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Utilities Field Maintenance

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1. I have low pressure. What should I do?

1. Check your water softener as it may need to be put in bypass. 
2. Check water meter and make sure it’s not spinning. If the meter leak indicator is turning you may have a leak in your home or just outside the meter box causing low pressure.

2. In the case of an emergency, how do I shut my meter off?

In the case of an emergency, the meter may be shut off inside the meter box by closing the “shutoff valve” so the two eyelets are together.  Turn so the eyelets are not together when turning the water back on.

3. What is a manhole?

Manholes are vertical underground confined spaces used by utility personnel as a point of access to a sewer system. 

Sewer systems are built underground with pipes that carry waste from homes and other buildings to a place of treatment or disposal. Part of maintaining a sewer system is providing frequent inspection, cleaning and repairs. Utility crews use manholes to gain closer access to pipes or other parts of the underground system to meet those needs.

4. Why are fire hydrants painted different colors?

Most fire hydrants are color coded to let the fire department know how much water they can extract from the water system without damaging the water pipes or the pumps on their trucks.  The bonnets & caps are painted to let them know what to set their pumps on.  Blue = 1,500 GMP, Green = 1,000 to 1,499 GPM, Orange = 500 to 999 GPM & 499 GPM & less will be Red.

5. What is an air release valve (ARV)?

An Air Release Valve is a valve the releases air that builds up in the transmission mains. They are placed at the high points in the transmission lined as wastewater rises to the top.  If the air becomes trapped in the lines it can actually block and shut down flow.  These air release valves are on reclaimed water, water, and wastewater lines and can be above ground or below ground.  When they are above ground, they are located in color coded boxes, green for wastewater, blue for water and pantone purple for reclaimed water.

6. What is a backflow?

Backflow is the undesired reversal of flow of water and/or other substance into the potable water supply, via a cross-connection, due to a change in pressure caused by either Backpressure or Back siphonage. Backpressure is a type of backflow condition that exists when the pressure in the downstream side of the customer’s piping system becomes elevated greater than the supply pressure at the potable water system. Back siphonage is a type of backflow condition that exists when the pressure in the potable water supply system becomes lower than atmospheric pressure (14.7 psi).

7. What is a cross connection?

A cross-connection is an actual or potential link between the potable water supply (water safe for human consumption) and a non-potable source (any other type of liquid, gas or substance not fit for consumption and that can affect water quality). A cross-connection can be avoided by eliminating the link between the two sources. If the link cannot be removed, then the potable water supply must be protected through the use of a backflow prevention assembly.

8. How do I get my water shut off during an emergency?

Call Pasco County Utilities Customer Information and Services at (727) 847-8131 during business hours or (727) 847-8144 during non-business hours to report any utilities related emergencies.

Emergency Telephone Number (AFTER-HOURS EMERGENCY REPAIRS ONLY): (727) 847-8144

9. Why do water suppliers need to control cross-connections and protect their public water systems against backflow?

Backflow into a public water system can pollute or contaminate the water in that system (i.e., backflow into a public water system can make the water in that system unusable or unsafe to drink), and each water supplier has a responsibility to provide water that is usable and safe to drink under all foreseeable circumstances. Furthermore, consumers generally have absolute faith that water delivered to them through a public water system is always safe to drink. For these reasons, each water supplier must take reasonable precautions to protect its public water system against backflow.

10. What is a backflow preventer?

A backflow preventer is a means or mechanism to prevent backflow. The basic means of preventing backflow is an air gap, which either eliminates a cross-connection or provides a barrier to backflow. The basic mechanism for preventing backflow is a mechanical backflow preventer, which provides a physical barrier to backflow. The principal types of mechanical backflow preventer are the reduced-pressure principle assembly, the pressure vacuum breaker assembly, and the double check valve assembly. A secondary type of mechanical backflow preventer is the residential dual check valve.

11. What is an air gap?

An air gap is a vertical, physical separation between the end of a water supply outlet and the flood-level rim of a receiving vessel. This separation must be at least twice the diameter of the water supply outlet and never less than one inch. An air gap is considered the maximum protection available against backpressure backflow or back siphonage but is not always practical and can easily be bypassed.

