NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Residents Asked to Leave Turning Water Services On and Off to the Water Department

Date Released: 8/27/07

Concerns of residents turning on and turning off their water services have been brought to the attention of the Effingham City Council.

Commissioner Merv Gillenwater, who oversees the Water Department, expressed concerns to the Effingham City Council about residents turning their water service on and off, which is in violation of the city’s code.

According to city municipal code and ordinances, only the director of the Water Department or someone authorized by him is legally allowed to turn on water service. Those who violate city code could face up to a $500 fine for each offense. For a fee of $25 persons wishing to do so may have water service turned on by authorized personnel during the hours of 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Gillenwater said the restrictions serve a purpose, with the main concern being possible damage to equipment owned by the City.

“First of all, all agencies, cities included, must maintain control of their equipment to prevent damage and abuse,” said Gillenwater. “Much of the plumbing located in the pit, along with the water meter, has been in serve for many years. It is possible that someone using an improper tool could cause damage to the valve or other part, which could cost several hundred dollars to repair. Damage to the system could also allow water to leak from the system, which could cause additional damage.”

He added the devices used to electronically read the water meters are also located in the pit and could be damaged by residents attempting to turn their water service on or off.

Other concerns about residents turning on their own water are related to the billing process, since it is unknown by the billing department who is responsible for the water consumption.

The code is set up so the person requesting water service accepts responsibility for paying the water usage through a service agreement. When residents turn on and turn off water service, it can be difficult for the Water Department to prove who actually used the water, making it difficult to determine who is responsible for the bill.

One group which has expressed a concern with the enforcement of the policy as written is local landlords, who have sometimes turned water on at their rental properties for a day or two for cleaning purposes after a renter has left a property.

Gillenwater said the current city code does not allow for landlords to be exempt from the $25 service fee and does not give them special permission to turn on water services. However, Gillenwater added the City Council could agree that this is a proper practice and amend the ordinance.

But, Gillenwater said the service fee could be seen as a “cost to do business.” “It is my opinion that cleaning up after renters have moved out is a cost of doing business for landlords,” he said. “To not charge landlords for turning on water service transfers that expense to the city. Effingham has numerous landlords, some who have numerous rental properties. The time expended by Water Department personnel turning on and off water service so landlords can have water to clean their vacated rental property is significant — time which could possibly be spent doing other jobs.”

Gillenwater stated he is not trying to single out landlords, noting that people other than landlords also do sometimes turn on and off water service. Gillenwater believes he is only doing the right thing by applying the ordinance, as written, to all water users.