Central Iowa Water Association


		Frequently Asked Questions Water Quality Where does CIWA's water come from? What is the quality of the water? Will I need a water softener? Billing What is the average water cost per month for a family of four? What is the monthly minimum charge? Why am I required to pay a monthly minimum? If I leave for the winter, or if I move and the house is vacant, must I still make a payment to CIWA? How often is there a rate increase? Are rates determined by the Association? Who reads the meter? If I have a rental home, who collects a payment? When does billing start? Service Why should I sign-up for rural water service? What is the connection (hook-up) fee? What additional costs, besides the connection fee, will a member-customer incur? How do I sign up for rural water and or wastewater service? Can more than one home be served from a single connection? Will flow rates be adequate for fire protection? Is service ever disrupted? Who maintains the water lines? How much water pressure can I expect? As a member-customer, what deadlines must I meet? Construction What size service line should I install? When will construction begin? What is your easement policy? Water Quality 1. Where does CIWA's water come from? CIWA contracts with the Newton, Marshalltown, and Pella Waterworks for its water supply. In addtition, CIWA recently began operation of a new 3 million gallon per day reverse osmosis water treatment plant. CIWA was recently awarded the prestigious "Best Tasting Water in Iowa" (click here) recognition for its water from the new water treatment plant. 2. What is the quality of the water? Water quality analysis will be provided upon request and is provided annually through distribution of Central Iowa Water Association's Consumer Confidence Report. The report is available for viewing here. 3. Will I need a water softener? Water provided by CIWA is softened between six to eight grains of hardness. Most member-customers do not use a water softener once rural water from CIWA is installed. Back to Top Billing 4. What is the average water cost per month for a family of four? According to national statistics, average water consumption is approximately 1,500 gallons per person per month. A typical family of four uses approximately 5,000 to 6,000 gallons per month. This is based on average normal usage for household cooking, cleaning, and bathing. The average cost for a family of four should be approximately $45 to $60 plus tax each month. 5. What is the monthly minimum charge? Why am I required to pay a monthly minimum? The monthly minimum charge is a rate charged for zero usage. A monthly minimum charge is due for each water meter pit which exists within an area considered "in service". The monthly minimum charge for non usage is used to defray operational and maintenance costs associated with having service available at your residence. 6. If I leave for the winter, or if I move and the house is vacant, must I still make a payment to CIWA? Yes, a monthly minimum fee is due each month even if there has been no use of the service. 7. How often is there a rate increase? CIWA has maintained a history of stable water rates. Rate increases occur only when necessary to cover operating costs and at the concurrence of our financial lenders. 8. Are rates determined by the Association? CIWA's Board of Directors establish water rates for the Association. The rates are then reviewed for concurrence by our lenders, USDA-Rural Development, and CoBank. 9. Who reads the meter? The majority of member-customers read their water meter and remit the proper payment on a monthly basis. Billing supplies are provided by CIWA for these member-customers. A small portion of our member-customers are located in areas where CIWA staff reads the water meter monthly and bills are mailed to member-customers. 10. If I have a rental home, who collects payment? CIWA will accept payment from a renter at the owner's request. Owners are sent copies of all disconnection notices and are responsible for any water or wastewater bills a renter may incur. 11. When does billing start? After water and/or wastewater is available, member-customers will be notified of their initial billing date. The appropriate monthly payments will be due thereafter. Back to Top Service 12. Why should I sign-up for rural water service? Rural water service will provide you with a safe, dependable, supply of softened water. When making a decision about participation in a rural water project, consider costs associated with operating your existing water supply. Consider the quality of your water and how environmental factors may be impacting your supply now and in the future. Rural water is a personal decision, but more than 12,500 people in central and northeast Iowa agree rural water has a positive impact on their lives. 