Water & Sewer FAQs

Tree roots in a sanitary sewer lateral are the responsibility of the property owner.  Tree roots normally get into the sewer lateral through joints in old clay tile pipe that should be replaced or through a "doughnut gasket" that is located at the property line that the property owner installed at the time the line was connected to the city's sewer system.  Either causes are the responsibility of the property owner.

Yes.  If you obtain and have a separate irrigation meter installed by the City you will not be charged sewer usage on water used to irrigate your lawn. Call 231-799-6804 for details.

The City does not require connection to city water, but some mortgage companies do.

During normal business hours M-F 8am-5pm excluding holidays, call the Water and Sewer Division at 799-6804.  After business hours and holidays please call the City's after hours emergency number at 737-2664.

Bills are based on individual usage in addition to the base amount.  You can read your inside meter and compare the current reading on the bill to what the meter is reading now.  Meters are read the month before the bill is mailed, so the reading on the meter should be slightly higher than the billing reading.  This will verify the bill.

During normal business hours M-F 8am-5pm excluding holidays please call the Water & Sewer Department at 799-6804.  After hours and holidays please call the City's after hours emergency number at 737-2664.

The City cannot recommend specific contractors for utility line repairs or replacements.  It is best to get a reference from a friend or relative or look in the phone book for a reputable firm.  Contractors working within the city limits must carry proof of bonding and insurance when working on underground utilities.

Water and sewer customers can request that their water meter be tested by calling the Water and Sewer Department at 799-6804.  If the meter is tested and found that it is recording properly, the property owner will be charged for the cost of the testing.  For current testing costs please contact the Water and Sewer Department at 799-6804.

You can report a manhole cover that rattles at www.nortonshores.org or by calling 799-6804.

The flags are there because someone is planning on digging in or near your yard.  Anybody can call Miss Dig and request the underground utilities to be marked including homeowners who are planning on digging.  Please call Miss Dig to find out who called the locate request at 811.

During normal business hours M-F 8am-5pm excluding holidays please call the Water & Sewer Department at 799-6804.  After hours and holidays please call the City's after hours emergency number at 737-2664.

The City owns land called a right-of-way that the City locates roads and utilities in.  Residents of the City maintain this property all the way to the road, but if the City needs to make repairs or changes to the utilities inside the Right-of-Way we must dig up what many residents call "their yard".  Don't worry, the City will restore your yard with top soil and grass seed. Sometimes the restorations must wait for spring or fair weather so please be patient with lawn restorations, we will complete it as soon as possible.  If you have further questions please contact the Public Works Department at 798-2156.

A Master Card or Visa will be accepted for payment of water bills.  There is a 3% service fee imposed on all credit card use.  Credit card payments can be made by phone with the City Treasurer's Office at 231-799-6805.  At this time the City has no on-line capability for accepting water and sewer bill payments.  If you use a bill pay service through a financial institution, keep in mind that your paying agent has to write a check and put it in the mail, so allow more than enough time for it to arrive to avoid late payment penalties.  Another option is to set up an automatic withdrawal from a checking or savings account.

The Water and Sewer Department can answer most water quality questions, but you might want to refer to the annual Consumers Confidence Report that the Water Department send to all its customers every year in June.  This will answer most of the questions you might have.  You can also find a copy of the CCR on this web site.

Normally, a significant loss of pressure is due to a break in supply chain, either in a water main or water service.  Check the area that your water service is located for water bubbling out of the ground or check with neighbors to see if they also have loss pressure.  If the pressure loss continues contact the Water Department to investigate.

The flags should be removed by the person who called in the Miss Dig locate request.  If they did not remove the flags, please call 811 and ask who requested the locate and contact them to see if they have completed the digging project.

Contact the Water Department at 799-6804 to schedule a service call.  Meter replacement for normal wear-and-tear is covered by the fees included in your water bill.

The property owner owns and maintains the valves both before and after the meter.

If you are experiencing a sewer backup, check all of the drains on your property to see if the backup is isolated.  If it is not, the City can check to see if the main sewer line is plugged by calling 799-6804 during normal  business hours M-F 8am-5pm excluding holidays.  After hours and holidays call the City's after hours emergency number at 737-2664.  A backup caused by debris or roots before the main line sewer is the responsibility of the property owner.  If the City determines that the backup is isolated to your property, the property owner will be responsible for the cost associated with the checking of the main line sewer after business hours only.

The City owns and maintains the water and sewer lines located in the right-of-way or in the private easement.  The lines that are outside of the right-of-way or easement are owned by the property owner and they are responsible for maintaining, repairing and replacing the private utility lines.

A call to the Water and Sewer Division, 231-799-6804 can schedule a final reading, which has to be taken from the inside meter, so access to the inside of the building is necessary.  At least 24 hours notice is needed to schedule a service appointment.  In the case of a rental unit, the owner of the property needs to call to schedule a service appointment.  In the case of a rental unit, the owner of the property needs to call to schedule a reading and change the billing.

Each parcel varies.  Contact the Water and Sewer Division at 231-799-6804 to inquire.  Please have the property address ready.

The City has a hydrant painting program that evaluates hydrant condition every year.  Typically the program will paint all the hydrants in the city once every seven (7) years.

One way to check to see if you have a leak after the meter is to look at the dial of the inside meter.  There is a small triangle "leak detector" on the dial.  If you know all water in the house is turned off and the triangle is moving, even slightly, water is going through the meter and something is leaking.  Read the inside meter before bed and first thing in the morning to determine if any water has gone through the meter.  A toilet is the most common leak.  Take some food coloring and put it in the back of the tank.  Watch for about 20 minutes and if the colored tank water comes into the bowl, the toilet is leaking.  Toilets can leak a significant amount of water without being noticed.

No, the City owns and maintains the water meter that serves the property.

Unfortunately, you can not.  Our service men are not allowed to accept money or payments in the field.  All bills must be paid at the Treasurer's Office located in City Hall.  Please contact the Water and Sewer Department for billing questions at 799-6804.