(608) 489-3388
(608) 489-2521
Deduct meters are now available for a $25 fee. Call Sheila Schraufnagel at (608) 489-2521 for more information.
When you flush your toilet, flushed material leaves your home through pipes that connect to the City’s wastewater system. But did you know that many materials that are flushed or poured down the drain can harm or block the pipes in the system?
Toilet paper breaks down in water and rarely causes a blockage. Other materials may not break down, which can plug your pipes, and cause a sewer backup and flooded basement. Avoid a costly, messy, and time-consuming cleanup.
To help prevent a blockage, you should flush only:
Please dispose of these materials in the garbage or at the household hazardous waste drop-off sites.
Products may be advertised as flushable, but it doesn’t mean they are safe for your system.
PLEASE REPORT ALL SEWER BACKUPS TO THE UTILITY IMMEDIATELY AT (608) 489-3388.
Copper is a reddish metal that occurs naturally in rock, soil, water, sediment, and air. Its unique chemical and physical properties have made it one of the most commercially important metals. Since copper is easily shaped or molded, it is commonly used to make pennies, electrical wiring, and water pipes. Copper compounds are also used as an agricultural pesticide and to control algae in lakes and reservoirs.
Copper also occurs naturally in plants and animals. It is an essential element for all known living organisms including humans. However, very large single or long-term intakes of copper may harm your health.
Copper and its compounds are common in the environment. You may be exposed to copper by breathing air, eating food or drinking water containing copper. You may also be exposed by skin contact with soil, water or other copper-containing substances.
Copper forms differ when joined with one or more other chemicals. These may be naturally-occurring or manmade. Most copper compounds found in air, soil and water are strongly attached to dust or embedded in minerals, and cannot easily enter the body. These forms become dissolved in water and are not attached to other particles. In this form, copper is more likely to affect your health.
Levels of copper found naturally in ground water and surface water are generally very low; about 4 micrograms of copper in one liter of water (4 ug/l) or less. Copper levels may increase significantly if corrosive water comes in contact with copper plumbing and copper-containing fixtures in the water distribution system. This normally occurs if corrosive water remains motionless in the plumbing system for six hours or more. Copper in drinking water increases with the corrosivity of the water and the length of time it remains in contact with the plumbing.
Higher copper levels have sometimes been noted in new homes constructed with copper plumbing. Copper levels tend to decrease with time as coatings form a natural barrier between the water and the plumbing materials.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards and has determined that copper is a health concern at certain exposure levels. Copper, a reddish‑ brown metal, is often used to plumb residential and commercial structures that are connected to water distribution systems. Copper contaminating drinking water as a corrosion by‑product occurs as the result of the corrosion of copper pipes that remain in contact with water for a prolonged period of time. Copper is an essential nutrient, but at high doses it has been shown to cause stomach and intestinal distress, liver and kidney damage, and anemia. Persons with Wilson's disease may be at a higher risk of health effects due to copper than the general public. Any water system that exceeds the action level shall also monitor their source water to determine whether treatment to remove copper in source water is needed.
The easiest and most effective method for reducing exposure to copper is to avoid drinking or cooking with water that has been in contact with your house plumbing for more than six hours. When first drawing water in the morning or after a work day, flush the system by running the cold water faucet for 2-3 minutes, or until the water gets as cold as possible. (If you live in an apartment complex, flushing the system may take longer). Water used for showering or washing also helps flush the system. It is still a good idea to flush each faucet where water is drawn for drinking or cooking purposes since some fixtures contain copper.
Another option for reducing your exposure to copper is to purchase bottled water. This may be a useful option, particularly if it will be used by young children as drinking water, or for making infant formula. However, you should be careful to obtain bottled water which meets all drinking water standards.
Copper in our diet is necessary for good health. You eat and drink about 1000 micrograms (1000 ug) of copper per day. Drinking water normally contributes approximately150 ug/day. Immediate effects from drinking water which contains elevated levels of copper include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea. The seriousness of the effects can be expected to increase with increased copper levels or length of exposure.
Long-term exposure (more than 14 days) to very high levels of copper in drinking water has been found to cause kidney and liver damage in some people. Children under one year of age are more sensitive to copper because it is not easily removed from their system. People with liver damage or Wilson’s disease are highly susceptible to copper toxicity.
On the average, drinking water accounts for less than 5% of our daily copper intake. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has determined that copper levels in drinking water should not exceed 1300 ug/l. No adverse health effects would be expected if this level is not exceeded. Measures should be taken to reduce exposure to copper if this level is exceeded.
Elevated copper levels in drinking water may significantly increase your exposure to copper and cause adverse health effects. You may find that there is a metallic taste in your drinking water before copper levels are high enough to cause adverse health effects. You may also notice blue or blue-green stains around sinks and plumbing fixtures. The only way to be certain of the copper level in your drinking water supply is to have the water tested. It is recommended that you use a laboratory that is state certified to analyze copper levels in drinking water.
If you are being served by a public water system, the owner of the utility will have results of copper sampling which has been done in parts of the distribution system. If the EPA action level of 1300 ug/l for copper is exceeded in more than 10% of samples collected, the utility must conduct further testing to determine if the corrosivity of the water is contributing to an increase in the copper levels. They are also required to optimize corrosion control measures to reduce the corrosivity of the water to acceptable levels. If you have any questions regarding copper monitoring, contact your water utility.
If you are experiencing elevated copper levels in drinking water, it may be likely that lead levels are also elevated. This is especially true if the plumbing system in your home or apartment contains lead solder joints, lead service lines, or brass fixtures. Since lead and copper enter drinking water under similar conditions, it is advisable to test for lead when testing for copper.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT:
Hillsboro Water Department
(608) 489-3388
Being prepared and informed may help you to avoid the messy and often expensive issue of frozen pipes. The Hillsboro Water Utility provides information and suggestions around how to prevent water pipes in the home from freezing, and how to thaw them if they do freeze.
Water has a unique property in that it expands as it freezes. This expansion puts tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it, including metal or plastic pipes. No matter the "strength" of a container, expanding water can cause pipes to break. Pipes that freeze most frequently are those that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines, and water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets. Pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation are also subject to freezing.
Before the onset of cold weather, prevent freezing of these water supply lines and pipes by following these recommendations:
2024 Consumer Confidence Report Data
Water Utility Policy and Procedure Manual - Billing Cycle & Information, FAQ's, Water Utility Regulations
High-Efficiency Toilet Rebate Program
The City is now working with Payment Service Network to offer online utility payments for your water and sewer bill. Follow the links and set up an account today!
https://www.paymentservicenetwork.com/login.asp?acc=RT18827