Genesee County Water System

General Information

All municipal water, including bottled varieties, may reasonably contain minimal amounts of certain contaminants. The presence of these substances doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For comprehensive information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Municipal Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or visit http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants.

Certain populations may be more vulnerable to water impurities than others. People with compromised immune systems—such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, individuals with HIV/AIDS, elderly residents, and infants—may face increased infection risks. These individuals should seek guidance from healthcare providers regarding their water consumption.

Water sources (tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or underground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials, while potentially picking up substances from animal or human activities.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants: viruses and bacteria from sewage facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants: salts and metals occurring naturally or resulting from urban runoff, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides: from various sources including agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Radioactive contaminants: naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining
• Organic chemical contaminants: including synthetic and volatile organic compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems

To ensure tap water safety, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment enforces regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. FDA regulations establish similar limits for bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection.

Lead in Municipal Water

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health concerns, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Your home may have higher lead levels than others in your community due to plumbing materials. If concerned, consider having your water tested. To minimize potential lead exposure, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking after it has been sitting for several hours. Additional information on lead in water, testing methods, and exposure reduction is available from the Safe Municipal Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

1. How can I become a Connecticut Water customer?
   First determine if we service your area by checking our service territory map. If we cover your city, call us at 1-800-286-5700.
2. How do I open an account?
   Contact customer service at 1-800-286-5700 with the following information:
   • Service address
   • Name(s) for the account
   • Contact phone number(s)
   • Requested start date (no weekends or holidays)
   • Whether you're purchasing or renting the property
   Renters must complete a Billing Authorization Form. Most residential customers receive quarterly bills, with your first bill generated during the next scheduled meter reading in your neighborhood.
3. How do I close my account?
   Contact customer service at 1-800-286-5700 and provide:
   • Your account number or service address
   • The date to remove service from your name
   • Your forwarding address for the final bill
   • A current daytime phone number
   Our field service representative will visit your address between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on the requested date. If a new customer has requested service at the same address, we'll leave the water on and take a meter reading for billing. Otherwise, service will be turned off for a $40 fee. Your final bill will be mailed after the final reading or may be available when your account is closed.
4. How often do you bill?
   Residential customers receive bills quarterly (every three months), while larger commercial and industrial customers typically receive monthly bills.
5. Why is my water bill higher than expected?
   Higher bills often result from increased water usage. Adding appliances like washers or dishwashers, watering new lawns, filling swimming pools, or using irrigation systems can significantly increase consumption. If you haven't changed your usage patterns, check for household leaks. Our "Leaks Cost Big Dollars Fact Sheet" explains how to locate leaks and the water waste they cause. Higher bills may also occur if your billing period exceeded 90 days or if previous "estimated" bills are being reconciled with actual readings. For questions about your bill or usage, call Customer Service at 1-800-286-5700.
6. Can you provide tips to reduce my water bill?
   Visit our indoor and outdoor water conservation webpage where you'll find helpful tips and the Alliance for Water Efficiency's Water Calculator to identify potential savings throughout your home.
7. How do I read my bill?
   Visit our "How to read your bill" webpage for a detailed explanation of each line item. For additional questions, call Customer Service at 1-800-286-5700.
8. What is an 'estimated' bill?
   Bills are estimated when we cannot obtain an actual meter reading due to:
   • Indoor meters with no access or malfunctioning outdoor reading equipment
   • Blocked or covered meter pits
   • Damaged meters
   • Reading difficulties when a dial is between digits
   • Meter reading equipment failure
   If we left a meter reading card because we couldn't access your meter, please follow the instructions to take the reading yourself. This allows us to issue an adjusted bill. Keep areas around meter pits or outdoor reading devices clear of debris and vegetation. Report damaged reading devices to 1-800-286-5700 to schedule repairs.
9. What payment options are available?
   Pay online at https://ctwaterbillpay.osgview.com using debit/credit cards (MasterCard or Visa) or checking accounts. You can also enroll in E-Billing, set up automatic payments, and view account information. Alternatively, you can arrange payments through your bank to our lockbox processor.