NEW WATER SERVICE

 

HOMER TOWNSHIP WATER DISTRICTS

MIDLAND Ml 48640

 

WATER COMMITTEE STAFF

 

BOB WINCHESTER, CHAIRMAN -- 631-9169

 BETTY PANKEY, SECRETARY

ALBERT TEW

TOM PRITCHARD

ROLLIN YEAKLE

 

PLUMBING INSPECTOR

TED VAN WERT 631-9645

 

CITY WATER DEPARTMENT 837-3341

 

STEPS TO GETTING NEW WATER SERVICE

 

INTRODUCTION

 

You, as a consumer of a Homer Township Water District, are privileged to be served by quality potable water. Your water originates from Lake Huron approximately one mile off shore from White Stone Point. The intake is at a depth of fifty feet. The water is sold to the City of Midland by the Saginaw-Midland Water Supply Company. The water is treated by the Midland Water Department who in turn distributes the treated water through the city. Homer Township Water Districts receive treated water from the City Water Department.

 

Water is a precious resource and must be used with diligence, not only to conserve the resource, but also to reduce the financial burden upon each of you as customers of city water.

 

Water service consists of delivering quality water to you, the customer, at your home or business. Water mains are buried underground at the edge of the street or road. A pipe called a service line, installed by the customer, carries water from the water main into your home or business, Water is sold by volume and is measured by a water meter that is located in your home or business. There is a valve located in a round container called a curb box that will be on or near the property line. All installations are equipped with a curb box that is located between the water main and the service line. The curb box is usually level with the ground and has a bolt on the cover. The word WATER may be embossed on the cover. The curb stop is used only by City Water District Personnel.  If the service line is longer than 300 feet the city requires a service pit near the Water main.  A service pit is a box that extends into the ground below the frost line which contains the water meter that normally is located in the home or business.

 

MAKING APPLICATION FOR WATER CONNECTION PERMIT/PLUMBING INSPECTION (DO NOT APPLY UNTIL YOU HAVE RECIEVED NOTICE FROM HOMER TWP)

 

A. Water Connection Applications may be obtained from:

 

MIDLAND CITY WATER OFFICE, CITY HALL

333 W. Ellsworth Street

Midland, Michigan 48640

 

OFFICE HOURS:         8:00 A.M. TO 12:00 (noon)

1:00 P.M, TO 5:00 P.M

PHONE NUMBER:               (517) 837-3341

 

BEFORE INSTALLING THE WATER SERVICE LINE OR DOING ANY PLUMBING WORK WITHIN THE BUILDING, A PLUMBING PERMIT MUST BE OBTAINED BY THE OWNER OR BY THE CONTRACTOR DOING THE WORK ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER. 

 

Call the  Homer Township plumbing inspector - TED VAN WERT at 989-631-9645.

 

 

 

 

B.  TAPS

 

Each parcel in the District will receive a 1" tap and a 5/8" meter.  This should be sufficient for most residences. If you have questions about the service line size, call the plumbing inspector - TED VAN WERT 631-9645.

 

LARGER TAPS ARE HANDLED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.

 

The application includes the inspections (outside and inside), yoke, meter installation and a remote reading device.

 

EACH BUILDING TO BE CONNECTED TO THE SYSTEM SHALL HAVE ITS OWN APPLICATION, INDIVIDUAL SERVICE LINE, SHUT-OFF, AND METER EXCEPT QUALIFIED ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AND FARM BUILDINGS.

INSTALLING WATER SERVICE LINE

 

A. SIZE AND MATERlAL OF SERVICE LINE

 

1. The water service line from the right-of-way, adjacent to the road where the main is located, to the building will be installed by the property owner. The size of the service pipe required is determined by the type and number of fixtures and the length of the service line: (Enclosed is a service line sizing chart to help you to determine this.)

 

2. Connections into existing plumbing outside the building will be permitted, without a special permit, as long as they meet acceptable plumbing standards.

