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What is the bimonthly service charge on my water bill?
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| The District's service charge is levied against all customers in the District on a bimonthly basis based on the size of each meter on the customer's premises. The charge is designed to recover costs which do not vary with consumption. These costs include meter reading and billing customers for each bimonthly period, a portion of the District's debt service costs, and maintenance and replacement of meters and service lines in the distribution system. The charge is in addition to the District's commodity charge which is based on the amount of water consumed. |
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How do I shut off my water?
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| The water coming into your home is controlled by the house valve, which can be found ahead of the water spigot in your front yard. (If you live in an older home, the house valve may be located elsewhere.) The valve handle is usually red, grey or green and is shaped like a wagon wheel. Should you ever need to shut off your water, simply turn the house valve clockwise. You will probably want to close the valve if a water pipe in your home ever breaks to prevent water damage and flooding. If you discover that your house lacks water, the first thing you should do is check the house valve to see if someone has accidentally closed it. To open the valve, turn it counterclockwise. To make sure you can readily control the flow of water to your home, you should periodically test your house valve. If it does not turn or spins freely, it should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. A plumber can do this work quite easily. |
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What are the white spots left on my car after I wash it?
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| These spots are composed of calcium carbonate, a mineral commonly found in water. This is the same mineral found in many calcium supplements sold at your local drug store. |
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Where is my water meter?
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| Generally, water meters are found near the curb in front of the home. You should easily be able to find your water meter by walking the property line in front of your home. The meter will be covered by a lid labeled "water" or "ACWD." If you have difficulty finding your meter, please call ACWD Customer Service and an ACWD representative will assist you in locating it. |
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How do I start or stop my water service?
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To begin or cancel service, the person who is responsible for the account should call ACWD Customer Service, or visit our business office at 43885 South Grimmer Boulevard, 24 hours before the change is to be made.
You will need your current address and the new address to which you are moving, a daytime telephone number, and the date that you want the service change to begin. There is an Account Establishment Field Charge of $33.00 if a trip to the field is necessary. |
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How do I read my water meter?
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| CLICK HERE to see a brief tutorial about how to read your water meter. |
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How often does ACWD replace my water meter?
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The primary source of revenue for the Alameda County Water District is through the water consumption of residential customers who have 5/8” water meters. These meters make up about 90% of all District meters and generate about half of all consumption revenues. Economical operation of these meters is therefore an integral part of the District’s effort to provide high quality water at reasonable costs.
Since water meters are mechanical devices, their accuracy decreases over time which means a corresponding loss of potential revenue. To gain additional accuracy, however, would mean replacing the meters at additional cost.
How old does a meter have to be before it makes economical sense to replace it? To answer this question, the District used statistical sampling methods to determine meter accuracies over time. An economical analysis was then performed to determine an optimal replacement age. Together with operational factors, the optimum age at which to replace plastic meters in the District was found to be approximately 15 years old. |
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Whose Pipes Are Whose?
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The Alameda County Water District is responsible for pipes on the "street side" of the water meter, including all service lines and water mains extending throughout the community. ACWD is also responsible for the water meter itself. If you notice a water leak in the street or in the vicinity of your water meter, please call ACWD Operations to report it.
The property owner is generally responsible for all pipes and plumbing on the "customer side" of the water meter. This includes the interior plumbing of the home, the outside irrigation system, and the area where the property's water system connects to the water meter. |
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Where can I pay my water bill?
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| CLICK HERE to see a list of locations where you may pay your ACWD water bill. |
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What are the options for paying my ACWD water bill?
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| ACWD offers a variety of ways to pay your water bill. For a complete list of options, please CLICK HERE. |
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When is my bill due?
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| All bills are owed and payable by the due date listed on the Statement for Water Service. |
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