Village of Brown Deer, Wisconsin
BROWN DEER WATER UTILITY
4800 West Green Brook Drive
Brown Deer, WI   53223
(414) 371-3080 / FAX (414) 371-3045

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TO REPORT A WATER MAIN BREAK
METER READINGS
WATER RATES
QUARTERLY BILLING SCHEDULE
PAYMENT OPTIONS
DIRECT DEBIT - AN AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN!
WATER SERVICE - WHERE DOES THE WATER COME FROM?
WATER MAINS
HYDRANTS
SAMPLING
METER MAINTENANCE
CROSS-CONNECTIONS AND BACK-FLOW PREVENTION
WELL ABANDONMENTS

SERVICES & PROGRAMS

TO REPORT A WATER MAIN BREAK

• If you want to report a possible water main break, contact the Police Department Dispatcher immediately at 371-2900.  Water Utility staff will be notified and respond to the situation.

METER READINGS

• Your water bill is a composite of two charges: a fixed service charge based on the meter size at the property and a volumetric charge based on the amount of water used since the previous meter reading. The consumption is based on a reading of the water meter in your basement. The Utility reads your meter using the Trace radio frequency meter reading system. Using this system we can quickly and efficiently read meters. We no longer need to walk through your yards or get into your basement to read the meter. Some properties have meters that are read via the phone lines. The meter "calls" a computer in our office with a monthly reading. This meter reading system is very effective for larger businesses and meters that are set in a remote location.
  
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WATER RATES

New Quarterly Service Charges and Volumetric  Water Rates as of 12/1/06                                

* Almost every residential property in Brown Deer has a 5/8 or ¾ inch meter.

 Volumetric Charges:

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QUARTERLY BILLING SCHEDULE

Billing periods:

Brown Deer Water sends out four quarterly bills a year. The four quarters cover the following periods:

The water bills are mailed by the following dates:

The water bill payments are due on or earlier than the following dates:

Payments must be received in our office on or before the due date. After the due date a 3% penalty is added. Failure to receive the bill does not exempt the customer from late payment charges.

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 PAYMENT OPTIONS

* To download and print, you must use the Adobe Acrobat Reader program. If it is not already installed on your computer, please first visit the Adobe Web site to download your free Adobe Acrobat Reader. You will only need to do this one time. Then you will be able to view and print other forms on this website, at your own convenience. The copies you print will be clear, exact copies.

DIRECT DEBIT - AN AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN!

• You can now have your quarterly utility payment made automatically from your checking account.  The direct debit payment plan helps in several ways.  Click here for more details and an application form.
  
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WATER SERVICE - WHERE DOES THE WATER COME FROM?

• The Brown Deer Water Utility purchases its water from the City of Milwaukee. The source of our water is Lake Michigan. Water travels to your home through underground water mains. Over sixty miles of underground mains operate within Village boundaries.
  
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WATER MAINS

• No lead mains:
  
  Residents benefit from the village having absolutely no lead mains or service lines. That means that lead can not leach into the drinking water from the mains - greatly improving water quality. The majority of mains in the village are made of ductile iron. Some of the newer mains are PVC. The oldest mains in the village are under 50 years old.
  
•  Main Breaks:
  
  Over the years the Utility has repaired numerous water main breaks. The majority are in the winter months and are usually caused by corrosion. In recent years, the Utility has begun using anodes to protect the iron mains from corrosion. The program has resulted in a significant drop in main breaks throughout the Village. When there is a main break our water operators work as quickly as possible to make the necessary repairs. In most cases water service can be fully restored within hours of the start of the repair. If you see what looks like a water leak – please call the Police dispatcher at 371-2900.
  
• Main Replacements:
  
  The Utility has replaced portions of water mains, in recent years, along Silverleaf Lane, Glenbrook Road, Nokomis Road, Dean Road, Kildeer Court and Woodale Avenue. Other areas plagued by water main breaks have been studied and are targeted for future main replacement projects.
  