12. What is a reduced principle assembly (RP)?

An RP is a mechanical backflow preventer that consists of two independently acting, spring-loaded check valves with a hydraulically operating, mechanically independent, spring-loaded pressure differential relief valve between the check valves and below the first check valve. It includes shutoff valves at each end of the assembly and is equipped with test cocks. An RP is effective against backpressure backflow and back siphonage and may be used to isolate health or non-health hazards.

13. What is a pressure vacuum breaker assembly (PVB)?

A PVB is a mechanical backflow preventer that consists of an independently acting, spring-loaded check valve and an independently acting, spring-loaded, air inlet valve on the discharge side of the check valve. It includes shutoff valves at each end of the assembly and is equipped with test cocks. A PVB may be used to isolate health or non-health hazards but is effective against back siphonage only.

14. What is a double check valve assembly (DC)?

A DC is a mechanical backflow preventer that consists of two independently acting, spring-loaded check valves. It includes shutoff valves at each end of the assembly and is equipped with test cocks. A DC is effective against backpressure backflow and back siphonage but should only be used to isolate non-health hazards.

15. What is a residential dual check valve (RDC)?

A RDC is similar to a DC in that it is a mechanical backflow preventer consisting of two independently acting, spring-loaded check valves. However, it usually does not include shutoff valves, may or may not be equipped with test cocks or ports, and is generally less reliable than a DC. A RDC is effective against backpressure backflow and back siphonage but should only be used to isolate non-health hazards and is intended for use only in water service connections to single-family homes.

16. Why do backflow preventers have to be tested periodically?

Mechanical backflow preventers have internal seals, springs, and moving parts that are subject to fouling, wear, or fatigue. Also, mechanical backflow preventers and air gaps can be bypassed. Therefore, all backflow preventers have to be tested periodically to ensure that they are functioning properly. A visual check of air gaps is sufficient, but mechanical backflow preventers have to be tested with properly calibrated gauge equipment.

17. Where can I get more information about cross-connection control?

One excellent reference manual is the third (2004) edition of the American Water Works Association's (AWWA's) Manual M14, Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control, which is available from the AWWA Bookstore; 6666 West Quincy Avenue; Denver, Colorado 80235; 800/926-7337; or visit the AWWA website. Another excellent reference manual is the ninth (1993) edition of the University of Southern California's Manual of Cross-Connection Control, which is available from the Foundation for Cross- Connection Control and Hydraulic Research; University of Southern California; KAP-200 University Park MC-2531; Los Angeles, California 90089-2531; 213/740-2032.

18. What is a lateral cleanout?

A pipe with a cap that provides access to your sewer lateral and is located outside of your home in the front or back yard. Cleanouts typically go unnoticed until there is a problem. They look like capped pipes sticking a few inches above the ground either white or black in color.

19. What is a private lateral?

A private sewer lateral is an underground pipe that conveys wastewater from your home to the Pasco county sanitary sewer system. Typically, the private sewer lateral goes from your home to the county sewer main in the street or easement, which can be in the backyard.

20. Who is responsible for the maintenance of a private sewer lateral?

The property owner is responsible for all maintenance, operation, cleaning, repair and reconstruction of the private sewer lateral from the home to the point of connection with the County sewer main.

21. What can be wrong with a private sewer lateral?

Over time, private sewer laterals can crack, become disjointed or displaced, and allow tree roots or debris to build up. These defects cause blockages and building backups, overflows into the environment, and rainwater infiltration into the sewer system.

22. How do I know if there is something wrong with my private sewer lateral?

Private sewer laterals are underground, so most people won’t see a problem at the ground surface. Older private sewer laterals and laterals in the vicinity of trees or large bushes are more likely to have problems. A local plumber can inspect private sewer laterals by using a video camera to look for cracks, joint separation, root intrusion, blockages, and pipe sags.

23. How often should I perform maintenance on my private sewer lateral?

Private building lateral maintenance depends on several factors including age of pipe, pipe material, and site. It is generally recommended to have older private sewer laterals inspected and cleaned every couple years. Most plumbers can inspect and clean a private sewer lateral.

