Question 1

What sevices do you provide?

Accepted Answer

CCWP provides water to those living within our service area. We do not provide any electricity; all of Camano Island is serviced by Snohomish County PUD for electricity.

Question 2

How can I find who my water provider is?

Accepted Answer

There are hundreds of water providers on Camano Island. For a searchable map of Camano Island with all the water service providers, click here.

Question 3

My water is discolored - what should I do?

Accepted Answer

Brown Colored Water can be caused when sediment is stirred up in the water lines.  To clear the sediment from the lines try the following:

1. Go to your outdoor hose bib and run the water for a few minutes till it runs clear
 2. Back inside, go to the faucet that you believe is the furthest from  where the water comes into your house via your plumbing.  Run that  faucet till the water comes clear.
 3. Make your way through your house turning on each faucet until each separate one runs clear.

A special note, if you have used a lot of hot water, your hot water tank  may need to be flushed as well.  This can be done by running the hot  water from any faucet.

You should notice your water turning clear rather quickly.  If the issue  persists, please call our office to let us know and we can have a  professional come out to assist.

Question 4

Why does my hot water smell?

Accepted Answer

Harmless bacteria normally present in tap water can multiply in a water  heater and give off a “rotten egg” smell or give the water a  discolored/rusty appearance. In most cases, to eliminate smelly,  discolored, or rusty water, you must destroy the bacteria that are  causing the issue. In some cases, replacing the standard anode rod with a  special zinc anode rod may help reduce smelly water odor.

If your water heater was recently replaced, you may experience smelly  water even if you didn't with your old water heater. The metal on your  old water heater's anode rod was most likely depleted and no longer able  to react with the harmless bacteria to create a "rotten egg" smell.  Since your replacement water heater comes with a new anode rod, the  reaction starts and can produce smelly water.
In cases  where smelly, discolored, or rusty water is pronounced, you can raise  the tank temperature to 140°F in order to reduce bacteria growth in the  tank.

In some cases, rust-colored water may actually be caused by sand and/or  clay sediment. The sand and clay may get into the water heater during  the repair of a water main. In addition, water coming into the home  brings in particles of rust and other foreign materials and deposits  them at the bottom of the water heater tank, which in turn may cause  rust-colored water. It is recommended that the water heater be drained  and flushed every six months to get rid of built-up particles and  sediment.

Question 5

Why is my water pressure so low?

Accepted Answer

Why is my pressure low?
 Occasionally you may see a decrease or increase in the water pressure.  These are many possible causes of this problem, including air in the  water lines, faulty plumbing fixtures, or a defective pressure  regulating valve (many houses do not have a pressure reducing valve). Sometimes it indicates a large leak somewhere in your plumbing.
Pressure is lower than normal throughout my home...
If pressure is low throughout the house, air might be caught in the  lines. This can happen if there has been construction at your house or  in the area. Signs of air pockets include water "spitting" out of the  faucet, cloudy or milky looking water, and possibly water that appears  rusty. If you experience any of these things turn at least two faucets  on full blast for 5-10 minutes; it's helpful if the faucets are located  at different ends of the house. This should pull the air pocket through  the water lines. 
 Another common pressure problem can be attributed to a bad pressure  regulator. If the pressure seems unusually low throughout the house or  if your pipes tend to rattle when certain fixtures are used, you may  need to repair or replace your regulator valve. 
Pressure is lower at one fixture or area of the house...
 Low pressure in one area can be because of a faulty plumbing fixture.  For instance, if the kitchen sink works fine but the clothes washer  takes a long time to fill, the problem is probably in the line to the  washer or the washer itself. The same can be said of individual problems  with showers, toilets, sinks, etc. If this sounds like the problem you  are having, you'll want to contact a plumber or make the repair  yourself. 
 One common problem is low flows in sinks due to clogged faucet aerators.  We get a lot of phone calls from residents reporting small white or  gray particles plugging their faucet aerators and strainers; it is the results of the dip  tube in many home water heaters installed between 1993 and 1997. Faucet  aerators can be cleaned to keep the water flowing. For a permanent fix,  you’ll want to contact a plumber. 
        adapted from https://www.tigard-or.gov/your-government/departments/public-works/water

Question 6

Is fluoride added to our water?

Accepted Answer

No, we do not add fluoride to our water.

Question 7

Who is responsible for fixing a water leak?

Accepted Answer

CCWP maintains the water mains but anything beyond your water meter is the responsibility of the home owner; this includes your service line from your water meter to your building(s).

Question 8

How can I tell if I have a leak?

Accepted Answer

Locate your water meter and examine the digital display. If an icon of a faucet dripping appears on the digital display, you have a leak. (After fixing the leak, the icon should disappear after one hour). You may also have a smaller or intermittent leak if (despite turning off all sources of water use inside and outside of your house) the meter still shows water usage: the smaller numbers will fluctuate and represent usage as gallons per minute. All leaks on the homeowner side of the water meter are the homeowner's responsibility to address.