Most of these questions are can be answered by reading the Conservancy District's Rates and Rules document, which is available on this site in the Documents section or by visitng the Conservancy District office.
My contact information (phone number, billing address, et cetera) has changed. Do I need to inform the conservancy district?
YES. It is the customers’ responsibility to notify the Conservancy of any change of address. Please come in or call the office to change your contact information. Failure to update your contact information will NOT prevent liability for ongoing charges.
Can I transfer my service to another person without having to have the water shut off and turned on again?
Yes, However, a Transfer Fee of Twenty-Five dollars ($25.00) is charged for a change of name as a result of new contract, purchase or lease.
Can I get my water turned on without paying an Unlock Fee?
No, the $75.00 Unlock Fee must be paid before we will create a work order and complete the task.
How soon can you turn my water on after I pay the unlock fee?
While we strive to handle unlocks in a timely manner, we ask for at least 48 hours notice. Please understand that there are many other jobs that need to get done each day. Therefore, your unlock request is placed in the queue and will be handled in order that they were recieved. If you are unfamiliar with the Conservancy District's rules, we recommend you read them.
Why can't we be informed of all water shutdowns in advance?
In most cases loss of water supply is for very short periods of time. VBLCD is not usually in a position to inform of shutdowns in advance as they usually are of an emergency nature, i.e. burst mains, and our priority is to attend to the problem and repair the burst as quickly as possible.
My water supply was off recently and the water is discoloured coming from the tap. Why?
When the water supply has been switched off to carry out repairs to burst mains etc., some sediment can become dislodged from the water pipes during the switching back on of the supply. If you run the water for a short time it will run clear.
How do I locate my water pit?
The easiest way to find your water pit is look under your residence and trace your water line down to the ground. At that point you will see your line hooked to a valve on a line that runs down into the ground to the buried main. The valve is likely beneath ground level housed in a large tube referred to as the ‘water pit’.
Should I have a 'whole house shut-off valve' installed?
The short answer is: YES! A whole house shut-off valve allows you to turn off the water service to your residence in order to stop a leak in your lines and/or make repairs. If the Conservancy is called out to turn your water off because of a leak in your lines, you can be charged a $50.00 emergency shut-off charge.
How do I find my sewage hookup?
The easiest way to find your sewage hookup is by visually following a drain pipe from under your residence to the point where it turns down into the ground. The pipes going into the ground are generally 4” to 6” in diameter. They’re usually green or white.
What plumbing am I responsible for as the home owner/resident?
Anything located below the valve on your service hookup (in the water pit) is the responsibility of VBL Conservancy, anything above that valve (including any nipples, reducers or other adapters) is the responsibility of the resident. For example, if a leak develops in a water pipe that supplies water to your garden hose faucet, that is YOUR responsibility. The Conservancy can shut your water off to your residence in order for you to get it repaired, or if the leak goes unrepaired and treated water is being wasted.
What constitutes an emergency or 'after hours' call?
An emergency is any event that disrupts the normal supply of clean water to your home - such as a burst water main.
Is there a charge for after hours or emergency calls?
There will be no charge if it is an actual emergency. However, if a conservancy employee shows up to find that it is not an emergency, or not a problem with the conservancy's lines or supply, a $50.00 callout charge will be added to your next bill.
What causes sewer blockages?
Blockages are often caused by soil settlement, misaligned joints, tree roots, pipe collapse, grease buildup, or by placing items in your system that should not be flushed down a drain. Please refer to the following document about what not to flush.
What should I do if my sewer backs up?
Please read through this brief document to help diagnose the problem: Sewer Problem Checklist.If the main sewer line is backed up, call the Conservancy's office right away and report the incident. If after office hours call the emergency number and report the incident. If possible, move any yard decorations or debri that might restict access to your sewer hookup and any cleanouts located on your property - we may need to use a large roto-rooter or get equipment to the cleanouts.
Why is my tash not getting picked up?
Trash collection is not orchestrated by the Conservancy District. Please contact Republic Services with all trash related questions.
How much do trash bags cost?
Trash bags are no longer sold by the Conservancy District. Please contact Republic Services with all trash related questions.