| Water
Department - FAQ
Water
Home Page || Services
|| Water
Quality ||
Water
Rates || General
Info
||
Why is my water pressure so bad?
What is the hardness of
my water?
What do I do if my pipes freeze in the winter?
What is the source of the
City’s
water supply?
Who is responsible for maintenance of the drinking water
service line to my property?
What
are my options for having my inside water meter read?
Why is my water pressure so bad?
Low
water pressure can be indicative of several problems or
situations. If
water pressure is lower than usual at one source (faucet, tub,
hose, etc.) but sufficient in the rest of the building, it is
safe to assume that the fixture itself and/or the pipe feeding
the fixture needs to be repaired or replaced at the property
owner’s expense. It
could also be something as simple as a clogged faucet screen.
If water pressure is lower than usual over the entire
building, this could indicate a water meter problem, aging or
undersized plumbing (including the service line), or a
significant leak on the service line.
The water department should be contacted should you
experience a decrease in water pressure over the entire
building. Please
call (314) 984-5936 to arrange for a time when maintenance
personnel can assess the situation.
You can learn more about low
water pressure by reading
our checklist.
What is the
hardness of my water?
When you purchase some appliances that require water for
operation (such as dishwashers), most manufacturer ’s suggest that you find out the hardness of your drinking water.
The hardness of Kirkwood’s
drinking water is 7.5 gpg (grains per gallon).
What do I do if my pipes freeze in the winter?
If
your pipes freeze, the first thing to do is locate the
house shut-off valve in case the frozen pipe bursts.
It is usually located on your water service pipeline
immediately after it enters the basement wall.
You should then contact a plumber for repairs.
The Water Department can shut your water off outside in
an emergency only, but there is a charge involved.
If you call for this service during normal working hours,
the charge is $25.00. Overtime
callouts are very expensive.
Therefore, it is best if you can shut your water off
yourself. Feel free
to read our frozen
pipes checklist to learn
more.
What is the source of the
City ’s
water supply?
All of the drinking water in Kirkwood
is purchased from Missouri-American Water Company, which serves
all of St. Louis County. The water originates from the Missouri
River, is treated by Missouri American, purchased
by the City, and redistributed to Kirkwood customers through City
mains. Please refer
to Kirkwood
Water’s Annual Water Quality Report (part
1 and part 2) for more
information about your drinking water.
Who is responsible for maintenance of the drinking water
service line to my property?
Underground water services to individual buildings are not
owned by the City of Kirkwood, but are owned and maintained by
the property owner. Underground water mains that serve entire
neighborhoods are part of the city ’s
distribution system, and the city is therefore responsible for
their maintenance.
What
are my options for having my inside water meter read?
To
accommodate customers’ work schedules, early morning
appointments (7-8 a.m. Monday-Thursday) are available by
calling Customer Service at (314) 822-5843, and Saturday
appointments can be scheduled by calling the Kirkwood Water
Department at (314) 984-5936. Residents can have a
remote
reading device installed at no cost, which would eliminate the
need for having the inside meter read. To do so, call the Kirkwood
Water Department at (314) 984-5936 to schedule its installation.
|