13. What is the connection (hook-up) fee? Existing Service Areas The connection fee for water and/or wastewater service in areas where the initial project has been completed and mains are in service will be determined in the following manner: Short-side installations - distribution main/collection line located on same side of road as property Long-side installations - distribution main/collection line located across road from the property - will be priced based on the road surface type Line extensions - requires extension of distribution main/collection line, will require that the property owner pays the cost of extending the service to access the property* New owner of existing account - purchased property currently served by CIWA New renter of existing account - moved into property currently served by CIWA Prices are subject to location and capacity of existing main and refused easement penalty, on previously installed line extensions. Persons requesting service in an existing service area will be required to pay the current connection fee at the time of application. Once payment for the connection is received, the application is placed on the construction schedule for installation of service. Please contact Central Iowa Water Association at 800-400-6066 for the currenct connection fee. Unserved Areas* Persons requesting service in CIWA project areas, where mains have not yet been installed, should contact the office for the current connection fee. 14. What additional costs, besides the connection fee, will a member-customer incur? A service line must be installed from the water meter pit to the point of the homeowner's connection at the member-customer's expense. 15. How do I sign-up for rural water and/or wastewater service? To request service, please call 1-800-400-6066. Interested parties will need to complete the necessary application forms and submit them with payment of the connection fee. All applicants will also be required to grant CIWA a permanent easement through their property for the purpose of installing mains. A pre-application questionnaire is available here. 16. Can more than one home be served from a single connection? Each residence is required to be served by an individual service connection. 17. Will flow rates be adequate for fire protection? Rural water systems cannot cost effectively construct loops and size water mains to provide fire flow at all locations. However, fire departments within our service area are trained in use of hydrants installed by CIWA to assist in fire suppression. 18. Is service ever disrupted? Emergency Disruptions Periodically, the system may develop a leak or be damaged. CIWA will work to repair the leak as soon as possible. If time permits, member-customers may be notified via telephone. Planned Service Disruptions On occasion, CIWA must complete maintenance to the water distribution system. When this occurs, it may be necessary to temporarily shut down a portion of the distribution system to complete the necessary work. In most cases, member-customers in the affected area will be notified in writing of the maintenance and/or repair of the system. If time does not permit notification of member-customers by mail, CIWA staff may try to notify member-customers by telephone based on the contact information provided to us by the member-customers at the time of application. 19. Who maintains the water lines? CIWA owns and maintains the water mains, the water meter pits, and the metering equipment. The member-customer owns and maintains all lines on the member-customer's side of the water meter pit. However, it is the member-customer's responsibility to take reasonable care of the water distribution system equipment located on the member-customer's property, as any necessary repairs (except normal wear and tear) will be at the member-customer's expense. 20. How much water pressure can I expect? In most cases, water meter pit installations contain a pressure regulating valve (PRV) preset at 50 PSI. Most PRVs can be adjusted between 30 PSI to 70 PSI to provide member-customers with the best possible pressure. 21. As a member-customer, what deadlines must I meet? If you desire rural water and/or wastewater service, it is in your best interest to sign the necessary application forms and pay the connection fee at your earliest convenience. In new project areas, inadequate user density delays project development, system design, and the beginning of construction. Project area deadlines vary, please contact the office for more information. Back to Top Construction 22. What size service line should I install? Member-customers typically install a one-inch diameter service line. In some instances including distance, topography, or internal plumbing, a larger diameter service line may be required. 23. When will construction begin? Most existing service area installations will be installed in four to six weeks once a paid application has been received. Applicants requiring a line extension for service should contact the office for an estimated installation time frame. 24. What is your easement policy? CIWA strives to locate water and/or wastewater mains where construction and maintenance will be most efficient. Private property easements provide the best means for construction of rural water or wastewater mains. A member-customer must, as a condition of membership, grant the necessary easements to construct the water and/or wastewater facilities. For more information on rural water or wastewater service, contact Central Iowa Water Association at 800-400-6066. Back to Top © Central Iowa Water Association Web Design by Heartland Marketing Group