Where does the City get its water?
O'Fallon purchases water from Illinois-American Water Company. Their production plant is in East St. Louis. It is distributed to 16,000 water customers in both O'Fallon and Fairview Heights through City pipelines (260+ miles) from our receiving point near the French Village Metro Station in Fairview Heights. There are three half-million gallon, elevated storage towers - at St. Clair Mall, near O'Fallon YMCA, and near Moye Elementary School. There are two million gallon, elevated storage towers - near Fulton Jr. High School and OTHS's Milburn Campus. Additionally, there are two ground storage tanks capable of holding another one and a half-million gallons at the O’Fallon Public Works Yard. The distribution system, with some piping in excess of 60-years old, is constantly undergoing improvement.
There are 10 full-time employees in the Public Works Water Division and 2 billing clerks at City Hall dedicated to providing safe drinking water to our City’s water customers.
Why does water cost so much?
Based on a survey conducted by the City of Carbondale, Illinois (August 2010) of Illinois and Indiana cities with both water and sewer utilities. This link shows you the current water rates for water provided by the City.
What are the current rates for water & sewer?
Click here to see the current water and sewer rates for water provided by the City. This link leads to information on an average water bill for residents of O'Fallon, Fairview and the Unicorporated areas (demographic information provided by the EPA).
How safe is our drinking water supply?
Extensive testing is regularly done to assure the safety of our drinking water. Illinois-American Water Co. conducts more than 30 tests for water quality. The O'Fallon Water Division also tests 50 water samples monthly for bacteriological contamination at random locations throughout the system. Independent laboratories conduct other tests for copper, lead, total trihalomethanes (TTHM), haloacetic acids (HAA), and other potentially harmful chemicals. A Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) is published annually and sent to all customers to advise them of water quality efforts and testing results. This page links to the most recent Water Quality Report.
Why does the City require homeowners to have backflow devices and have them tested yearly?
These devices are required for homeowners with in-ground irrigation systems anf are for the safety of your water. The device is required by the Illinois Plumbing Code. Backflow and cross connection prevention has been instituted to prevent harmful substances from siphoning into the City's water system. This is a requirement for every water system in the United States as part of the Clean Water Act legislation. The O'Fallon program must meet Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) mandates.
Can I pay my bill by debit or credit card?
The City of O'Fallon Utility Billing Division offers many ways to pay your bill. Payments may be made by cash, check, or money order in our office, you can mail checks or money orders into our office, or place them in our drop box located at City Hall. Recently added services include paying with a credit card (Discover, American Express or Mastercard) online at Illinois E-pay or you can sign a contract with our office to have the amount of the bill directly bank drafted from your savings or checking account. Contact our office at 618-624-4500, ext. 1 for further questions.
What can I do to extend my payment deadline?
For customers having problems meeting payment deadlines, the City offers payment plans. These payment plans are a benefit for the customer. They allow customers to retain their service in good faith providing a more convenient payment schedule. This payment plan is a form that can be filled out and signed at City Hall or now can be filled out online. To fill out the payment plan online, click here. If you call ahead in enough time prior to the disconnection date, we can fill out the form and mail it to your home address for signature. If you have access to a
fax machine we can also fax the form or e-mail it to you. You must, however, allow enough time for the form to arrive back in our office prior to the disconnection date. Please be advised that whatever method you choose to make the payment extension, all extensions must be confirmed and approved by a Utility Billing Division employee.
I've just filled my swimming pool. Can I get a break on my water bill?
Adjustments for swimming pools are not given on an individual basis. However, the city offers sewer averaging to all customers on their particular summer billing. This sewer averaging is a benefit given to relieve sewer customers of exorbitant summer bills due to heavy water use.
Although the sewer rate remains the same, the consumption is calculated by averaging the consumption amounts from the 9 prior billing periods. The consumer is then billed this average consumption amount for sewer on their summer billing. If the calculated average consumption is greater then actual consumption, the customer is billed for the actual amount.
I've just repaired a leak. Can I get an adjustment on my water bill?
Leak rate adjustments are given to residents that have had a service line leak only. The definition of a service line leak for these purposes is a leak that occurred in the water line between the meter and the building. This leak must be repaired and verified by either the resident through plumbing bills or by our water service men.
If the leak is found to have been a service line leak and is verified as repaired by our department, a leak basis bill is calculated as follows:
An average consumption is calculated for the residence by using the customer's history. Then a bill is calculated based upon this average consumption. The customer is then also billed only water charges on the additional gallons of consumption based on the City's lowest water rates for that particular billing section. The consumer does not pay for sewer or surcharges on the additional or "leak" gallons of consumption.
The O'Fallon Water Billing Division realizes that some bills may carry over to the next billing period; therefore, the limit for leak adjustments on the same leak is two billing periods.
How many miles of water main does the City maintain?
The City has approximately 260 miles of water main.
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