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 HYDRANTS

• Fire Protection:
  
  The Village of Brown Deer receives one of the best ratings from the Insurance Services Office, Inc. for fire protection. The I.S.O. looks at the proximity of properties to a hydrant, as well as fire flow and location to a fire station. There are currently 620 hydrants in the Village. All properties are within 500 feet of a hydrant. The class 2/9 rating the district receives can result in a decrease in some property insurance calculations. Your agent or insurance company can be contacted to determine the effect this classification might have on your policy.

• Flushing hydrants:
  
  The utility exercises all hydrants in the village twice annually. Hydrants are "flushed" in the spring and fall. Flushing a hydrant serves a couple of purposes. First, by exercising the hydrant we know that it is functioning properly. Second, when we run the hydrant, we improve water quality by flushing rust and iron sediment from the mains. You may notice that the water in your home comes out of the faucet cloudy or rust colored for a brief time after we have flushed the hydrant near your home. If you let the water run for a few minutes, it should clear up. The discolored water is caused when the rust sediment from the main enters your service line. It is unpleasant looking but safe.
  
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SAMPLING

• Bacteriological Samples:
  
  Brown Deer Water collects over 144 samples annually to check for the presence of coliform bacteria in the system water. Twelve monthly samples are collected and sent to the State Lab of Hygiene for analysis. The Utility collects almost 20% more samples than required by law. Samples are usually taken from locations such as schools, hotels, and daycare centers - where water is provided for many people. In the past two years all regular distribution samples have come back safe!
  
• Lead and Copper Samples:
  
  The Utility has been monitoring lead and copper in the Village since 1992. Contamination in water from lead and copper can only come from home plumbing because there are no lead mains or service lines in Brown Deer. If a home has copper plumbing and was built prior to 1984 there is a possibility that lead was used to solder the plumbing. After 1984 lead solder was prohibited. There is no risk of lead contamination in homes with PVC or galvanized steel plumbing. In the years since we started testing for lead and copper, Brown Deer Water has never exceeded the guidelines established by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
  
• Water Quality:
  
  The Consumer Confidence Report includes a list of contaminants and action levels.   Click here to view the most recent Consumer Confidence Report.
  
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METER MAINTENANCE

• Meter maintenance is an important part of our operations. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission mandates that all meters be tested or replaced regularly. This is for your protection - to ensure that your water usage is correct and represents a fair billing. We replace residential meters every ten to fifteen years. Larger meters must be tested more often. We try to schedule appointments at convenient times and arrive promptly at the scheduled hour. The work at residential properties takes only twenty minutes to complete. It is important that the meter be accessible. Although the meter is located in your home or business, it is the property of the Utility. The Utility has a legal right to maintain, replace and service all meters. When access is denied the Utility can charge $20.00 per meter service attempt.
  
  With the exception of the meter, all plumbing in the home and out of the right of way (where the curb stop is located) is the property of the homeowner. That includes all valves, including the valves before and after the meter. It is important to maintain these valves because they may be needed in an emergency to shut off water due to a broken fixture or pipe.
  
• Meters are tested for accuracy at the manufacturing plant and also at our meter shop. Every meter is tested prior to installation. Accurate readings are of critical importance to the successful operation of the Water Utility.
  
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 CROSS-CONNECTIONS AND BACK-FLOW PREVENTION

• Brown Deer Water does regular inspections to check for Cross-connections and Back Flow violations. Cross-connections can pose a serious threat to the water quality in the Village. Cross-connections are links where it might become possible for polluting or contaminating materials to enter the potable water supply. The community water source can be compromised by illegal connections to private wells, private fire protection systems, and industrial manufacturing processes. Brown Deer Water aggressively maintains excellent water quality through vigilant inspections.
  
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 WELL ABANDONMENTS

• The Village is required to monitor all water wells within Brown Deer. Unused and unsafe wells must be abandoned. If a well is operational it must have a five-year permit. There is no charge for a well permit. For more information please call the Water Utility at 371-3080.
  
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