Frequently Asked Questions
- What information should I bring when requesting a
new service...?
- How and where do I pay my bill...?
- What types of payment do you accept...?
- Why has my water & sewer bill gone up ... ?
- How can I tell if my toilet is leaking ... ?
- What about 'silent leaks' ... ?
- How can I tell where it's leaking ... ?
- How can I report a water or sewer leak ... ?
- Can I get my bill adjusted if I had a leak ... ?
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You will need a current, government-issued picture
identification, such as a drivers license, passport, or DMV ID card
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Your Social Security number
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Your correct street address or proof of residence
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A service deposit (Please telephone our office for
specific details)
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Chester, Richburg, and Fort Lawn residents may pay their
bills at the CMD office, either inside or at the drive-through
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They may also mail them to CMD at PO Box 550, Chester, SC
29706
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GREAT FALLS customers MUST pay their bills at the Great
Falls Town Hall or mail them to Town of Great Falls, PO Box 177, Great
Falls, SC 29055
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We accept cash, check, money order, or electronic bank
draft. We do not accept credit cards or debit cards
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There are many possible reasons:
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Seasonal usage changes, for example, watering the lawn,
flowers, and garden, filling the pool, etc
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Increase in users - new family members, increase of
visitors, etc
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A leak in the line leading from the water meter to your
house
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A leak in the plumbing underneath your house or in the
walls
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A leak in your water heater
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Someone stealing water from your outside spigots
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Dripping faucets (a leak of 1 drop per minute uses about
400 gallons of water per year!)
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And most commonly: ONE OR MORE LEAKING TOILETS
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If you have to jiggle the handle to make the toilet stop
running
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Any sounds coming from the toilet which is not being used
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If you have to hold the handle down to allow the tank to
empty
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If you can see water trickling down the sides of the
toilet bowl long after it's been flushed
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If you see water running over the top of the overflow
tube (HINT: sprinkle powder on the top of the water in the tank and you can
clearly see whether or not it is)
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An easy test for this is the DYE TEST
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Place some food coloring or flavored fruit drink mix in
the toilet water tank (CAUTION: May stain floor coverings or other surfaces)
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Leave it there for 30 minutes (make sure no one uses the
toilet)
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If there is dye in the bowl after a few minutes, you have
a leak in the toilet
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Draw a pencil line on the back wall of the tank on the
inside at the water line
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Turn the water supply off either under the tank or at the
main shutoff and wait 30 minutes.
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If the water remains at the line - the leak is occurring
at the REFILL VALVE (the unit in the left side of the tank)
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If the water level falls below the pencil mark the leak
is occurring at the FLUSH VALVE (the unit located in the center of the tank)
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24 hours a day, 7 days a week you can call our regular
office number: 803-385-5123.
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After normal business hours the answering service will
take your message and inform emergency water or sewer personnel immediately
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| Yes, in some cases. If you suddenly have an abnormally
high bill you need to determine if there has been a leak and where the leak
is. Then you need to get the leak repaired. No adjustment can be made until
the leak is fixed. Each situation is reviewed on a case by case basis.
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Come in to our office with evidence that you have had the
leak repaired.
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We will then determine if an adjustment is in order.
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If we are able to make an adjustment:
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We will then average your water usage for the previous
three months and subtract that from the water usage on your current bill. We will
then reduce your water usage bill by HALF of the difference. (Thus we share half
of the loss)
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If the leak was under the house or outside so that water
did not enter the sewer we will average your sewer bill for the previous
three months and charge you that amount for sewer.
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If the leak was inside the house so that the water
entered the sewer system you will be charged the full amount of the sewer
charge.
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Chester Sewer District