 

3. The service pipe must be either TYPE K or TYPE L copper or APPROVED PE (polyethylene.) Approved plastic pipe type 3406, or 3408 SDR7, ASTM D 2239 polyethylene with a pressure rating minimum of 160 psi.  200 psi may be used.

B. WHO MAY INSTALL THE SERVICE LINE

 

The service may be installed by the PROPERTY OWNER PERSONALLY or he may contract to have it installed.  Persons other than master plumbers may contract for the excavation ONLY, so long as the actual plumbing connections are made by a master plumber or the property owner.

 

C. HOW THE SERVICE LINE MUST BE INSTALLED

 

The service line must be a minimum of FIVE FEET DEEP in sodded areas and SIX FEET DEEP under driveways or paving. There should be a minimum of joints in the service line. Polyethylene plastic pipe comes in coils for convenient use.

 

Point of termination at road will be at least 5' (feet) from the driveway edge.

 

Polyethylene service line should be snaked in the trench to allow for the high amount of expansion and contraction of this material.  Joints in polyethylene must be approved brass compression fittings.  Plastic inserts with steel bands ARE NOT APPROVED. Soldered joints ARE NOT APPROVED at any joints before the meter.  At the right-of-way line the service pipe should be brought up at least THREE (3) Feet above the surface of the ground.  NOTIFY Miss Dig 1-800-482-7171 to locate the utilities BEFORE beginning excavation.  They usually need at least three day's notice.  Location of service line shall be such as to allow 10 feet separation from any sewage disposal facility if possible.

D. SERVICE LINE INSPECTION

 

The service line must be inspected in the trench by the Plumbing inspector BEFORE IT IS BACK FILLED.  If the line is bored, the inspection must be made during the boring operation.

 

A second inspection is also required on ALL INSIDE plumbing before the water is turned on.  CALL the Homer Township Plumbing Inspector at 631-9645 to make arrangements for your service line inspection.  State the time you expect to be ready.  Calling ahead the day before helps in scheduling, but you MUST allow at least FOUR (4) HOURS NOTICE FOR THE INSPECTOR. 

 

Note:     The inspectors office hours are 8 AM to 4 PM.

  Inspections are made Monday through Friday, 9: 00AM - 4:00 PM.

              Please call the day before if possible or between 8:00 - 9:00 AM that morning.

 

ANY INSPECTIONS OUTSIDE THESE TIME PERIODS WILL HAVE TO BE ARRANGED AND AGREED TO BY THE INSPECTOR (IN ADVANCE) DEPENDING UPON HIS AVAILABILITY.

 

E. METER LOCATION

 

The meter MUST BE LOCATED INSIDE WITHIN FIVE (5) TO EIGHT (8) FEET of where the service line becomes exposed after entering the building. The meter must be ACCESSIBLE for reading, removal or maintenance by the water service personnel. It shall not be located in a crawl space, under stair landings, in an unheated garage, hidden in closets or behind paneling or cabinets. It is the OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY to keep the meter from freezing.  A remote outside reader will be installed so that the meter can be read from outside the building.  In most cases, this outside reader will be located adjacent to the electric meter.  At the time the meter is installed it will be necessary for the Water District to run a small wire from the water meter to the outside reader.

 

F. METER PLUMBING

 

A meter yoke will be supplied by the City Water department with the completion of an application.  This yoke is to be installed by the HOMEOWNER or a MASTER PLUMBER.  The yoke must be positioned so that the meter sits in a HORIZONTAL position.  The owner is to furnish two (2) Ball or Gate Valves and if nipples are required to hook yoke to gate valves, they must be of brass material. One valve is to be installed just below the yoke and the other is to be installed just above the yoke. This arrangement will permit meter removal without water damage to the Owner.

 

G. BUILDING PLUMBING AND FINAL INSPECTION

 

The building plumbing must meet the following plumbing requirements BEFORE final approval:

 

I. Inspection of water service pipe at time of installation prior to covering.

2 Anti-syphon valves on all water closets (toilets). Relocation of all faucets presently

     located below the flood level of the fixture served. Vacuum breakers may be installed

     in lieu of relocating faucets, if the vacuum breaker is located above top rim of the fixture.