24. What are the consequences of not maintaining my private sewer lateral?

Private sewer laterals develop defects over time and contribute to sewer backups into the building, environmental pollution, more expensive private sewer lateral repairs, and more expensive costs for Pasco County treatment plants.

25. What are the types of manholes?

There are three different types of manholes: shallow, normal and deep. “Normal” manholes are typically 4- to 5-feet deep and wide enough for the average person to fit in. "Shallow" manholes are 2- to 3-feet deep, often placed at the start of a sewer branch and in areas with low traffic. Manholes with a depth greater than 5-feet are considered "deep" and usually have an entry method like a ladder built-in, as well as a heavier cover.

26. Why aren’t there any fire hydrants in my subdivision?

According to the fire protection fire codes, fire hydrants cannot be installed on any water main smaller than 6’’ in size as they will not support the flow that would be needed to fight a fire using a fire trucks pumping system.  Many of our older subdivisions were designed with water mains smaller than 6’’ in size.  These smaller systems were operated off of an independent well system for their subdivision.

27. Why are there blue markers in the road by fire hydrants?

The blue reflective markers are installed in the roadway across from fire hydrants to make it easier for the firemen to locate the fire hydrants at night.

28. Why is there blue paint on the sidewalk or roadway?

Blue paint is used to mark the location of the valve for the purpose of isolating the system in case of an emergency water break.

29. Why do you install concrete pads on some valves and not others?

We have two types of valves within our system. We have square nut and handwheel valves.  We only install the concrete pads on the square nut valves as this identifies the valve so that our crew(s) can use the correct key to exercise the valve(s) and or turn the valve(s) off and on.  We try to isolate as few homes as possible when we have an emergency repair or upgrade to our system. When we plan an upgrade to our system, we go in ahead of time and test the system to make sure what streets we will have effected.

30. There is water outside my meter box. What do I do?

Verify that that meter indicator is not spinning.  If not spinning, contact Pasco County Utilities Customer Information & Services at (727) 847-8144.

31. My meter box/lid is damaged. Who do I call to have it replaced?

Contact Pasco County Utilities Customer Information & Services at (727) 847-8144.

32. What is the device on my meter in the box?

The device on the end of the meter is called a dual check.  A dual check is used for precautionary reasons when reclaim water/or well water is used for irrigation.

33. What is a water meter?

A meter is a mechanical device engineered to register the consumption of water through the device.

34. How does my water meter work?

Meters have a measuring chamber inside that that has a predetermined volume that when water passes through, the oscillating disk measures the flow thru the register endpoint to show your usage in “Gallons”.  

35. If I have a high bill, is there a way I can check for a leak?

The short answer is yes, that being said, leak detection can be at times difficult to determine what the source of the leak is or how to address the issue.

As an example, the picture below of the meter register face that shows the yellow arrow pointing to the red circular star on your meter register is a leak detector. This leak detector is capable of measuring down to 1/100th of a gallon of water passing thru your meter per the meter manufacturer. This can be a useful tool to determine if a leak is present, but you must be absolutely sure that no water is being used past the meter or a static water condition to get a true result. We advise contacting us prior if you feel you may have a leak to assist and educate you on how to trouble shoot your possible issue. 

36. What is the most common misconception about water meters?

One misconception is that we as your water provider can alter or change how your water meter reads your water usage. Water MUST pass through the meter in order for the meter to register any usage. Water meters are mechanical and subject to friction. As water meters age or subjected to extremely high usage, the water passing through the meter causes friction. Friction wears on the internal measuring chamber and over time can and usually does slow the meter down causing a loss of accuracy which always works to the customer’s advantage. For this reason and to be “good stewards of our precious water resources” we as your water provider will replace most meters on a 10-year cycle as part of our maintenance program.   

Replacing water meters on a 10-year cycle assures both you the consumer and we as your water provider that the water used is accounted for and billed accurately. 

37. Who is responsible for my water meter?

Once a water or reclaimed meter is installed whether it is a new or existing residence, the homeowner is responsible for that or those meters. Any damages or theft could result in financial obligations for repair or replacement by the homeowner.