Some water utilities measure the water in cubic feet and others measure it in gallons. What's the difference?
Water meters measure water consumption in either cubic feet or gallons, depending on the make and model. In Des Moines, water meters measure in cubic feet, so this unit of measure is used to generate your water bill. Other communities, such as Ankeny and Pleasant Hill, use gallons.
It's easy to convert cubic feet to gallons by multiplying the number of cubic feet by 7.5 (7.4805 to be precise!). Here's an example:
150 cubic feet X 7.5 gallons per cubic foot = approximately 1125 gallons
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Do you have a program where my payment can be deducted from my bank account each month?
Yes we do! It's called DIRECT PAY. For more information on this program, click on the DIRECT PAY link.
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My water bill has been significantly higher the last couple months. Could this indicate I have a leak somewhere?
Yes, a noticeable increase in water consumption could be an indication of a water leak in your home. One of the most common culprits is the toilet. Even though a toilet isn't running, it can still be leaking water. If you suspect a problem, put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and let it sit for several hours. If the dye has colored the water in the bowl, there is a leak. Also, look inside the tank for water going into the overflow pipe. If a problem is identified, contact a plumber to make repairs.
You may also want to check for dripping faucets. It is amazing how many gallons of water are wasted in this way. A simple washer replacement is often an easy, inexpensive repair that can eliminate drips in faucets.
Another way to check for evidence of leaks is to read your water meter before retiring for the night. Check it again first thing in the morning. If the reading has increased and no water was used during the night, you may have a leak. Remember to account for ice makers, humidifiers, or other appliances that operate during the night hours.
Lastly, never underestimate the amount of water that is consumed for normal, everyday tasks around the home. Here are some average water consumption amounts for routine household tasks:
Shower - 25-50 gallons (5-10 gallons/minute)
Bath - 36 gallons (full tub)
Toilet flush - 5-7 gallons (less with new low-flow toilets!)
Brushing teeth - 2 gallons (tap running)
Hand washing - 2 gallons (tap running)
Shaving - 3-5 gallons (tap running)
Dish washing - 20 gallons (tap running)
Automatic dishwasher - 12 gallons (full cycle)
Clothes washer - 30-60 gallons (full cycle)
Outdoor watering - 5-10 gallons per minute
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What is a stop box? What is it used for? If it is broken, who's responsible for fixing it?
A stop box is a valve located between the water main and your home. Often, you can see a metal cap approximately 4-6 inches in diameter in your lawn near the street. Stop boxes allow DMWW employees to turn off the water to your home. Most often, this is done at the homeowner's request so plumbing repairs can be made or when someone is moving out of the property and wants the water service terminated. On rare occasions, DMWW will turn off the water to a given home due to a payment collection issue. To avoid having your water cut off, please contact us to make payment arrangements if you are unable to pay your bill in a timely fashion. The stop box is owned by the homeowner in the City of Des Moines as well as other central Iowa communities. If it is not operational (after many years, they can corrode and break), the homeowner is responsible for repairing the stop box as well as the service line from the home to the water main. Des Moines Water Works maintains and repairs the water main, as well as the water meter and meter reading equipment.
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What do I do if something is wrong with my water meter?
If your water meter does not seem to be operating properly, or if it is leaking, call DMWW at 515-283-8700 to report the problem. We will ask you several clarifying questions to determine if a service call is needed. If so, we will be happy to set up a mutually convenient time for us to check the meter and solve the problem.
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My friends in other parts of town see a meter reader take a reading each month but I never notice anyone in my neighborhood. Why?
In some parts of Des Moines, there are automatic meter reading systems installed that do not require a meter reader to come to your home each month. These systems generall use a radio signal to provide us with your water meter reading. This information is then used to generate your water bill.
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Can I pay my DMWW bill by credit card?
Pay online from the convenience of your home, or call one of our Customer Service Representatives at 515-283-8700 to make payment by Visa or Mastercard.
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One month last winter, I noticed that my water bill was "estimated" instead of being based on an actual meter reading. Why?
Occasionally, we are unable to read your water meter. This can happen for a variety of reasons, but generally it indicates a problem with your water meter or the meter reading receptacle on the side of your house. In many cases, this corrects itself and we are able to return to reading your meter as normal the next month. When we are unable to obtain an actual meter reading, we calculate an estimate of your typical water usage. Essentially, we add all the water consumption for your residence and divide it by the number of days in that time period. This is your average daily usage. This amount is then multiplied by the number of days in the current billing cycle to determine the estimated billing amount. In most cases, a customer will only receive an estimated bill once or twice. Once an actual read is obtained, the estimated amount is deducted from your account and a new actual bill is generated. Your payments are applied to this new amount and a new balance is calculated.
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I'm moving next month. How much notice do you need to turn off my water service?
Please complete a service request online or call our offices at 515-283-8700 one working day prior to your move to arrange a final water bill at your current address. If you are moving to another address in our service area, please make arrangement for your new address one working day prior to the day you will need water service. In most cases, you do not need to visit our office to transfer water service.
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If I see water in the street, who should I call?
Please call our offices at 515-283-8700 and report it. Our Water Distribution team can determine the cause and arrange for any necessary repairs. With early detection, a repair can be made more quickly.
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How hard is my water? I have installed a new water softener and I need to know the appropriate setting in terms of grains of hardness.
DMWW strives to maintain the total hardness of the drinking water to less than 150 mg/L or 8.76 grains. There are no adverse health effects associated with exceeding this level, however excessive hardness may adversely impact your home plumbing.
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