Chester Water AuthorityCustomer News and Information

Winter 2009/2010 Vol. 15 No. 3

Do You Have an Appointment?

Chester Water Authority (CWA) has made it easier for customers to schedule an appointment

for a field service issue, such as an inspection or a water meter problem. An appointment can be made at the customer’s convenience without having to call a Customer Service Representative by going to our Web site (www.chesterwater.com) and clicking on the “Schedule a Service Call” button located on the bottom left-hand side of the page.

Enter your information (name, address, etc.) in the designated boxes along with

your customer number and account number and choose a preferred appointment time. An Authority Customer Service Representative will respond to your request within two (2) business days.

A customer still has the option to telephone the Customer Service

Department at (610) 876-8181 or (800) 793-2323.

During Cold Weather, Take Preventive Action

The following tips can help prevent your water pipes from freezing and causing you inconvenience during winter weather.

• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.

• When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from faucets that are served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe — even at a trickle — helps prevent pipes from freezing because the temperature of the water running through it is above freezing.

• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and at night.

• If you are going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a

temperature no lower than 55º F.

• Insulate pipes in unheated areas such as the crawl space, attic, garage or basement.

What should you do if your pipes do freeze? Call our Customer Service Department at (610) 876-8181 or (800) 793-2323. The Authority can easily be reached 24 hours a day seven days a week. We will do whatever we can to help. But remember, frozen pipes on your property are your

responsibility. If you have had frozen pipes in the past, and you don’t take preventive measures, chances are it will happen again.

Why does my drinking water sometimes have a cloudy look?

Drinking water delivered through the system can sometimes look “milky” or “cloudy”. This cloudiness often occurs when air gets trapped in the water. While this may impact the water’s appearance, it does not affect the water’s safety and will not harm household plumbing systems.

How does air get into the water?

This condition occurs most often during the winter months when the water is very cold and warms while in a building’s

Your Questions Answered by CWA interior plumbing. Since cold water can hold more air than warm water, it releases some air in the form of tiny bubbles when it warms. At times the water may be so full of air that it appears cloudy.

Because water pipelines are pressurized, the air remains trapped in the water until you open the faucet and release

the pressure — similar to the effect when you open a bottle of soda. The thousands of tiny air bubbles that form

give the water a slightly white appearance.

If you have questions about the quality of your drinking water, please call the Customer Service Department at (610) 876-8181 or (800) 793-2323.

Do you know where your master water supply valve is located? Does everyone else in the family know where it is too?

If there is an emergency, you’ll need to respond quickly and turn off your water supply. You cannot afford to waste precious minutes searching while your floors and carpets get drenched.

The most likely location for the master valve is where the water supply pipe enters your home.

Every home, apartment, and business has

one master water supply valve. Once you’ve

located this valve, mark it with a tag, a bright

ribbon or colorful paint. Make

it easy to see. Show your family

members where it is and how to

turn the water off. If an emergency

happens — and we hope it won’t —

you’ll have to act quickly.

Do your part to use water wisely. Every drop counts.

Where Is Your Master Valve?

Check us out on the Web www.chesterwater.com

You will find:

• Facts about the Authority;• Frequently asked

questions;• Customer newsletters;

• Annual Reports• ...and much more!

Chester Water Authority (CWA) knows the importance of communication — especially if an emergency

water situation presents itself. Currently, we are in the process of implementing a system that will alert Authority customers of situations that may affect their water service by way of a telephone call, e-mail, and/or text message.

As the Authority gets closer to implementing the system (perhaps as early as February 2010), we will contact our customers by mail. The mailer, which will be included with your water bill, requests that customers verify that their contact information on file is up-to-date and correct.

Keep your eyes open for future information. We will keep you posted! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Authority at (610) 876-8181 or (800) 793-2323.

Keeping You in the Loop 2009 Hydrant Flushing Update

Each year Chester Water Authority

flushes its water distribution

system. The Hydrant Flushing

Project of 2009 began on August 2,

2009. A total of 2,705 fire hydrants in

31 municipalities in Western Delaware

County and Southern Chester County

were flushed and inspected and the project

wrapped up on October 28, 2009.

Chester Water Authority posts the annual Water Quality Report (also known as Consumer Confidence

Report on its Web site. If you would like to view this report, please visit our Web site at www.chesterwater.com. If you would like the report mailed to, please contact us at (610) 876-8181.

Water Quality Report

Business Hours and Phone:

Walk-in: 8:00 AM to 5:00 pm Telephone: 8:00 AM to 7:00 pm Monday through Friday Telephone: (610) 876-8181 (800) 793-2323

Web Site:

www.chesterwater.com

Chester Water Authority considers the safety of its customers and employees a top priority. Our meter readers in the field wear uniforms and/or carry identification cards that show they are employees of

Chester Water Authority.

Please remember that the Authority does not call customers with offers for free water testing. We do, however, send a letter once a year asking a handful of customers if they would like to participate in lead and copper sampling, which is free of charge.

CWA personnel should always have an appointment before they come to your home. All CWA personnel drive CWA vehicles, wear CWA-issued uniforms, and carry CWA identification (see sample).

Chester Water Authority personnel do not collect bill payments while at your home. Payments should be made either in person at our Main Office Building which is located in the City of Chester at 5th and Welsh Streets or by mail using the envelope provided with your water bill.

Before letting anyone into your home, look at the uniform or ask to see their identification. If you have questions about the authenticity of a CWA employee and the nature of his or her visit, please call us at (610) 876-8181 or (800) 793-2323, and we will be happy to confirm the identity of our employee.

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nMailing Address:

P. O. Box 467 Chester, PA 19016

Emergency Hours and Phone:

24 HOURS A DAY7 DAYS A WEEKTelephone: (610) 876-8181 (800) 793-2323

SAMPLE

Beware of Impostors!

(1) Did you make an appointment with CWA? (2) Are they wearing a CWA uniform? (3) Are they in possession of CWA identification?

(4) Do you see a CWA vehicle?

IF NOT, DO NOT LET THEM IN!

CWA vehicle CWA uniform CWA identification