Q:     If I am interested in water and sewer services, what must I do?

A:     If an existing water or sewer line is available, please contact the District for fees and charges.  Extensions of existing water or sewer lines are often initiated either by EPA or Health Department orders for sewage treatment. Extensions of water or sewer lines also can originate through petitions submitted by benefiting property owners. Petitions for service can be obtained by contacting the District office.

Q:     Do I have to tap into the water or sewer if a line is extended past my property even when I may benefit?

A:     No, you are not required to tap into a water line but you could be assessed for this benefit since you now have improved fire protection capability.

On the other hand, the Wood County Health Department rules require you to tap into a local sewer line if your “plumbed building’s” foundation is within 400 feet of a public sewer line.

Q:     How much can I expect to pay in a water or sewer assessment?

A:     Water and sewer project costs vary due to either density of homes or geography of the area to be served which may include rock excavation and other natural problems. However, a water assessment for a single-family dwelling with approximately 100 feet of frontage averages between $6,000 and $23,000 over the last few projects that we have done. Sewer projects on the other hand, are generally more expensive due to more complex construction required to provide services. Both of these ranges vary greatly due to the scope of the area and the complexity of the project, availability of grants, and the number of affected dwelling units.

Q:     How does the Northwestern Water & Sewer District decide whether to proceed on a petitioned water or sewer project?

A:     Whereas the Ohio Revised Code does not specify the necessary percentages of support to proceed with a project, our Board does seek specific support through public meetings before choosing to proceed with spending money on preliminary engineering and design. The current policy requires at least 60% of the benefiting property owners to sign the petition in order for the Board to consider it. If this percentage is reached, the Board may choose to proceed and assess all property owners along the route who benefit. If this percentage is not reached, the project could proceed, but without assessing all owners. In this case, only those residents who petitioned for the project would be charged.

Q:     If I choose to tap into a water line, will I have the option of retaining my well?

A:     Yes, you are allowed to continue using your well for outside, non-domestic water use. However, these sources cannot be cross-connected or used for indoor, domestic use. So, in essence, you must have two separate piping systems: one for inside use, the second for outside.

Q:     Will the likely source be river or lake water?  What is the water quality?

A:     The source of the water may be from any one of five water providers. Depending on your distance from the source and the service area in which you reside, it may be from the city of Oregon, Toledo, Perrysburg, Bowling Green or Fostoria. On the sewer side, Lucas County also provides treatment as well as the entities listed previously. Oregon and Toledo treat lake water. Perrysburg purchases water from Toledo and resells it. Bowling Green and Fostoria treat water from rivers or stored in reservoirs. Copies of the current year’s Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) are available by contacting the District. These reports provide details on the water quality for each water system.

Q:     What side of the road will be chosen for construction?

A:     Engineers determine the most cost effective and sensible means to serve the project. Thus, details vary based on the location of other utilities, road right-of-way options, and a variety of natural barriers.

Q:     Can farm ground be assessed?

A:     Yes, but if the farm ground meets the "agricultural use" definition of the Wood County Auditor, the assessment can be deferred from collection until the ground no longer meets this definition.


Summary
     
We hope you find this information useful. Remember, these are GENERAL answers to the common, most often asked questions. As you know, specific projects may vary on these issues.