Water: Billing

You may obtain a hearing by submitting an online Dispute Your Bill form (see below) or in writing:

You will then be notified of the time and place of the hearing. You have the right to inspect all Youngstown Water Department records regarding your account prior to your hearing. A hearing may not be requested for the sole purpose of preventing the disconnection of water service.

You may be represented by an attorney and you may present your own evidence if you so choose. Your water service will not be disconnected for the disputed amount while the hearing is pending. However, you MUST remain current on subsequent billings or you will be subject to collection action up to and including disconnection of service. After the hearing, the final decision of the hearing officer will be rendered and confirmed to you in writing. The decision of the hearing officer shall be binding upon all parties.

If you experience a large water consumption event and have reason to believe that it should be eligible for a sewer charge reduction, fill out and submit the following form:

If you have an ongoing water consumption application that does not involve drainage into the City sewer system (e.g. garden or lawn irrigation system), you may request a separate meter, without sewer fees, for that application. Refer to the form below:

How do I read my meter?

Understanding your water meter can help you track the amount of water used and also help you detect leaks. Reading your meter on a regular basis is an important water conservation tool.

Your water meter reads exactly like a car odometer. Read all the numbers from left to right.

Meter readings can be obtained only from the water meter – not the outside touch-read. The outside touch-read does not display your meter reading. It only transmits electronic code to a handheld receiver. This eliminates the room for human error.

You can calculate the difference between readings to determine the volume of water used. Your bill shows usage in terms of 100 cubic feet or 1 CCF.

Checking for Leaks

Make sure all faucets and appliances that use water in your home are shut off.

Your meter will have a triangular or round disc that is called a "leak detector".

This detector rotates when water is passing through the meter. If you see the detector moving, even if it is moving very slowly, this means there is water being used in the home. Even slow leaks can become very costly over a period of time.

Another way to check for leaks is to write down the numbers and location of the dial indicator. Do not use any water for at least 2 hours, then read the meter again. If the numbers have changed, you may have a leak and should investigate further.

Many customers often ask “If my water bill is too high, is my meter bad?” A meter is a mechanical device much like a motor. However, after many years of service, meters may record less than the actual amount used. It is rare for a meter to register "high" or "fast". After time, the device slows down until it will not function any more, completely stops and a meter change-out is necessary.

Don't let your toilet waste water.

A silent leak in your toilet can waste several thousand gallons of high quality water each year and place an unnecessary demand on your sewer system or septic tank. Usually, you cannot hear the leak because it runs slowly out of the tank.

Follow these simple steps to see if your toilet leaks:

1. Lift the lid from your toilet tank.
2. Place 3 or 4 drops of ordinary food coloring into the tank. Do not use dye, as it could stain your toilet.
3. Do not flush or disturb the toilet for 1-2 hours or longer.
4. At the end of the waiting period, observe the toilet bowl. If the color you placed in the tank shows up in the bowl, you have a leak.

How do you fix a leaking toilet? Most frequently, leaks in toilets are caused by a defective flush valve. A flush valve is a flap or ball plunger device that is supposed to act as a stopper in the bottom of your toilet tank. After several years and many flushings, the stopper can be knocked out of shape or simply become worn out. To solve the problem and save water, see your local hardware dealer or plumber and obtain an inexpensive and easy to install replacement valve or complete replacement kit.

It's easy to use a lot of water.

Here are some everyday activities and the approximate amount of water each uses:

• Laundry: 20 to 45 gal. per load
• Shower: 20 to 30 gal. per shower
• Tub bath: 30 to 40 gal. per bath
• Dishwasher: 10 to 30 gal. per load
• Toilet: 3.5 to 7 gal. per flush
• Drinking water: 1 to 2 qt. per day per person
• Garbage disposal: 5 gal. per minute of use
• Car washing: 5 gal. per minute of use
• Lawn watering: 7 to 43 gal. per 100 sq. ft. (depends on region of the country)

If you've done your homework and you still can't figure out where the water is going, give us a call at (330) 742-8749 and we'll see what we can do to help.