The document provides information about what to do in different situations regarding water service from the State College Borough Water Authority. It explains who to contact if you have questions during business hours or after hours. It also provides tips on what to do if your water consumption is higher than usual, such as checking for leaks, and explains reasons why you may not have water service, such as main breaks or violations of authority rules.

1. ATER WORDS
www.scbwa.
fall 2014
State College Borough Water Authority
W
WHAT TO DO IF...
Monday through Friday between the hours of
8:00AM to 4:30PM, call our office at (814) 238-
6766. At any other time call the Centre County
Communications non-emergency number at (800)
479-0050 and they will contact our personnel.
We accept credit card payments over the phone or
you can visit our website at www.scbwa.org and
use our online payment option.
High consumption may be due to additional
people in the house, summertime watering, a leak,
etc. All faucets, toilets, water softeners, etc., should
be checked immediately and a qualified plumber
called if a leak is suspected. You may always call the
Water Authority office for advice on ways to locate
water leaks.
Youmaynothavewaterduetoseveralreasons.There
may be a main break in the area, improvements to
the water system are being performed, or turned
off for a violation of the Rules and Regulations of
the Authority.
you are out of town and your payment is due?
you see an unusual amount of water
running down the street?
your consumption is higher than usual?
you don’t have water?
Check for Leaks
Frozen pipes and water meters are not
uncommon over the winter months and can
result in high consumption and cost, as well
as causing a lot of damage to your home and/
or property. Checking your water meter on a
weekly basis is a great way to stay on top of
leaks. If all water in your home is off, the meter
shouldn’t be running. If it is, try to pinpoint the
problem area. First check toilets, the most
common household leak, by doing a color
dye test. Place a few drops of food coloring
in the tank of your toilet and walk away for
20 minutes to a half hour. If the color bleeds
out into the toilet bowl during this time, you
have a leak. Did you know toilets don’t always
make a sound when leaking? If it is the toilet,
turn off the valve behind the toilet and check
your meter again. If the meter has stopped
running, you have found your leak. Even after
you pinpoint the leak, you should contact a
plumber ASAP for repairs.
Contribute to Your and Your
Community’s Safety...
Take a minute this winter to locate the fire
hydrant closest to your home or business.
We make it a priority to quickly shovel out
the most critical hydrants after a snow
storm; however, with over 1,200 hydrants,
we can’t complete the job alone. We
ask that you help protect your and your
neighbors’ homes and businesses by
helping to shovel out the hydrant closest
to you. In an emergency, those few extra
minutes saved in locating a fire hydrant
can be crucial.
in Your Home

2. WATER FACT
Help Prevent Unnecessary Costs This Winter...
and Winterize Your Pipes
Failure to properly winterize the pipes in your home could cause costly repairs and high consumption
costs. Before outdoor temperatures reach the freezing point, take a few minutes to properly winterize
your home.
The costly repair expenses that can result from frozen pipes and meters far exceed the time it takes
to winterize your home.
* Winterize your outdoor faucets. Remove hoses or nozzles, turn off the valve and drain
the faucet. Draining outdoor faucets reduces the risk of water freezing inside the pipes,
causing pipes to expand and break. Be sure to check all faucets in the spring once the
valves are turned back on.
* Seal off doors, air vents and cracks that allow winter winds to enter and quickly freeze
water pipes and meters.
* Insulate pipes located in unheated areas such as crawl spaces and garages. Don’t insulate
underneath the meter settings in a meter pit. This prevents the natural warmth of the
ground from reaching the meter.
* If you leave for long periods of time, remember to set your thermostat to at least 60
degrees and always have someone that can check your vacation or rental homes when you
are away. if possible, open doors to cabinets under sinks to allow the warm air to reach
the pipes.
Did you know that recycling helps to CONSERVE water? We all know recycling
reduces landfill waste, reduces pollution, reduces the need for natural elements (such
as trees), conserves energy and oil/coal. We never think about the amount of water that
is conserved from recycling. Recycled products use up to 50% less water to produce
than non-recycled products.
2014 COLLEGE AVENUE
WATERLINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT
The State College Borough Water Authority’s largest project of
2014, the College Avenue Waterline Replacement Project - Phase
II, was a success. All waterline and service line connections on
College Avenue from University Drive through Atherton Street
have now been replaced.
College Avenue from University Drive through Hiester Street have been completed in prior years
and Hiester Street through Atherton Street have recently been completed in August of 2014. The former
line was over 100 years old, making the replacement of this waterline crucial to the upkeep of our
water system’s infrastructure.
We’d like to thank local downtown merchants,
consumers, bypassers and visitors for your
patience and cooperation throughout the duration
of this project. We also thank all local entities and
organizations who have contributed to making this
project safe and successful for everyone.