3. Install vacuum breakers to all swimming pools, underground sprinkling systems, farm

     systems, and other similar locations.

4. Eliminate all cross connections (physically disconnect) between wells and other private

     water systems and Homer Water District.

5. Electrical service grounding should be reviewed if it is currently connected to cold

     water piping and a new plastic water line is installed.

6. No drain cocks or valves on underground lines are permitted.

 

H. METER INSTALLATION AND WATER TURN ON

 

A call to the plumbing inspector for the final inspection will initiate a meter set from the City. If water service is to be turned on in someone else's name other than the owner, a rental deposit is required as per Homer Ordinance #3500. Call City Water Office for details, 837-3341

 

I. SAFETY RELIEF VALVE

 

A pressure and temperature relief valve must be installed in the top of all water heaters. The pressure relief is to be set at 125 pounds per square inch and the temperature relief valve is to be set at 210F.

 

1. BACK FLOW PREVENTION

 

In order to protect the quality of the water system, no other source of water is allowed to be connected to any part of the plumbing served by the Homer Township Water District water. Existing well pumps must be disconnected from the building plumbing serviced by the municipal water system. Hot water heating boilers must be equipped with an approved back flow prevention device.

 

K. WATER USAGE

 

Water is a valuable commodity that costs you money. Use it thriftily. The following table will provide you with guidance as to the amount of water various appliances will utilize in their operation.

 

Normal use*

Shower

Water running

24 gallons

Brushing Teeth

Tap running

10 gallons

Tub Bath

Full

36 gallons

Shaving

Tap running

20 gallons

Dishwashing

Tap running

30 gallons

Automatic Dishwasher

Full cycle

16 gallons

Washing hands

Tap running

2 gallons

Toilet flushing

Depending on tank size

5-7 gallons

Washing Machine Full cycle

top water level

60 gallons

Outdoor watering

Average hose

10 gallons per min

 

 

* Information made available from Ford Meter Company

 

Fix dripping faucets promptly. Nearly 2 gallons can be wasted per day of dripping.

Running toilets can waste 4 gallons per hour. Keep them in good repair.

 

III. CHARGES FOR WATER SERVICE

 

Charges for water service are based upon your water meter reading and the number of gallons of water that pass through your meter in a given amount of time. Current water usage charge is $1.04 per one thousand gallons.

 

Water Bills are sent to each customer four times a year.

 

A.  METER READING

 

In order to prepare the water bills, each water meter is read four times a year. All water meters are equipped with a remote reading device which is mounted conveniently to read from outside of the building. The remote reader is connected to your water meter through a low voltage wire. The remote reader will track the reading on your water meter as it advances.

 

B.  BILLING

 

Water bills are sent to each customer at the address you specify each quarter.

 

Water charges are shown in the table below. Rate is $1.04 per 1000 gallon.

 

The average usage for a family of 4 (four) is 20,000 to 25,000 gallons per quarter.

 

EXAMPLE: For a 5/8" meter (furnished)

                        $20.80 ($1.04 x 20,000/1000 gal) - CITY charge

                          24.36 (readiness to serve charge) - CITY charge

                          22.50 (Homer Township water district maintenance fee)

 

$67.66 per quarter

 

Recommended Minimum Water Service Line Sizes *

 

 

Distance From Street to Usage

 

Peak

 

 

 

 

 

Usage

0-200'

200'-400'

400'-600'

600'-800'

800'-1000'

0-4 gpm

1"

1"

1"

1-1/4"

1-1/4"

4-6 gpm

1"

1"

1-1/4"

1-1/4"

1-1/2"

6-8 gpm

1"

1-1/4"

1-1/4"

1-1/2"

1-1/2"

 

*

-Using copper water service material (c = 130)

-Size for limiting pressure loss to < 8 psi friction loss

-Usage points greater than 15' higher than road may require larger services

-Peak residential usage (3 people) is approximately 3-6 gpm

 

02/19/97

Wade-Trim.jrb

hmr200l.service

Revised 12-23-2002

Homer Water Committee