- Sometimes my water comes out cloudy and appears to have "things" floating in it. What is this and is it harmful?
- Is fluoride added to my tap water during treatment? What benefits are there to adding fluoride to my drinking water?
- What is a backflow prevention device and do I really need one in my home?
- What is a "combined" sewer/stormwater system?
- How do I know if my water is safe to drink? What is the water analysis report?
- Will the new Safe Drinking Water Act have any impact on Kansas City’s tap water system?
- What are the home owners responsibilities regarding sewer line maintenance?
- What causes sewer odors and how can it be prevented?
- What is the “Manual Meter Reading Charge” and why is it on my bill?
- Why doesn’t Water Services turn off water when a customer goes off an account?
- Where can I find my account number?
What is ‘the WAVE” automatic meter reading system?
- What is ebilling ?
eBilling is the email delivery of a bill. Your bill will be sent directly to your email inbox and will look exactly like your current paper bill. Links to bill inserts will also be included in the eBill.
- What are the benifits of ebilling ?
• more time to receive, review and pay your bill
• convenient access
• secure and confidential
• no more paper bills to file or shred
• your bills, and all the information on your account, are securely available with just a few mouse clicks
• reduce the environmental impact of paper billing
- How can I sign up for ebilling ?
To sign up, you will need to register on our website and then click on “Account Options”. You can select eBilling there. Just click on the eBill icon and you will receive a confirmation email.
- Do I need to create a userid and password for ebilling ?
Yes, you will need to register on our website. You will need your 16-digit water account number and must select a user id and password to register. (Your account number is located on the upper right corner of your paper bill.) Your bill will be sent directly to your email inbox.
- How can I confirm my enrollment of ebilling ?
You will receive an email confirmation from WSD
- Can I unsubscribe from ebilling ?
Yes, you can revert back to paper bills at any time. Log into your account at www.kcmo.org/waterbills and then click on Account Options”. Then click on the eBill icon to switch it back to the paper mail/USPS icon.
- Is ebilling free ?
Yes, eBilling is a free service. There is no charge for signing up and receiving your bill electronically.
- What will my ebill look like ?
Your eBill will look exactly like your current paper bill.
- Will my ebill contain inserts ?
A link to our bill inserts will be included in the e-bill email.
- Will my email be shared with external parties ?
No, your email address will never be shared with any external parties.
- How do I pay my bill with ebill
You r eBill will include a link to our on-line bill pay page. You can also pay using the IVR system or sign up for our automatic bank draft program.
- Is there a convenience fee to process payments through ebilling?
Payments made from your checking accounts, savings accounts, credit or debit cards are free of charge.
- Is there a fee if I make my payment over the internet or through the IVR?
No, there is not a convenience fee for paying with your credit or debit card if you are paying over the internet or through the IVR.
Sometimes my water comes out cloudy and appears to have "things" floating in it. What is this and is it harmful? In the fall and winter months you may notice that your water comes out cloudy. Some even describe it as "milky". This is due to the temperature of the water. The colder the water is, the more dissolved oxygen (air) it can hold. But once this oxygen saturated water is drawn out into our warm rooms, it can no longer "hold" the entrapped air and it comes out as tiny bubbles. The bubbles can be so small and numerous however, that it can appear that there are swirling "things" moving in the water. If you draw a glass out and watch it closely, it will appear to clear from the bottom up as the air escapes. After several minutes the water appears clear but there may be visible bubbles on the inside of the glass.
This is not harmful, it's just air. You may notice it and your neighbors not, due to differences in construction, where pipes are located, etc. but it doesn't mean you have a problem or that your water is different than theirs. There is really nothing economical we can do at the treatment plant to change this. We do add some warm well water in the winter months to raise the temperature enough to try to prevent pipelines from breaking and to keep our treatment basins from freezing, but we could not heat all the water used in Kansas City every day.
Is fluoride added to my tap water during treatment? What benefits are there to adding fluoride to my drinking water?Yes. Since fluoride addition began in the 1950-1960’s, there has been a dramatic decrease in the average number of new dental cavities. It has been proven to reduce the number of dental cavities when added in small amounts (1 ppm) in drinking water.
What is a backflow prevention device and do I really need one in my home?Backflow or back siphonage happens when water flows backward through your water supply system. When that water is accidentally mixed with chemicals such as pesticides or bacteria it can be very dangerous. The biggest danger is from your garden hose. If your water supply experiences a drop in pressure when the hose is submerged in a bucket or a spray attachment is being used, any chemical in the hose, bucket or spray attachment can be sucked into your home’s plumbing, contaminating the entire system. A simple backflow device can prevent this.
What is a "combined" sewer/stormwater system?Sanitary sewers carry waste from homes and industrial users. Stormwater sewers carry water from stormwater (rain or snow) events and usually by-pass treatment. In most cases, these are completely separate systems. However, in some areas of Kansas City the stormwater systems are "combined" with sanitary sewers. Under normal or "dry" conditions they operate with the sanitary portion going to the treatment facility, but when large amounts of rain occur the system can go into "by-pass mode" to help control flooding. At such times the sanitary portion becomes mixed and heavily diluted with stormwater and a portion of the mixture may "by-pass" treatment and go directly to the receiving water.
