Lake County East Water Subdistrict

Source Water Assessment and Protection. This report for the Lake County-East Public Water Program was developed as part of Ohio's Source Water Assessment and Protection System. This initiative aims to identify protection zones and provide guidance on reducing contamination risks to water sources within these areas. The program's objective is to ensure long-term access to clean, safe water for current and future Ohio residents.

The Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 established the national Source Water Assessment and Protection Program, focusing on water sources for all public water systems across the United States. A public water system is defined as a facility providing water to 15 or more service connections or regularly serving at least 25 people daily for a minimum of 60 days annually, whether from underground wells, springs, or surface water sources like streams, lakes, or reservoirs. This program doesn't address private residential wells or cisterns. Ohio has approximately 5,800 public water systems.

Lake County operates the East Subdistrict community public water system serving a population of 29,511 through roughly 9,615 service connections. The treatment plant draws water from Lake Erie with a design capacity of six million gallons daily, though current average production is 3.18 million gallons per day.

The water source protection area for Lake County-East Subdistrict has been mapped by Ohio EPA with assistance from Lake County Water System personnel. They've inventoried facilities, activities, and land uses that could potentially contaminate the water source. Threats to Lake Erie include municipal wastewater discharges, industrial waste, home sewage disposal systems, air pollution deposition, combined sewer overflows, urban and agricultural runoff, oil and gas operations, and accidental spills from rail, vehicular traffic, commercial shipping, and recreational boating.

Protective strategies include establishing effective emergency response plans and educating responsible parties about potential contamination sources. Regular intake monitoring and coordination with U.S. Coast Guard officials regarding spill response are recommended. According to the Ohio Lake Erie Commission, Lake Erie provides exceptional quality drinking water that requires protection from further degradation by point and nonpoint pollution sources. Local watershed planning efforts are underway through Grand River Partners, and additional Lake Erie management measures are being implemented through the Lakewide Management Plan.

Where is your office located? 119 Riverside Avenue (Route 72), Bristol, CT (Adjacent to the Carousel Museum).

What are your office hours?
Office: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday (June 1st through Labor Day - Friday 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM)
Drive-Up Window: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday (June 1st through Labor Day - Friday 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
Meter Shop: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM Tuesday; 7:00 AM to 12:30 PM Friday

How is my water bill calculated?
Your water bill is based on actual water usage during a three-month billing cycle. We take meter readings quarterly and subtract the previous reading to determine consumption in cubic feet. This consumption figure multiplied by the cubic foot rate determines your bill.

When is a bill considered late and what is the penalty?
A bill becomes past due after 30 days. The penalty is 5% on the unpaid balance with a minimum of $1.50 per service.

What's the average water bill?
This is difficult to answer precisely as everyone's water usage habits differ significantly.

I'm selling my home. How do I transfer the bill?
When selling your property, your Attorney should contact our office at least three days before your closing date. At that time, we'll obtain a meter reading that will generate a final bill provided to your Attorney for payment at closing.