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Below
are some of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) presented to the Utility Services Division. If your question is not answered here, please call 952.224.3440. If you are looking for information
specific to water and sewer billing including automatic payment, please go to the utility billing info page.
How
do I flush my plumbing?
The City of Savage recommends flushing out the home plumbing twice per year, or when water is
discolored or carries an unpleasant odor. Please use the following steps:
- If the home has a water softener, bypass it temporarily.
- Open all cold-water faucets and let run, both inside and outside of the home.
- Fill the washing machine and flush all toilets.
- Let the water run until it clears, which should take about 5 to 15 minutes. The cost for this should be less than $1.
- Turn off all faucets, empty washing machine, and put the softener back in service.
Following the above steps will result in removal of loose sediment from your water system and ensures
high quality, fresh water for your home or business.
I'm
installing a water softener and need to know how hard the water is. Can the City give me that information?
Water
from the Savage Water Treatment plant is on the average 19 grains hard. Another way to express this
is 317 parts per million of total hardness measured as CaCo3. This is moderately hard water.
Why
is there an odor coming from my water?
Generally,
odor is caused by two things:
- Mineral buildup in the pipes and dissolved in the water.
- Chemicals added during treatment, such as chlorine.
Chlorine reacts with minerals in the pipes and water, which gives off a chlorine smell.
Flushing
of the house plumbing will normally alleviate the problem.
Why
is my water rusty and what can I do about it?
Rusty
water is caused by iron mineral in the water and build-up in the home's plumbing. Flushing of the house plumbing will normally alleviate the problem.
Where
does our water come from?
The
City withdraws water from wells ranging in depth from 150 feet to 1000 feet. The age
of this water is typically greater than 40,000 years old.
Why
do I have low water pressure?
Low
water pressure can be caused by a number of things:
- Partially closed valves either in the home or outside at the shutoff.
- Pipes clogged with minerals.
- Malfunctioning water softener.
- Home at a high elevation compared to the water tower.
Is
anything added to the water?
Yes.
The well water is first aerated to release any trapped gasses and to oxidize the iron, then it
is filtered though graded gravels and activated carbon to remove the iron and manganese, which
contributes to hardness. Fluoride is then added, as mandated by law, for the prevention of
tooth decay. Chlorine is also added to prevent any disease causing bacteria from contaminating
the water. Potassium Permanganate
and Hydrous Maganese Oxides are added as
filtering agents. All of these chemicals
are safe and strictly regulated by the Department of Health.
Is
any testing done to make sure the water is safe?
Most
definitely. Hundreds of tests are done in the course of the year to make sure the water is
safe and palatable. Representative sites are sampled throughout the City on a daily, weekly,
monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis. Some of the things that are tested for include:
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- disinfectant byproducts (15)
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How
much water do we use?
Savage
residents use over 1 billion gallons yearly. Minnesota residents use 1.2 trillion
gallons yearly. The national average of water consumption is 100 gallons per person per
day. Savage residents consume on average, 73.6
gallons per person per day.
Where
does our sewage go?
All
wastewater is pumped to the Seneca Wastewater Treatment Plant in Eagan, which is owned
by the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services. Savage taxpayers pay over $100,000 per
month for this service.
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