How do I know if my water is safe to drink? What is the water analysis report?Kansas City Water Services’ Quality Control Laboratory monitors more than 500 contaminants (120 are required by the EPA) in 1,100 samples weekly to ensure compliance with state and federal water and wastewater regulations.
The Water Analysis Report is a report sent annually to all customers receiving water bills. It is also available on our home page at www.kcmo.org/water or by request and It summarizes the water quality testing performed the previous calendar year. Levels established by federal and state regulators are also included in the report.
Will the new Safe Drinking Water Act have any impact on Kansas City’s tap water system?Due to KCMO Water Services’ high standards for water quality, the Safe Drinking Water Act which was passed in August, 1996, to ensure that all communities, large and small, have the same access to quality water, will have no immediate impact or changes in our water testing or treatment processes.
The act has also called for the FDA to research bottled water quality and determine if increased regulation is necessary.
What are the home owners responsibilities regarding sewer line maintenance? When House Service Line is Broken Down or Stopped Up
(One or Two Family Dwelling Only)The property owner must have licensed sewer cleaning and reeling service company reel the house service line. The service line must be reeled from the house trap or stand pipe and not the floor drains (Water will back up first in the floor drain because it is the lowest point in the basement) The property owner must have a receipt from the service company. Reeling must be done with a 3-inch double blade. The sewer cleaning and reeling service company must reel to the City sewer before the water Services Department can assist in the investigation of the house service line. If the service company determines that the house service line is broken down City right-of-way or easement, the service company must contact Richard Davis or Lionel Williams at 513-2800 and discuss the problem. All cost involved in locating the problem shall be the responsibility of the property owner. If it is determined that the service line is broken on the City right-of-way or easement the Water Services Department will repair the service line in accordance with
Ordinance No. 35782 and regulations established by the director of Water Services provided the repair work does not interfere with regular sewer maintenance duties. If the house service line is broken on private property, it will be the responsibility of the property owner to make repairs. Please note that the preceding guidance is general in nature and that the specific regulations as contained Ordinance No. 35782 (printed on reverse side) and as established by the Director of Water Services will be used to determine responsibility for repairs.
What causes sewer odors and how can it be prevented?
Sewer odor or gas is always present in the sewer system and cannot be eliminated. This is why there are provisions in the uniform plumbing code to insure that vent pipes and traps are installed to the house plumbing system to carry odors and gases out through the roof vent or to prevent it from coming back into the house. The most common causes of sewer gas odor entering houses are as follows: 1. Caps on the floor traps and cleanouts are not properly installed 2. Washing machines draining to vent pipes without air traps. 3. Cleanout plugs are removed from the inside of floor drains. 4. Seldom used floor drains will allow the water in the trap to evaporate. Visually check for one of these conditions and correct if needed. If odor problems continue, have your plumber check the complete sewer system to make sure there are no air leaks. If the plumber has checked the complete sewer system and no air leaks are found, call the Water Services Department, Line Maintenance Division, at 513-2800 for further assistance and investigative work. Atmospheric conditions can have an effect on when you may get odor inside of the house. When Barometric pressure is falling or is very low; the air outside is heavier than air from the sewer system and any openings will discharge sewer gas or odors from the system.
What is the “Manual Meter Reading Charge” and why is it on my bill?
The Manual Meter Reading Charge is a $16 fee assessed to all accounts where the property owner has refused the installation of “the WAVE” automatic meter reading system. This charge will be assessed for each monthly bill.
All accounts that have not allowed the installation of “the WAVE” are assessed a $16 manual meter reading charge. Upon installation of “the WAVE” automatic meter reading system, the Manual Meter Reading Charge will no longer be charged to your account.
To have “the WAVE” automatic meter reading system installed, please call 3-1-1 or 816-513-1313 to schedule an appointment.
Why doesn’t Water Services turn off water when a customer goes off an account? Due to the substantial completion of our new automatic meter reading (AMR) system “the WAVE,” the Kansas City, Missouri Water Services Department (WSD) is proud to start introducing new efficiency measures to save costs and provide better customer service. WSD will not have the need to visit properties to obtain beginning or ending meter readings on all the accounts that are on the new AMR system. Therefore, when a customer requests to move-in or move-out of an address, WSD will not have to send someone out to turn the water on or off since it will remain on at all times. WSD will be able to bill the correct water consumption to the right account holder from the automatic meter readings obtained daily.
Property owners must ensure that during cold weather their pipes are protected from freezing. WSD will turn off the water at the property owner’s request for a $75 fee. A $75 fee will also be charged to turn the water back on.
Where can I find my account number? Your account number is located on the top right hand corner of your bill. To register on our website to pay a bill, view usage or access other customer service features, you will need this number. You will need to enter the 16-digit number the when you register. The next time you log in, this information will not be required.
What is ‘the WAVE” automatic meter reading system?
“The WAVE” automatic meter reading system uses wireless radio transmitters to remotely read customer meters, and then transfer the data into the billing system. "The WAVE" virtually eliminate estimated bills.
"The WAVE" uses a wireless fixed network system that has three components:
(1) Meters are connected to a Meter Transmitter Unit (MTU).
(2) The MTU sends a radio signal to one of 170 Data Collection Units (DCUs) located across the City.
(3) The DCUs send those meter readings to “the WAVE” control computer. The WSD billing system will use this information to calculate the amount of water used and create bills.
