FOR RESIDENTS
Water & Sewer
- 2006 Drinking Water Report
- Filters and softeners
- Reporting problems
- Utility bill
- Water conservation
- Water meters
- Water/ Sewer accounts
- Watering restrictions
Water filters and softeners
If you like the taste of filtered water but don't want the expense of buying bottled water, try running your tap each morning for 30 to 60 seconds or until it feels cold. Running the water each morning flushes out the water that has sat overnight in your home's pipes and replaces it with fresh water from the distribution system.
If you opt to purchase a home water filtration system, be sure to maintain your filter. If filters are not changed frequently, they can become a breeding ground for bacteria. St. Louis Park's water contains higher levels of iron and calcium than some areas of the country, so you may need to change your filter more often than the manufacturer recommends.
If your filtration system removes fluoride, you may wish to consult your dentist about the dental health implications of using non-fluoridated water.
If you buy bottled water, be aware that water bottlers are subject to less rigorous testing, treatment and public notification requirements than municipal water suppliers.
St. Louis Park's water hardness is 18 grains: a level that responds well to a home-softening device. To avoid adding salt to your drinking water, soften only your hot water supply or leave the kitchen tap unsoftened.
St. Louis Park's water supply is tested frequently . To see the water quality report, click here.
Water/Sewer problems
If you have a problem with your water or sewer service, call the city before calling a plumber or private drain cleaning company. City utility workers will help you determine if the problem is in the city's lines or yours. If the problem is in the city's lines, the city will fix it. If the problem is in the property owner's line, the property owner is responsible for cleaning or repair. (If the homeowner wishes, major repair or replacement costs of water/sewer lines can be paid via special assessment. Call 952/924-2557 for more information.)
There is no charge for a city utility worker to come out and evaluate the problem. Call the city if:
- Water backs up in your basement
- You smell sewer gas inside your home
- Water is discolored
- Water pressure is low
- Water is running into the street.
To reach the city utility department on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., call - (952) 924-2558.
After 3:30 p.m. or on weekends, call the police dispatcher - (952) 924-2618.
If you have a large tree on your lot, you may wish to hire someone to clean your sewer service line every year or two to prevent tree roots from blocking your line and causing a basement water back-up.
Each spring for one week, city crews flush watermains to break loose normal mineral build-up inside the mains. This housekeeping procedure breaks loose iron particles from the watermains which can temporarily discolor water. Iron occurs naturally in groundwater and isn't harmful to your health; however, it can stain clothing if you happen to be washing clothes at the same time the mains are being cleaned. If this happens, keep the laundered items wet and call (952) 924-2558. A city worker will bring you a chemical to remove the stains.
Water/Sewer bills
Water bills are based on how much water your household used in the last three months. Sewer bills are based on the household's winter quarter water use, the season when water consumption is lowest.
Homeowners are billed quarterly by the city for water/sewer service; the fee for garbage collection is also included in your utility bill. Questions about your utility bill can be answered by calling - (952)924-2111.
Water conservation
Here's how to conserve water and lower your water bills
Sprinkle lawns early in the morning or in the evening. Don't sprinkle lawns from noon to 6 p.m. when as much as 75 percent of the water evaporates. Remember that the sprinkling ordinance does not allow sprinkling between noon and 6:00 p.m. on every day of the week. Before noon and after 6:00 p.m., the city follows and odd even system (sprinkle on even days if your address is even-numbered). Water trees and gardens with a hose or soaker hose rather than a sprinkler. Use mulch around trees, shrubs and flowers to retain soil moisture. Sweep driveways and sidewalks with a broom rather than hosing them down. Repair leaky taps and toilets. A dripping faucet can waste 15 to 20 gallons of water a day.
Please help us avoid a water shortage. During a typical hot summer day, St. Louis Park rises to 12 million to 14 million gallons each day, as compared to 5 million to 6 million gallons each day in winter.
Water meters
Meter readers carry identification and come once each quarter to read your meter. Most water meters are located on the outside of homes.
For the few homes which still have indoor meters, there is an additional $2 charge for reading an indoor meter. To avoid the $2 charge, you can have an outdoor water meter register installed. This enables meter readers to get a quick, accurate meter reading without entering your home. For most homes, installation costs $25. You can include the installation fee on your quarterly utility bill. Call (952) 924-2558 for more information.
If the City finds that your indoor meter is not working, you will be contacted so a City worker can repair or replace the meter. Meter replacement is a free service. If you receive a notice about a faulty meter, please take a few minutes to schedule an appointment for replacement. Failure to grant access for meter repair or replacement is subject to a fine. Replacing a faulty meter will ensure you are billed only for the amount of water you actually use.
Water/Sewer - changing accounts
If you are a new homeowner, you need to change the water service account from the former owner's name to yours. To do this, call the utility billing office - (952) 924-2111.
Watering restrictions
To conserve water, St. Louis Park prohibits lawn sprinkling between noon and 6 p.m. In addition, all households and businesses must follow an odd/even schedule when sprinking lawns. (Properties with odd numbered addresses sprinkle on odd numbered days on the calendar; properties with even numbered addresses sprinkle on even numbered days. )
During water shortages, additional conservation measures may be required. These can include limiting watering to once every five days or banning all outdoor sprinkling. Should this situation arise, a notice will be posted on this web site in the What's New > Special Alerts section.
Exceptions: New sod or seed, and newly planted shrubs, trees and landscaping are exempt from the odd/even schedule. Flower gardens are also exempt. Even in these circumstances, sprinkling must be done before noon or after 6 p.m.
Fines: The first offense fine for failing to follow sprinkling restrictions is $25. After that, the fine rises by $10 for each subsequent violation. (For example, the second violation is $35, the third violation is $45, etc.)