Devils Lake Public Utilities Department (Water)

Joel Myhro serves as the Devils Lake Public Utilities Department Supervisor. Contact Phone Number: (701) 662-7623 Emergency On-call Cell Phone Number: (701) 351-0209 Fax Number: (701) 662-7625 Address: 2815 Highway 19 West, Devils Lake, ND 58301 Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Email Joel Myhro

Duties

The Devils Lake Public Utilities Department is responsible for water treatment, maintenance of city wells,
water meter usage and readings, hydrant maintenance, and water main maintenance.

Current Water Department Commissioner

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!

Call North Dakota One Call at 1-800-795-0555 or 811 to make sure that you don't run into any underground utilities. If you have any questions regarding the One Call procedure, or need information before making the call, you may call the City Engineer's office at (701) 662-7600, ext. 226.

Orange or Rusty Water

Each summer, the City flushes all its fire hydrants. It is necessary to do this to make sure the hydrants are operational, flush debris from water mains, and freshen the water. This may cause red, orange, or yellow water for a few days which is caused by iron (rust). The different colors can be attributed to different chemical forms of the iron (rust) and by varying concentrations of the rust in the water. Rusty water occurs from sediment in the pipes or rust from the inside walls of cast iron water mains. The rust can be disturbed and temporarily suspended in water with unusual water flows from water main breaks, construction, maintenance, or by flushing of a hydrant. This discolored water is not a health threat. When the water is discolored it is recommended to either not wash laundry, to use a rust stain remover, or use regular detergent as long as chlorine bleach is not used as it will react with the iron to form a permanent stain.

Customers can flush this water from their system by letting faucets run until the rusty water clears up. If the water does not clear up within 5 to 10 minutes then the rust is still present in the City main and you should wait for the main to clear before flushing your system. This should occur within a few hours.

If the water is unusually discolored or the situation continues for an extended time period, contact the Public Utilities Department at (701) 662-7623.

Milky White or Cloudy Water

Milky white water is almost always caused by air in the water. To see if the white color in the water is due to air, fill a clear glass with water and set it on the counter. Observe the glass of water for 2 or 3 minutes. If the white color is due to air, the water will begin to clear at the bottom of the glass first and then gradually will clear all the way to the top.

This is a natural phenomenon and is caused by dissolved air in the water that is released when the faucet is opened. When you relieve the pressure by opening the faucet and filling your glass with water, the air is now free to escape from the water, giving it a milky appearance for a few minutes. If your water is cloudy or milky white in appearance and it does not clear in a glass after 5 minutes, contact the Public Utilities Department at (701) 662-7623.

Hydrant Maintenance

During the winter months, please take the time to remove snow from around the hydrant
nearest your home. This could be the difference between life and death should a snow
covered hydrant be needed for a fire.

If you see a hydrant covered with snow and are unable to clear it yourself, please call the
Fire Department at (701) 662-3913.

Fees And Rates

• Current Fees and Rates Schedule
  
• Water Rates

Municipal Codes

Devils Lake Municipal Code

• Public Utilities - Title 13
  
• Opening Streets for Installation and Repair of Public Utilities - Title 12, Chapter 12.08
  
• Utility Bill - Title 3, Chapter 3.01
  
• Water Source - Title 3, Chapter 3.13

Consumer Confidence Reports

The City of Devils Lake, as required by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), has prepared the below reports and is distributing the information to our customers regarding this year's annual drinking water quality report. This is our opportunity to share information on the quality of water we provide to your home, apartment, or business. This report will also inform you of the source of our water, our treatment facilities, and processes. It is the City's goal to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water.

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New Water Source

The City of Devils Lake has purchased 200 acres of land and has completed the installation of the well field and transmission line for the new water source. On April 6, 2009, the City of Devils Lake began using water from our new well field. The City of Devils Lake's new water system is fed by four new wells near Hamar, ND. The water is carried from the well field to the City's reservoir through 33 miles of 16" pipeline. From the reservoir, the water is pumped to the water tower, and from there to your home. Rising lake waters were covering one-third (about six miles) of the city's 40 year old water transmission line, making it difficult or impossible to maintain. The State of North Dakota provided $8.5 million for the project, which includes a $4.5 million grant through the State Water Commission, and an additional $4 million low-interest loan through the State Health Department. The State share was used to build the transmission pipeline and develop a new well field. The Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency contributed the balance of funding.

The new water source complies with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The previous water source exceeded the allowable amount of arsenic, but the City is pleased to announce that the new water source complies with all regulations, including arsenic content.

The new water source is considerably softer than the previous water source, going from 21 grains of hardness to 6 grains of hardness.

The City works diligently to provide top quality water to every tap. In order to maintain a safe and dependable water supply we sometimes need to make improvements that will benefit all of our customers. These improvements sometimes require rate structure adjustments.

We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life and our children's future.

Any questions regarding the water source may be directed to the Public Utilities Department at (701) 662-7623 or the Engineering Department at (701) 662-7600, ext. 226.

New Water Treatment Plant

The City of Devils Lake in partnership with the State and Federal government has
constructed an iron/manganese filtration plant that removes the iron and manganese
to acceptable levels. The treatment plant has been in operation since November 22,
2010. After the filtration process, the water is treated with chlorine to kill bacteria and
an orthophosphate is added to control our lead and copper, which is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If present, elevated levels of lead can cause
serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in
drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines
and home plumbing. The City of Devils Lake Utilities is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components.

Use water from the cold tap for drinking and cooking. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your drinking water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Contaminants In Drinking Water

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk.

Some people are more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immune compromised persons such as those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, those who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.

The City of Devils Lake routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. More information on contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.