What if I Have Air in My Water Pipes?

If you've had your water service turned off for any reason or if there has been work on the main line, you may notice that the water comes out of your faucet in noisy spurts. This is caused by pockets of air in the line. These pockets will work their way out over time, but you can hasten this process by turning on all of the taps at the same time, forcing the air out.

How Do I Charge My Sprinkler System in the Spring?

As long as there was no freeze damage that occurred over the winter months, this is a very simple process. However, there are a few points to keep in mind.

Start by opening the valves and blowing the air out of each zone individually. When turning a zone on for the first time, be sure to open the valve slowly. Otherwise, the sharp pressure increase may damage the lines. Once the air pockets are gone, the zone should operate smoothly and with equal pressure at all points. Be sure to check for potential leaks that may have developed while the system was shut down. Soft spots in the grass and water bubbling up from the ground are signs that there may be a leak in the system. If you do notice a leak and aren't sure how to fix it yourself, there are plenty of licensed contractors in the Yellow Pages under landscape contractors.

Here in Colorado, water conservation is a high priority. So once you're up and running, be sure to check for proper sprinkler head operation and alignment. Sprinkler heads are also a common source of leaks in the system, so keep an eye out and make repairs promptly. Make sure your time clocks are set for the most efficient water usage and are in compliance with the city's mandatory watering schedule. Call 303-450-8716 for a recorded message regarding Northglenn's current water restrictions.

If you have a testable backflow preventer on your sprinkler system, have it tested annually by a state-certified cross connection control technician so you can be sure it operates properly all year long. You can find a listing of cross connection control technicians in the Yellow Pages under "backflow prevention devices." Find more information on the cross connection control and backflow prevention page.

Why Do I Taste Chlorine in My Water and How Do I Get Rid of It?

Chlorine, a disinfectant, is added to the water in its final treatment stage to kill bacteria and viruses. This is the most efficient and cost-effective method available. The amount used is well below a level that would impact humans, but some people are more sensitive to the taste and odor of chlorine than others and may find it objectionable. An inexpensive way to minimize this is to keep a jug of water in the refrigerator for drinking; the colder the water, the less noticeable the taste and odor of chlorine.

Why is Fire Hydrant Flushing Necessary and Why Does the City do it at Night?

Each spring city crews flush every fire hydrant along the 110 miles of water mains in Northglenn to remove debris in the form of sand particles or pipe scale. We have found that night flushing results in fewer problems for our residents and businesses as water demand is low, cooking, showering and other normal daily activities are not disturbed, and there will be less interference with vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Small amounts of iron and manganese may temporarily discolor your water during this process, but this is not harmful. If you notice a rusty tinge to your water, open all your faucets at the same time for a few minutes until the water runs clear. Questions about the hydrant flushing program may be directed to the Utilities Division at 303-451-1289.

What if My Water Pipes Freeze?

During an extended cold period, water pipes may freeze.

Before you try to thaw them out, locate the master shutoff. It can usually be found where the water line comes into your house from the street, or it may be near the water heater or washing machine. It's a good idea to locate this valve before a problem develops; paint it a bright color or hang a tag or colorful ribbon from it so you can find it easily when you need to. If the pipe is frozen, it may already have burst and when it thaws, the water will come gushing out. So before thawing the pipe, be sure you know the location of the shutoff valve.

Never use a torch with an open flame to thaw the pipe. This could start a house fire, weaken the solder joint and allow the pipe to come apart, or it could overheat a single spot and burst the pipe. It's best to use a hair dryer on a low setting. Wave the warm air back and forth along the pipe. When it's thawed, you'll hear the water 'break loose.' If the pipe has broken, you'll see water leaking through the hole. If this is the case, turn off the water at the shutoff valve and call your plumber.

What is Hard Water?

Hardness in drinking water is caused by calcium, magnesium and other natural deposits found in our water source. When a high level of these two nontoxic minerals is present in the water supply, making a lather of suds for washing may be "hard" to do, and this is what the term "hard water" means.

A level of 50 mg-L or less is considered soft; a level of 300 mg-L or greater is considered hard and can make washing noticeably difficult. Northglenn's average level of hardness is 90 - 100 mg-L, which falls within the low moderate range. As a means of comparison, the level of hardness for our neighboring communities ranges from 50 mg-L to 188 mg-L.

Why Do I Need to Landscape Around Fire Hydrants and Meter Pits?

It's often necessary for city crews to perform work on fire hydrants and meter pits to assure that they are working in a reliable manner. Each hydrant has more than 50 parts, and each meter and pit has more than 30 parts that work together to allow correct operation. When city crews check or repair these items, they must have room to walk around, and sometimes excavate, the area near the hydrant or pit. By city ordinance, an area of 3 feet of unobstructed access must be provided from the street to the hydrant or pit, and 5 feet of unobstructed vertical access must be provided above the hydrant or pit for maintenance purposes. Residents and businesses are asked to keep landscaping within the limits of these requirements, not only for maintenance, but also for access by the fire department.

What's in the Water?

Water is composed of more than just two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen, it also contains just about everything it comes in contact with. That means it can contain hundreds of organic and inorganic substances as well as living organisms.

Your water treatment laboratory tries to determine what specific things are in the water and in what amounts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets regulations for water quality and indicates the amounts of various contaminants that are acceptable in public drinking water. The professionals at the Northglenn Water Treatment Facility remove and inactivate all of the harmful, or possibly harmful, constituents to make the "raw" water from Standley Lake fit to drink. Northglenn's drinking water not only meets EPA standards, it surpasses them! View the city's most recent Water Quality Report, to the right.

Where is My Water Shut-Off Valve Located?

The water shut-off valve is usually located in the basement or crawl space straight in from the meter pit located in your front yard. To turn the water off, turn the valve to the right. People in the house who are old enough to be able to operate the valve should be aware of its location and how to turn the water off in case of an emergency. Burst pipes may quickly flood an area before city crews can arrive to turn the water off at the meter pit, so a lot of damage can be avoided by turning it off at the inside valve.