Utility bills for water, sewer, and garbage are mailed on the first business day of each month. The bills are due in full by the last business day of the same month or a 1.5% penalty is applied. Charges are based on gallon consumption per billing period NOT number of days each month.
For emergencies related to water and sewer during office hours, simply call 276-988-2501. After hours, town crews can be dispatched through the 911 office.
Water usage high? Toilet leaks can be silent. Check your toilets for leaks at least once a year. An easy way to do this is to use a colored liquid, example: dark colored soda, koolaid, etc. Pour some of it into the back of the tank. Wait about 30 minutes. Look in the toilet bowl. If the water in the bowl has any color in it, then it is likely that your toilet is leaking.
A dripping faucet or fixture can waste 3 gallons of water a day. That is a total of 1,095 gallons a year!
Tips to save water:
* Take shorter showers
* Only do full loads of laundry
* Run only loads in the dishwasher
* Turn off the water when brushing your teeth
* Only water plants when they need it
Or, pay by phone at (855)851-5398
**There is a fee to pay online or by phone, charged by the service provider, not the Town of Tazewell.
In-Town water access fees are as indicated or cost plus 10%, whichever is greater; multi-family rates based on Equivalent Dwelling.
Out of Town water access fees are 150% of Town rates or cost plus 10%, whichever is greater.
Water deposits are required of all residential renters and collected prior to service being connected. Refundable, without interest, at the termination of service or when no longer renting.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEAD IN YOUR DRINKING WATER
The Town of Tazewell found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes/buildings. Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read this information closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking water.
Health Effects of Lead
Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women. Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the brain with lowered IQ in children. Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Lead is stored in the bones and it can be released later in life. During pregnancy, the child receives lead from the mother’s bones. which may affect brain development.
Sources of Lead
Lead is a common metal found in the environment that has been in many consumer products but is now known to be harmful to human health if ingested or inhaled. Drinking water is one possible source of lead exposure. The main sources of lead exposure are lead-based paint and lead contaminated dust or soil, and some plumbing materials. In addition, lead can be found in certain types of pottery, pewter, brass fixtures, food, and cosmetics. Other sources include exposure in the work place and exposure from certain hobbies (lead can be carried on clothing or shoes). Wash your children’s hands and toys often as they can come into contact with dirt and dust containing lead. Lead is rarely found in natural sources of water such as rivers, lakes, wells or springs.
New brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as “lead-free,” may contribute lead to drinking water. The Safe Drinking Water Act defines “lead free” as no more than 0.2 percent lead when used with respect to solder and flux; and no more than 0.25 percent for pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures based on a weighted average of the wetted surfaces. Consumers should be aware of this when choosing fixtures and take appropriate precautions.
Tazewell does not have any lead in its source water or water mains in the street. When water is in contact with pipes (or service lines) or plumbing that contains lead for several hours, the lead may enter drinking water. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have plumbing containing lead. New homes may also have lead; even “lead-free” plumbing may contain some lead.
EPA estimates that 10 to 20 percent of a person’s potential exposure to lead may come from drinking water. Infants who consume mostly formula mixed with lead-containing water can receive 40 to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water.
The Town purchases your drinking water from the Tazewell County PSA. The PSA is installing treatment facilities at the Greater Tazewell Water Treatment Plant that are scheduled to start operation on February 15, 2019. The new treatment capability will inhibit leaching of lead from plumbing fixtures. We will be testing the water to verify the success of the treatment system.
Steps You Can Take To Reduce Your Exposure to Lead in Your Water
Lead may work its way into drinking water after the water entered the distribution system and is on its way to consumers taps. This usually happens through the corrosion of materials containing lead in household plumbing. These materials include brass faucets, lead solder on copper pipes, lead pipes, or lead service lines connecting the water main to the inside plumbing. Lead pipes are no longer installed for service lines or in household plumbing and lead solder has been outlawed in Virginia since 1985. If you live in a building in which the inside plumbing contains lead-based materials, there are several steps you can take to reduce your exposure to lead in drinking water.
1. Run your water for 30 seconds to 2 minutes to flush out lead. If water hasn’t been used for several hours, allow the water to run at the tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using it for drinking or cooking. This action flushes the lead-containing water from the pipes. The water you run from drinking water taps does not have to be wasted. You can use this water for cleaning purposes or for watering plants. You may want to keep a container of drinking water in your refrigerator, so you don’t have to run water every time you need it.
2. Use water from the cold water tap for cooking and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap; lead dissolves more easily in hot water. Do not use water from the hot water tap to make baby formula.
3. Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling does not reduce or remove lead.
4. Consider installing a filter. You may want to consider installing a water filter. Ensure that the filter is approved to reduce lead or contact the National Sanitation Foundation at 800-NSF-8010 or www.nsf.org for information on performance standards for these types of water filters. If you choose to install a lead removal filter, be sure to maintain and replace the filter in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to protect water quality.
5. Get your child tested. Contact your local health department or healthcare provider to find out how you can get your child’s blood tested for lead if you are concerned about exposure.
6. Identify and replace any plumbing fixtures that contain lead. Brass faucets, fittings, and valves manufactured before January 4, 2014, may contribute lead to drinking water, including those advertised as “lead-free.” Under current law, “lead free” means no more than 0.2% lead in solder and flux, and 0.25% lead for pipe, pipe fittings, and components. Visit the National Sanitation Foundation Web site at www.nsf.org to learn more about lead-containing plumbing fixtures.
7. Test your Water for Lead. Call us at (276)988-2501 to find out how to get your water tested for lead.
For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit EPA’s Website at www.epa.gov/lead contact your healthcare provider, or your County/City Local Health Department.
This notice is brought to you by the Town of Tazewell. State Water System ID# 1185761 Date 2/11/2019
There has been a set mandate from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) to better protect children and communities from the risks of lead exposure through water lines. The Lead Elimination Assistance Program “LEAP” campaign was recently launched by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water to promote and educate both localities and homeowners about the dangers of lead service lines.
Under Executive Order 13990, it is required that all localities within the United States report the type of water lines in use by the service line (Town line) and the customer’s line.
The Town of Tazewell must compile a Lead Service Line Inventory (LSL Inventory). The inventory must include the Town’s portion of the water service line (before and including the water meter) and the customer’s portion of the service line (after the water meter into the home or business). Lead service lines were primarily installed during the late 1800s through the 1940s with a federal lead ban effective June 19, 1986.
All municipalities in the United States are required to complete the Lead Service Line inventory. The Town of Tazewell will be conducting a customer survey in order to gain information on the type of service lines going into their homes. Please watch for this survey in your next water bill. If you will, fill out this brief survey and return to the Town of Tazewell by September 15, 2023. We would greatly appreciate your assistance in achieving compliance by completing the survey. Thank you for your cooperation.
