I bought a new dishwasher and the manufacturer wants to know what the hardness of the water is? |
The 2005 system wide average for hardness was 63.2 parts per million. More commonly this would be considered a relatively soft water. This translates to 3.7 grains per gallon, a unit of measure often used by manufacturers.
What is the pH of my water? |
The pH of Concord’s water was approximately 7.3 units in 2005. We strive to keep the pH between 7.0 and 7.8 units for water treatment purposes. The main reason for adjusting pH is to prevent water from being corrosive and leaching metals into your drinking water from household plumbing.
What do I do if my water bill seems high? |
First, you want to check for leaks (see below). The “usual suspects” for leaks are toilets and in-ground irrigation systems. If no leaks are detected, then you can do some sleuthing by using your water meter. Most water meters are located in basements near the wall closest to the street. They can also be in a utility closet, mechanical room or outside in a pit in the ground. In Concord, the meters measure water use in cubic feet (CF). One cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons.
You can use your meter to track water usage throughout the day or week to determine when a lot of water is being used. Are evening baths the culprit? Daily loads of laundry? Or morning lawn watering? Still baffled? CPW offers free water use audits to residential customers. Call 1-888-772-4242 to schedule an audit.
How can I check to see if I have leaks in my house? |
Make sure all water using appliances in your home are shut off. Most water meters have a low-flow detector, often displayed as a small red or black triangle. You have a leak if you see this triangle move. Also, CPW has dye tablets available to determine if your toilet is leaking.
Sometimes my water smells like a pool, what causes this? |
Concord adds a small amount of liquid chlorine to its groundwater supplies. This prevents bacterial re-growth once water is put into the distribution system. Showers and warm weather can bring out the odor more easily.
Why does my water appear cloudy or milky? |
Tiny air bubbles much like the ones found in carbonated beverages cause this appearance. These bubbles do not make the water unsafe to drink. In fact, they will rise to the top within a few minutes and your glass of water will be clear again! This tends to happen more in cold weather months or after service has been performed on the water system.
Where can I pay my water and sewer bill? |
Payments can be mailed to: Town House, P.O. Box 535, Concord, MA 01742-0535. Payments can also be made in person at the Town House, located in Monument Square. We cannot accept payment at the Water and Sewer Division office. Online bill payment should be available to customers later this spring.
Why is my hot water brown and not my cold water? |
This is caused by sediment buildup in your hot water system. Currently, iron and manganese are treated chemically to sequester the particles and keep your cold water running clear. When heated, especially in large tanks and at temperatures above 125° Fahrenheit, the chemical bonds break down and particles settle out. Over time a layer of sediment will buildup in the tank and when high demand is placed on your hot water the sediment becomes stirred up. This situation can typically be remedied by turning down your hot water tank temperature if it is high and flushing out your tank twice a year. Manufacturers suggest doing this once year for general maintenance but twice a year (when you switch your clocks) will keep it nice and clean.
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