|
|
|
CONTROL AND OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
Water service to your home or business has been made possible by a complex system of pipelines, pump stations, reservoirs and
a multitude of various valves, sensors, controllers and other equipment. Operation and maintenance of these facilities, up to
and including the customer's meter, are the responsibility of the District. If you witness any acts of tampering and/or
vandalism of District facilities, immediately call your local law enforcement agency and the Otay Water District
(619-670-2207). Remember, these are your facilities and the cost of repair or replacement will ultimately affect the rates
you pay for service.
|
|
WATER PRESSURE
In most areas of the District, water pressure supplied to the meter is higher than the typical indoor household pressures of
40 to 70 psi (pounds per square inch). With only a few exceptions in the District, street pressure is provided by gravity.
The drop in elevation between the storage tank and the area it serves determines the street pressure and cannot be adjusted
by the water district. If you live at an elevation close to the elevation of the tank that serves your area, your service
pressure will be low. Conversely, homes in the lower regions of a "pressure zone" will have higher service pressures.
|
|
REGULATING WATER PRESSURE
Devices needed to regulate the pressure at a home or business are considered part of the private plumbing system and are the
responsibility of the customer to install, adjust, operate and maintain. The most common device is a pressure regulator,
designed to reduce higher service pressures. Very low service pressures, however, may necessitate the installation of a
private "booster pump" system, which is also the customer's responsibility to install, adjust, operate and maintain.
|
|
WELLS
The Otay Water District has no regulatory authority or control over groundwater pumping. We do, however, require the
installation of a District-approved backflow preventer on the service line for properties that have both a well and a
connection to the public water system (see Cross-connection prevention below). Customers who wish to drill and/or operate a
well on their property should contact their local land use agency for information on the necessary permits.
|
|
CROSS-CONNECTION PREVENTION
The term cross-connection refers to a condition where the public water system is exposed to contamination through a service
connection to a private plumbing system or other source. Such contamination could occur if a private pump were to force water
back into the public water system. This example is called back-pressure, and many of these private systems inject harmful
compounds like fertilizers and industrial or pool chemicals -- things we don't want in our drinking water.
Another condition, called back-siphonage, may occur when a water main breaks, a fire hydrant gets knocked off, or even under
fire-fighting demands. In these situations, normal water pressure in the mains may turn to suction which can draw private
water back into the public system. In this event, even a simple garden hose that may be filling a swimming pool, in a bucket
containing chemicals, or a backyard pond can become a source of contamination.
As a precaution against potential cross-connections, the District requires a certified back-flow prevention assembly be
installed on all on all non-residential water service connections and any residential service where an on-site well or
booster pumping system is in place. Call 670-2263 for more information about Otay's cross-connection control program.
|
|
FIRE SERVICE
Water service is provided by the District solely for use in fire hydrants or fire sprinkler systems from lines or laterals
connected to the District's water mains. The monthly system charge is $23.30 per month for each connection for fire
protection service.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
