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1. Where can I learn additional details on Chlorine Burnout?

Chlorine Burnout Press Release

2. Where can I see the Chlorine Burnout PSA?

Chlorine Burnout Public Service Announcement

3. How do I read my meter or check for leak?

The City has installed meters that are capable of being read though radio transmission rather than manually for billing purposes. However you can still read the meters manually and check for leaks. Please view the guide for reading your water meter.

These meters also have the ability to store water usage data for the last 96 days. If you believe you have had a leak, or have questions about your water usage this data can be retrieved and provided to you upon request at no charge.
Guide For Reading Your Water Meter (PDF)

4. What happens if I have a water leak?

The customer is responsible for plumbing from the customer side of the water meter on, toward the house. The Water Utility Department is responsible for water lines from the Treatment Plant to the meter. If the leak is on customer side, please call a local plumber. If the leak is on the utility side, please report it right away to the Treatment Plant at 620-223-5160.

5. What is a Cross Connection/Backflow?

Cross Connection between water supplies and non potable sources of contamination represent one of the most significant threats to health in the water industry.

Backflow is the reversal of water from its intended direction due to a pressure differential. It can occur anywhere that has a potential of cross connection in a water system, including:
- Dishwashers
- Faucets
- Fountains
- Garbage disposals
- Hoses
- Lawn irrigation
- Pools
- Shower heads
- Toilets

Visit the American Backflow Prevention Association for additional information and resources.

6. What does the City do about Cross Connection/Backflow?

The City has a Cross Connection Program that is designed to maintain the standards of water potability by establishing rules and procedures to control potential cross connection and prevent contamination of public drinking water by the installation and maintenance of approved backflow devices.

For more information, view the website DrinkTap.org

7. Where can I get bulk water?

The City of Fort Scott operates a coin operated water supply filling station at 758 South Wilson Street. The filling station or "water crane" as it is called by many locals. The water on site is potable (that is drinking water), as it is connected directly to the distribution system. Attached to the water crane hose is a permanent air gap that prevents cross-connections by not allowing the hose to enter a water tank.

8. Why are my dishes spotted?

On the 1st of July 2010, all Dishwasher Detergent manufactures voluntarily eliminated phosphates from their products in response to 16 states in the USA banning phosphates from dishwasher detergents. Phosphates helped the cleaning process but were banned due to their negative affect on the environment. One of the ways the phosphates helped was to eliminate or reduce lime scale inside a dishwasher in hard water areas.

What is hard water?
Hard water refers to the natural mineral content in our water, comprised mostly of calcium, with some iron and manganese. Hardness is commonly measured in grains per gallon (gpg). Most detergent manufactures say that any water with hardness greater than 10.5 gpg is considered very hard. Here in Fort Scott our water has an average hardness of 12 gpg. Under typical conditions, the majority of these minerals will stay in solution. However, in the high heat of a dishwasher, boiling pot, coffee pot, etc. the minerals tend to come out of solution and deposit onto surfaces. Then the minerals are simply left behind as the water is evaporated. This is commonly called lime scale or hard water scale. This inconvenience is now more pronounced on our dishes because of the elimination of phosphates in the dishwasher detergents. The phosphates helped keep the minerals ‘bound up,’ or in solution, so that they were not as easily deposited on dishes.

What can be done to help prevent this inconvenience? There are multiple dishwater rinse aids that can be purchased. Most are citrus based. One can even use regular lemon juice as a rise aid!

9. Why does our water look like milk coming out of the tap?

This is a common question in the cold winter months. The milky appearance of the water is due to air entrapped in the water. Cold water is able to hold more dissolved oxygen than warm water, and remember that the water is under pressure until it is free of the tap. Therefore, when the water is exposed to the atmosphere, the dissolved oxygen immediately begins to come out of solution or off-gas into the air. This is exactly the same principle that happens with carbonated soda pop or beer. As soon as a carbonated beverage is opened, the dissolved carbon dioxide begins to off-gas. If you simply allow your glass of water to sit on the counter for a minute you will see it quickly clear up and look like normal. The milky color is simply air and poses no risk.

10. What causes water main breaks?

Water mains and services can suffer a break at any time and for a variety of reasons, such as freezing and thawing, old age, ground shift, construction and maintenance events, and more.

11. How do I know if a main break has occurred?

Symptoms can be loss of water pressure and flow, color or sediment in the water, standing or running water in the street, alley, or easement.

12. How does the water treatment plant work?

To learn about the process, visit the Water Treatment Plant page.

13. Where can I see analysis data for my tap water?

To learn about where to find analysis data, visit the Tap Water Data page.

14. What to do when your pipes freeze?

15. How to Check for Water Leaks?