MWPSD Information
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Rules & Regulations for Installation of Water Service Lines
The following items outline the proper procedure for installing water service lines:
1. Billing begins when water tap is set.
2. Customer must provide at his/her expense all necessary trenching, piping, fittings and valves.
3. Approved polyethylene (P.E.) tubing. ¾” or 1” iron pipe size with at least a 200 PSI rating.
4. Minimum 24” – 36” burial depth in the yard.
5. Meters will be set to grade of ground at time of installation unless otherwise marked by owner and/or contractor. After installation, owner and/or contractor will be responsible for having meter set to grade at his/her expense.
6. Customer must install main shutoff valve inside dwelling, basement or crawl space.
7. Customer must maintain a three-foot (3’) separation from all other underground utilities.
8. Customer must maintain a ten-foot (10’) minimum vertical separation from any sanitary sewer line, public or private.
9. The use of plastic or galvanized fittings is prohibited.
10. Expansion tanks and pressure reducing valves are recommended.
11. When applicable, customer must have an approved septic tank permit.
12. All lines shall be inspected by District personnel prior to backfilling, or water service will not be provided.
Recommended Customer Equipment Options:
Thermal expansion protection device: the water meter we install includes a check valve to prevent water that has passed through your meter from returning to our system. Since your hot water tank may force hot water out the inlet during high temperature changes, and that water cannot escape back into our system, it can potentially damage your plumbing and fixtures. We highly recommend you install a thermal expansion tank (available at most hardware and/or home improvement stores).
Pressure regulator: if water service to your location exceeds 120 psi at the meter, Mineral Wells PSD will install and maintain a pressure regulator. If pressure is less than 120 psi, customer may prefer to install and maintain a pressure regulator for further protection of internal plumbing.
Important Notes:
Only employees or authorized contractors of Mineral Wells PSD may tap into main water lines.
All service line construction, replacement or repairs must be inspected by the PSD.
Only authorized PSD personnel may open the pit. Tampering with PSD property may result in legal action.
Use of any plastic fittings for pipe connections on your service line, upstream from the shutoff valve is strictly prohibited. Only brass, bronze or steel fittings are acceptable. Water service will not be provided to those using plastic fittings.
Click here for a printable version of this form.
Rules & Regulations for Installation of Sewer Laterals
The following items outline the proper procedure for installing sewer laterals:
1. Billing begins when sewer tap is set.
2. Customer must provide, at his/her own expense, all necessary trenching, piping and fittings.
3. Approved four-inch (4”) piping, SDR 35 or greater with gasket (NO GLUE FITTINGS).
4. No 90-degree fittings shall be used.
5. Customer must maintain a two-percent (2%) grade or greater for adequate flow.
6. All connections must be made at stub-out provided by the District with approved PVC slider or Fernco fitting(s).
7. Cleanouts will be set to grade at the time of installation unless otherwise marked by owner and/or contractor. After installation, owner and/or contractor will be responsible for having cleanout set to grade at his/her expense.
8. The use of proper bedding material, sand and/or pea gravel is recommended.
9. A service lateral cleanout is recommended for your convenience.
10. Downspouts, roof drains, sump pumps, French drains and any other surface drains are prohibited entry into the sanitary sewer system.
11. All lines shall be inspected by District personnel prior to backfilling, or sewer service will not be provided.
Click here for a printable version of this form to bring to MWPSD when signing up.
Leak Adjustment Policies
West Virginia Public Service Commission 150CSR7 4.4.c
4.4.c.1 Each utility shall develop and implement a written policy concerning the adjustment of customer bills where the bill reflects unusual usage which can be attributed to leakage on the customer’s side of the meter. Leaking commodes, dripping faucets, malfunctioning appliances and similar situations shall not constitute leaks which entitle the customer to a recalculated bill. The policy shall be maintained in the utility’s office for inspection by the public and shall be applied in a non-discriminatory manner to all customers. The reasonableness of the utility’s policy or practice with respect to a policy shall be subject to Commission review in a formal complaint proceeding.
Water/Sewer Leak Adjustment Policy:
On rare occasions, the customer may receive an abnormally-high bill as the result of a water/sewer supply line failure. It is our policy to try and provide some relief to the customer in those instances. We subscribe to the government of water/sewer utilities of the West Virginia Public Services Commission 150 CSR7 4.4.c in these matters.
The following conditions must be met in order for the customer to receive such relief:
1. The leak must be in the customer’s supply line. Leaking fixtures, malfunctioning appliances, running faucets and similar issues will not qualify for leak adjustments.
2. The customer must provide evidence that a leak has actually occurred (with the burden of proof on the customer), and must complete a “Customer Request Form for Leak Adjustment” to the PSD within the month from the date the repair was completed.
3. A PSD representative must verify the location and type of leak, and verify the repair work was done in compliance with PSD standards, if possible.
Adjustments will be calculated based on “historic usage” by the customer, which will reflect seasonal or other patterns. If the customer does not have at least twelve months of previous bills with which to establish historical usage, the adjustment will be based on available data. Usage history will be billed using the PSD’s incremental cost of water, as determined by the PSD’s tariff.
A payment plan may be established for large leaks, if the customer requests it. To qualify for a leak payment plan, the customer must come to the PSD’s office to enter into a payment plan agreement, while keeping their current bill in good standing.
How to Locate a Leak
In many cases, the homeowner himself/herself can locate water leaks, saving money, time and water in the process. Here are some helpful hints if you’ve experienced higher-than-normal water bills or suspect you may have a leak.
1. You can sometimes detect a leak by checking along the path of the supply line for soggy soil or grass that is greener in certain areas. Remember: if your leak is outside your dwelling, between the meter and the main shutoff valve, you may be able to get relief from extreme bills. Contact the PSD immediately!
2. If the problem is inside your dwelling (past the main shutoff valve), check all faucets for dripping when they are supposed to be turned off. These include showers, tubs, kitchen and bathroom sinks, etc. Also, check for leaking toilets. First, try listening closely for hissing sounds that may mean running water. You can also add 2-3 teaspoons of food coloring to the water in the back tank of the toilet (do not flush!). After a few minutes, check the toilet bowl, to see if any of the colored water has leaked into the bowl from the tank. Also, check inside the tank to see that the water is shutting off when it reaches approximately ½” below the top of the overflow tube. These are normally easy fixes.
3. Check under sinks, basins, tubs, toilets, washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators with ice makers and other water-using items for signs of water, moisture, mildew, etc. Don’t forget to check under your hot water tank.
4. Listen and look closely at all outside faucets for leakage, especially in spring after winter freezes might have damaged the faucets or water lines.
5. If you don’t find any signs, but still suspect you’re losing valuable water, call in a plumber.
Leaks inside the dwelling do not qualify for relief from high bills.
How We Read Your Meter
The water meter installed at your location will be one of three types, determined by the method of collecting data for billing: some readings may be taken manually by opening the lid and viewing the numbers. This is particularly true of older models. Another method is by “touching” our reader to the top of your meter, at which time, the data is transferred to the reader electronically. And finally, more modern meters allow the data to be collected remotely, simply by driving past your location. As we continue to upgrade our services, we will move more toward the remotely-read versions.
Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Where does Mineral Wells PSD get its water?
A. Our water is purchased from nearby Claywood Park Public Service District, which also services eastern Wood County and northern Wirt County.
