FAQs

  1. Who is eligible to receive COVID-19 Utilities Assistance Funds?
  2. What requirements do I need to meet in order to qualify for the program?
  1. What documents are required for assistance?
  2. Are there income guidelines for this program?
  1. If I qualify, how much of a direct assistance payment can I receive?
  2. Who can help me apply for the COVID-19 Utilities Assistance Funds?
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  1. What is the Annual Water Main Flushing Program?
  2. When will crews be in my area?
  3. What is the change in the disinfection process during the flushing period?
  4. What are chloramines?
  5. What is free chlorine?
  6. Why is the water that Utilities distributes to customers disinfected with free chlorine instead of chloramines each Spring?
  1. How long will free chlorine be used to disinfect my drinking water this year?
  2. Is water disinfected with either free chlorine or chloramines safe to consume?
  3. Could water disinfected with either free chlorine or chloramines be harmful to dialysis patients if it is used in the dialysis process?
  4. Will my water taste different during the temporary conversion to free chlorine?
  5. Will chloramines affect household plumbing, pipes and/or water heaters?
  6. How can I remove the chlorine taste from my water?
  1. Will pool owners need to treat water differently?
  2. What does the term hydrant flushing mean?
  3. Could I see a drop in water pressure due to hydrant flushing in my area?
  4. Can hydrant flushing in my area cause cloudiness or sediment in my water?
  5. How can I get more information about Spotsylvania County Utilities water quality?
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  1. Where can I find Spotsylvania County Utilities' Water Quality Reports?
  2. Who makes the rules and regulations for drinking water?
  1. What is the source of my drinking water?
  2. How is bacteria that cause disease kept out of drinking water?
  1. How "hard" is Spotsylvania County Utilities water?
  2. Is it safe to drink water from a garden hose?
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  1. How do I start water/sewer service?
  2. How long will it take to process my application?
  1. What is required to establish an account for water/sewer service?
  2. What if I am moving?
  1. How do I request a new water/sewer tap, meter, and service connection?
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  1. How do I stop water/sewer service?
  1. What if I am moving?
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  1. What is a water main break?
  2. How do I report a water main break?
  3. What causes water main break?
  1. How does Spotsylvania County Utilities repair a water main break?
  2. How long does it take to repair a water main break?
  1. How do we determine which breaks to repair first on any given day?
  2. What should I do when my water service is restored?
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  1. What is Spotsylvania County's Water Conservation Initiative?
  2. What is water conservation?
  1. What is efficient water use?
  2. What is water waste versus water loss?
  1. What are the benefits of water conservation?
  2. How can I reduce my family's water use?
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  1. What is WaterSmart?
  2. What is the WaterSmart Software Program?
  1. How do I register or log into WaterSmart Customer Portal?
  2. How should I use the WaterSmart Customer Portal?
  1. How do I customize my WaterSmart Customer Portal profile?
  2. What is the Home Water Report that I receive from my WaterSmart Customer Portal?
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  1. What is SCU's Smart Meter Program?
  2. What is a Smart Meter?
  1. Why change the meters now?
  2. What are the benefits of the new meters and technology for the residents?
  1. Do I have to pay for installing my new meter?
  2. Will my bill go up even if I am using the same amount of water as before?
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  1. What is a water service lateral?
  2. Who is responsible for the maintenance of the private water service lateral?
  1. I need to find my water service lateral, shut-off valve, and my pressure regulator. Can Spotsylvania County Utilities locate them for me?
  1. I have questions about my own plumbing or I want to check out what my plumber is telling me. Can Spotsylvania County Utilities answer my plumbing questions?
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  1. What is a sanitary sewer lateral?
  2. What is a sewer cleanout?
  3. Who is responsible for the maintenance of the private sewer lateral?
  1. Why are defective sewer laterals a problem?
  2. Why is it important to keep rainwater from entering sanitary sewer laterals?
  1. How can you maintain your private sewer lateral?
  2. Should you purchase sewage backup insurance?
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FOG

  1. What is FOG?
  1. How does FOG impact the sewer system?
  1. Why shouldn't FOG go down the drain?
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  1. What is a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO)?
  2. Why do SSOs occur?
  3. What should I do if I encounter an SSO?
  1. What does Spotsylvania County Utilities do to reduce the potential of SSOs?
  2. Is it possible to totally prevent SSOs?
  1. Does Spotsylvania County Utilities report SSOs to regulating and enforcing agencies?
  2. What can I do to help prevent SSOs?
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  1. What is a cross-connection?
  2. What is backflow?
  3. What can cause a backflow?
  1. Why should I be concerned about cross-connection contamination?
  2. What is my liability?
  3. What is my responsibility as a business owner?
  1. What does the law say about cross-connections?
  2. What is Spotsylvania County Utilities' role in backflow prevention?
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  1. What is unidirectional flushing?
  2. What should I expect when unidirectional flushing is happening in my neighborhood?
  1. Can I use my water when flushing is taking place?
  2. How long does it take to flush each water main?
  1. When will unidirectional flushing take place in my area?
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  1. What is Sanitary Sewer Smoke Testing?
  2. Is the smoke hazardous?
  3. Will smoke enter my home or building?
  1. What should I do if smoke enters the building?
  2. When will sanitary sewer smoke testing crews be in my area?
  3. What should I do to prepare for sanitary sewer smoke testing?
  1. Can the smoke activate smoke alarms?
  2. Do I have to be home during the sanitary sewer smoke testing?
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  1. What is Sanitary Sewer Line Cleaning?
  2. When will sanitary sewer line cleaning crews be in my area?
  1. How do I prepare for the sanitary sewer line cleaning in my area?
  1. What if I experience a problem during the sanitary sewer line cleaning?
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