driveway repair work during the Spring and Summer months when weather allows. Should you have any questions concerning any repair work, please contact the Distribution Team Leader at (219) 462-6174 extension 1318.

Please call Holey Moley (I.U.P.P.S.) at (800) 382-5544. Our representative will be out within two (2) working days to locate the water main.

During the summer months, the Street Department draws water from several hydrants throughout the city to fill the street sweepers. Our crews may also be working in your area fixing a water main break, replacing a water valve, replacing a fire hydrant, etc.. If you are experiencing dirty water or low pressure, please call Customer Service at (219) 462-6174 extension 0, and someone will assist you.

Please contact the Distribution Supervisor at (219) 462-6174 extension 1318.

Q: How do I find out if there is water available in areas in or outside of Valparaiso?

Q: What procedures do I go through to develop land for residential / commercial use?

If you are developing a subdivision or a commercial business and you need water extended to your property, you will need to contact the Distribution Supervisor at (219) 462-6174 extension 1318. We will require three (3) site drawings (blue line) showing all streets, street names, lot layouts, lot numbers, addresses, and utilities. The department will also accept electronic files with the above information in AutoCAD 14 in lieu of three (3) blue line drawings. These file(s) may either be stored and delivered on diskette or e-mailed to the Mapping Department. The Distribution Supervisor will create a cost estimate and mail and/or fax you this information when completed.

Q: What part of the service line is the Water Department's responsibility and what part is mine?

Anything beyond the curb box, which is usually located in the right-of-way or at the property line, is the owner's responsibility. Anything from the street to the curb box is the Water Department's responsibility. The Water Department is also responsible for the meter itself and its connection.

Either a neighbor, a contractor, or a landscaper has requested that all the utility lines be marked before any digging is done in your area.

Possible causes for low pressure in your house might be 1) the main valve at the water meter is off or partially off; 2) screens on the faucets are plugged; or 3) a plumbing problem. Possible causes for low pressure in your area might be 1) a main break in your area; 2) a major fire; 3) water main maintenance work; or 4) water main construction work.

If experiencing low pressure problems, please contact the Meter Department at (219) 462-6174 extension 1322 or e-mail the Distribution Team Leader.

Brown water is caused by iron and other materials stirred up in the water mains. This can be caused by a water main break, Street Department street sweepers pulling water from hydrants, Water Department crews flushing out hydrants, etc.. The water is safe to drink, but do not wash whites, since they will discolor. If you are experiencing this problem, simply turn on any COLD WATER FAUCET (do NOT turn on hot water faucet) and let the cold water run for a few minutes. This should clean out the residue in your service line. If the water does not clear up, please contact the Water Operations Leader at (219) 462-6174 extension 1340.

Q: I just washed my clothes and the whites are orange. Why? And what can I do about it?

Brown water is caused by iron and other materials stirred up in the water mains. This can be caused by a water main break, Street Department street sweepers pulling water from hydrants, Water Department crews flushing out hydrants, etc.. Our office attempts to contact all affected customers when a main break occurs, but we don't always succeed. If you wash and have rust-colored whites, please contact the Flint Lake Treatment Plant at (219) 462-6174 extension 1340. We have a product called "Iron Out" that will remove the discoloring. One of our representatives will deliver a bag of Iron Out to you with a set of instructions.

If the water is cloudy, it will clear up after it sits for a short time. Cloudiness in the water is caused by air in the distribution lines. However, cloudiness that DOES NOT DISSIPATE may be calcium. If you have this problem, please contact the Water Operations Leader at (219) 462-6174 extension 1340.

Q: I am getting white scale on my dishes. What is causing this? How do I get rid of it?

White scales on dishes and fixtures is usually caused by the calcium (or hardness) in the water. Vinegar will usually remove the deposits.

Q: What is the hardness of the water? And what about iron? Fluoride? Chlorine?

There are 17 to 22 grains per gallon of water. Iron levels discharged from the treatment plants are from 0.03 to 0.06 mg/L (milligrams per liter or parts per million). Iron levels can be higher due to the iron pipes in the distribution system. On rare occasions, problems in the filtration process can cause higher levels of iron to be discharged from the treatment plants.

Fluoride is added to our water. The levels of fluoride are kept around 1.0 to 1.3 mg/L (milligrams per liter or parts per million).

Chlorine is added to disinfect the water. Chlorine levels vary depending on the distribution system. The chlorine levels in the water discharged from the treatment plants ranges from 1.2 to 1.5 mg/L (milligrams per liter or parts per million).

This problem depends on temperature conditions. We adjust the amount of chlorine at the plants daily, and when the air temperature gets warmer, we have to increase the chlorine level because heat will dissipate the chlorine. The reason the water smells is because as we adjust the level up and the air temperature cools, more chlorine will remain in the water than if the air temperature had stayed warmer. But there is no harm in drinking it. If you should have any additional questions, please contact the Water Operations Leader at (219) 462-4542 extension 22 or e-mail him.

Q: How do I obtain information on the chemical analysis of the water at the tap?

Please call the Plant Supervisor at (219) 462-6174 extension 1340. Our tours are done at the Flint Lake Treatment Plant I and II located at Flint Lake on the north side of Valparaiso.

Q: I am new to the community. What will my new utility bill look like and what is included on the bill?

Your utility bill includes water, sewer, stormwater, and trash pickup. You will not pay for stormwater and trash pickup if you live outside city limits and will not pay for sewer if you have a septic system.

The billing for water and sewer depends on the size of your water meter and your water consumption. Click here to view / print down our Minimum Bill Table.

All residential customers whose account number begins with the letter R and who have received at least three (3) bills prior to june will receive the summer reduced sewage rate for five (5) months. The charge is based on the average of your December through May consumption. Account numbers starting with R 2 can fill their pools beginning April 15th. Account numbers starting with R 1 or R 3 can fill their pools beginning May 1st. Please call Customer Service at (219) 462-6174 extension 0 with any additional questions.

If your monthly sewage rate is higher than your average sewage rate,then you will receive the summer reduced sewage rate for that month. The charge is based on the average of your December through May consumption and it applies to the five months between April 15th to September 15th (for account numbers starting with R 2) or May 1st to October 1st (for account numbers starting with R 1 or R 3). You must have at least three (3) bills prior to June to receive a Sprinkling Average. Please call Customer Service at (219) 462-6174 extension 0 with any additional questions.

Please call the Accounts Payable Coordinator at (219) 462-6174 extension 1320.

The full amount of the past due bill must be paid in full to avoid disconnection of service. For assistance on paying your bill, contact FIRST CALL FOR HELP, a division of the United Way Agencies , at (219) 464-3583, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. This is a Referral Hotline that is able to provide assistance in may areas and is "free, quick and confidential".

We also now allow Credit Card Payments. These can be made either online or over the phone. The toll-free number is 1-877-278-2205. For additonal information on this service, please check our Credit Card Payment Section.

Our office will keep the deposit for 24 months (2 years). If the customer has not been late more than once in that period, and has never had water shut off for non-payment, our office will refund the deposit in full.

If you are moving from one location in town where you are paying a water bill to another location where you will continue to pay a water bill, please call our office at (219) 462-6174 extension 0 and we will do the transfer over the phone. However, if you are new to the area or have not paid a water bill in the past, you will have to come to our Main Office at 205 Billings Street and sign up for new services. You will be required to pay a customer deposit, sign the service agreement form, and schedule the switchover. You can waive the customer deposit if you decide to sign up for Direct Debit Authorization. If the water is on at that location, our representative will simply take a reading and the Billing Office will switch the account into your name. If the water is off, we will schedule a specific time with you and our representative in order to turn on the water service.