Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

If I have questions or problems who should I contact?

You can call any director or the DBWUA office (see elsewhere on this site). The General Manager has office hours in the morning until about 10am (Island time). Other times, the DBWUA answering machine has a list of phone numbers to call for emergencies.

 

What part of the water system am I responsible for maintaining?

You own and are responsible for the entire service line from and including the tap on the main into your house. The exception to this is that DBWUA owns and maintains the water meter.

 

Do I need a pressure reducing valve (prv) on my service line?

DBWUA strongly recommends that you install a prv on your service line to protect your plumbing from pressure surges that can be expected to occur in the system. You can either install it at the meter setting or where the service line enters your house.

 

How much does DBWUA charge for water?

In 2004-2005 the annual fee was $400/membership/year. In addition, there is a metered water surcharge in the months of May, June, July, and August for any amount of water used over 6,000 gallons/month membership according to the following schedule (per membership per month):

0 to 6,000 gallons         No charge

6,001 to 9,000 gallons         $3/1,000 gallons

9,001 to 12,000 gallons         $8/1,000 gallons

12,001 gallons and over          $15/1,000 gallons

 

How can I save money on my metered consumption?

The two main ways to save water (and money) are by controlling leaks and managing your irrigation.

Leaks at a sink are obvious. Leaking toilets can be discovered by adding dye to the toilet tank and observing whether any color shows up in the bowl. Leaks in your service line can be discovered by examining your meter. On the face of the meter is a ≥flow-finder≤. This is a small red or black dial that is shaped like a triangle or a spider. It rotates for the smallest flow. If you see that moving when there is no one using water in the house then you have a leak. The smallest leak can have expensive consequences! A leak of a pint a minute can use up your 6,000 gallons of ≥no charge≤ water in a month.

 

Irrigation should be done by hand or through well maintained drip systems to insure that only the amount of water needed is applied and even then only to the target plant. There are many beautiful gardens in our system that are maintained using very little water by using island-adaptive plants, mulch, and targeted irrigation. If you feel that you need to irrigate a lawn or otherwise use spray-type sprinklers extensively be prepared to pay high water bills. Our system is simply not designed to support that type of water usage.

 

I have a standpipe on my property that is about 2" in diameter. What is it and what can I use it for?

This is a first aid fire hydrant installed at the owner's option and cost. It is to be used only for fire suppression. As part of the service line, it is the owner's responsibility to keep this in good operating order. It is not to be used for irrigation or flushing your lines unless it is metered.

 

What should I do if I leave the island for a lengthy period?

Shut off your water supply at the meter valve. Make sure the insulation blanket is in place before you walk away from the meter box.