Frequently Asked Questions
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. Toilet leaks can waste up to 200 gallons a day! 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 also may want to check for dripping faucets. 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 going to bed at night. Write down the numbers, and repeat this process 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 icemakers, humidifiers, water softeners, or other appliances that operate during the night hours.
Lastly, never underestimate the amount of water that is consumed for 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)
- Dishwashing: 20 gallons (tap running)
- Automatic dishwasher: 12 gallons (full cycle)
- Clothes washer: 30-60 gallons (full cycle)
- Outdoor watering: 5-10 gallons per minute
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 on your lawn near the street or in your sidewalk or driveway. Stop boxes allow the Oskaloosa Municipal Water Department 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, the Oskaloosa Municipal Water Department will turn off the water to a property due to a payment collection issue. To avoid having your water cut off, please contact our office to make payment arrangements if you are unable to pay your bill in a timely fashion.
If it is not operational (after many years, it 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. Oskaloosa Municipal Water Department maintains and repairs the water main.
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 on your lawn near the street or in your sidewalk or driveway. Stop boxes allow the Oskaloosa Municipal Water Department 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, the Oskaloosa Municipal Water Department will turn off the water to a property due to a payment collection issue. To avoid having your water cut off, please contact our office to make payment arrangements if you are unable to pay your bill in a timely fashion.
If it is not operational (after many years, it 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. Oskaloosa Municipal Water Department maintains and repairs the water main.
Oskaloosa Municipal Water Department
The Oskaloosa Municipal Water Department has been in continuous operation since 1906 and has been owned by the City of Oskaloosa since 1923. Operation of the Oskaloosa Municipal Water Department is overseen by the Water Board of Trustees, consisting of 5 members appointed by the Mayor of Oskaloosa. OMWD is operated independently of the City of Oskaloosa.
