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1. I want to startup, cancel, or change my water services. (Utilities - Water Treatment)
Call the City of Appleton Finance Department at (920) 832-6442 to start up, change, or cancel your account status.
2. I want to know why water appears cloudy in a glass and then it clears up. (Utilities - Water Treatment)
Cloudiness in water that disappears in a few minutes is dissolved air in the water. When cold water from the water main enters a warm building, the air escaping from the water makes the water look cloudy or milky. The cloudiness usually occurs more often in the winter than in the summer because cold water can hold more dissolved air than warm water.
If the water appears cloudy at only one faucet, it has to do with the building plumbing, not the city water supply. If the faucet you are using has an aerator, the aerator is adding a lot of air to the water, causing it be appear cloudy.
Water may appear cloudy after you have not used the tap for a few hours. This is because the water has been motionless in the plumbing for more than a few hours, it has warmed up a few degrees. Even a few degrees will warm the water enough so air escapes quickly from the water. Run the tap water three to five minutes so fresh water from the water main is coming into the house.
3. I want to learn how to check for a water leak. (Finance - General)
When checking for leaks follow these steps: - Turn off all water faucets inside and outside of your home, including washing machine and dish washer. The reading is located under the cover on the meter. Record the reading on your water meter including the red sweep hand. Return overnight, during a time of no known use, to see if the reading has changed. If the meter reading has changed, you may have a leak.
- Meters have a small blue star on the meter face designed to detect even the smallest leaks. If the blue star is moving when you have all the water off inside and outside your home, you may have a leak. Look closely at the blue star; it may be moving very slowly.
The most common source of an unknown leak is a toilet that is running. Even the smallest of leaks could add over $150 to your quarterly water/sewer billing.
4. I want to learn how to detect a toilet leak. (Finance - General)
Put about 10 drops of food coloring in the toilet tank; do not flush the toilet. If you see color in the toilet bowl after 20 minutes, you have a leak.
5. I want to learn how to prevent pipes, service lines and water meters from freezing. (Finance - General)
Every winter some customers experience freezing of service lines, meters and pipes. Frozen meters and pipe will eventually thaw, possibly causing damage and high utility billings. Often these situations could be prevented. If your meter is enclosed behind a wall, remove the access panel to allow heat to circulate. If your home or business is going to be vacant for a period of time, be sure heat will be on at all times. Turn off the main water supply valve, which is located before the water meter inside your home or business, or call the Water Division at (920) 832-5580 to have the water turned off at the street. There is a $30.00 fee when you request the water to be turned back on.
6. I want to know what I should do, as a landlord, if my tenant does not pay his/her water bill. (Finance - General)
Utility arrearages ultimately become the responsibility of the property owner. According to Wis. Stat. § 66.0809(3), if the arrearage is not paid on or before November 15, the arrearage, along with any late charges and penalties, will be transferred to the tax bill of the current property owner.
7. I want to learn about credits available for water used to fill a pool/water the lawn. (Finance - General)
Although there is no credit for the additional water used, there may be a reduced charge for the sewer that is not used. Unlike water coming into the home, there is no meter to measure the water exiting the home. Therefore, sewer usage charges are based on the amount of water consumed. In instances where additional water is used to water lawns or fill swimming pools, the water may not enter the City’s sewer system. Therefore, a method was developed to credit residential single and two-family home customers for estimated sewer charges on the additional water used. The calculation is based on a comparison of summer and winter bills. There are two summer billing periods and two winter billing periods (see chart below). The calculation compares the quarterly water usage for the two summer periods to the water usage for the previous two winter periods. If either of the two summer period’s usage amounts exceeds the higher of the two winter periods, then the billing system will reduce the sewer usage -- and resulting charges -- to that of the winter period. While customers will not see a “credit” on their bill, they are receiving reduced sewer charges for additional water used in summer. New construction accounts must establish a complete winter history to receive a sewer credit. If you install your new lawn prior to establishing this history, you will be charged both water and sewer charges on the measured consumption. The following summer, after a complete winter history is obtained, these accounts will be reviewed. If a credit was earned, it will applied for the previous year’s sewer usage and will appear on your quarterly invoice as a credit balance.
| District | Summer Period | Winter Period | | 1 | March 10 – August 31 | September 1 – March 9 | | 2 | April 10 – September 30 | October 1 – April 9 | | 3 | May 10 – October 31 | November 1 – May 9 |
8. I want to know what to do if I have dirty water. (Finance - General)
Run water through your cold water tap until the discoloration disappears. It is important to run the water through the cold water tap so you don’t pull the discolored water into your water heater.
9. I want to know about the lift stations located throughout the city. (Utilities - Wastewater Treatment)
We have 14 lift stations located throughout the City of Appleton. These lift stations serve as collection points for neighborhood collection systems. The wastewater is pumped into intercepting sewers that lead to the wastewater treatment plant. Our lift stations are constantly monitored at the treatment plant to ensure proper operation. The public is asked to call the phone number on the lift station (832-5945) if the red notification light is lit.
10. I want to know how long it takes to clean the wastewater. (Utilities - Wastewater Treatment)
At average flow, it takes 21 hours to treat the wastewater. It takes 17.5 hours at design flow.
11. I want to know how many gallons of wastewater are treated in a day. (Utilities - Wastewater Treatment)
On average, 11.5 million gallons of wastewater are treated in a day.
12. I want to know how many people work at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. (Utilities - Wastewater Treatment)
We currently employee 22 full-time employees. The plant is staffed 24-7, 365 days per year.
For employment opportunites please contact the Human Resources Department. /departments/
13. I want to know how the quality of the treated wastewater is ensured. (Utilities - Wastewater Treatment)
Instrumentation provides information and records and stores data on wastewater processes around the clock. This information is monitored and evaluated by the operations staff for quality control. Samples are collected and analyzed by certified laboratory technicians in our State certified laboratory. Testing results and operational information are provided to the State DNR for their review each month.
14. I want to know how to properly dispose of my mercury thermometer or mercury containing devices. (Utilities - Wastewater Treatment)
Please call the Outagamie County Department of Solid Waste for scheduled household hazardous waste clean sweep events. You may also check their website for more information.
15. I want to know what and why there are black particles in the water at one of my faucets. (Utilities - Water Treatment)
The particles are likely from a disintegrating washer or corrosion of the plumbing. Run the water for a few minutes to clear the particles. If there is a screen in the faucet, remove and clean it, or clean the aerator. If the problem persists, call a plumber.
16. I want to know what the black particles are in the toilet bowl water. (Utilities - Water Treatment)
The black particles are likely the result of the disintegration of the float in the toilet tank. The float is especially likely to break down over time if you use an automatic toilet bowl cleaner in the tank. Replace the float or call a plumber about replacing the float.
17. I want to know what the capacity is of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. (Utilities - Wastewater Treatment)
The design flow rate of the Wastewater Treatment Plant is 15.5 million gallons per day. The maximum flow rate is 90 million gallons per day.
18. I want to know why there are watermarks on my glasses and/or dishes. (Utilities - Water Treatment)
The watermarks are mineral deposits in the water. If you use a dishwasher, follow the manufacturer's recommendations to avoid watermarks. If you hand wash your dishes, dry them immediately after washing and rinsing rather than letting them air dry.
19. I want to know why there are white deposits inside my coffeemaker or kettle that I use to boil water. (Utilities - Water Treatment)
The white deposit, or scale, is a deposit of calcium and magnesium, which naturally occurs in the water. Rinse the kettle with warm vinegar to remove the deposit. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations to clean a coffeemaker.
20. I want to know why there is pink growth on bathroom fixtures. (Utilities - Water Treatment)
The pink growth or stain is the result of a mold or a bacterium, specifically, Serratia Marcescens. The mold is present in the air. Mold and bacteria grow wherever there is a warm, moist, or humid environment, like a tub or showerhead. The mold and bacteria feed on the small quanitities of nutrients in the water.
Regular cleaning with bleach or a cleaner that removes mildew will clear the mold. Wipe away standing water to reduce growth. Certain materials, like rubber, plastic gaskets, etc., contain nutrients that help these organisms grow.
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