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Water & Sewer Department

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1. Is discolored water a health hazard?

No, it’s just dislodged minerals.

2. When are water restrictions in effect?

To ensure adequate water supply during hot summer months, the City of Burnsville has an odd-even day watering policy in place April 1 through Sept. 30 of each year. Mid-day watering is not efficient and results in large amounts of water being lost to evaporation. No lawn or garden sprinkling or other irrigation can take place between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on any day.  This applies to all residential and commercial properties.  

During watering restrictions, homes with even-numbered addresses may water their lawns before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m. on even-numbered calendar dates. Homes with odd-numbered addresses may water their lawns before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m. on odd-numbered calendar dates. Multi-family residences with multiple addresses, businesses with multiple addresses and structures without an apparent address may water before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m. on odd numbered days.

Whenever there are thirty-one (31) days in a month, the thirty first day is a day both odd and even numbered properties can water before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m.

View Restriction Details...

3. What should I do if there is a sewer blockage or backup?

Property owners experiencing a sewer backup may call 952-895-4550 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday. After 3:30 p.m. and on weekends, residents may call Police Dispatch at 952-895-4620. City crews will be dispatched to assess the request.

If it has been determined that no blockage or restrictions exist within the City's sanitary sewer system, the homeowner is advised to contact a professional plumber or drain cleaning service to have the private sewer service inspected. The City Of Burnsville cannot make a recommendation for drain cleaning services. It may be in your best interest to obtain several estimates.
Residents should be aware, if the problem is in the sewer service (lateral), the property owner is responsible for correcting the problem. The owner of the property is responsible for maintaining and cleaning the sewer lateral from the building to the City's sewer main, including the connection on the sewer main.

Many homeowners' insurance policies exclude damage resulting from sewer backups. However, some insurance companies do provide sewer backup coverage. If you are concerned about the possibility of a sewer backup and want to insure that you are covered, the City urges you to check with your home insurer regarding the availability of sewer backup insurance.

4. How do I prevent a sewer backup or blockage?

Property owners can do many things to prevent sewer backups/blockage.

Grease:
Cooking oil should be poured into a heat-resistant container and disposed of in the garbage after it cools, NOT down the drain. Washing grease down the drain with hot water is not the answer. This grease goes down the drain, cools off, and solidifies in the drain, the property owner's sewer and/or the sewer main. When this happens, the line eventually clogs.

Paper Products:
Paper towels, disposable diapers, and feminine products cause a great deal of problems. These products do not deteriorate quickly. They become lodged in portions of sewer causing sewer backups. These products should be disposed of in the garbage.

Sewer Root Control:
The continual flow of nutrient-filled water found in sewer pipes attracts tree roots. Roots growing along pipes exert significant pressure on pipes. These roots may push into and around gasket connection points, which may expand and break seals.
Root infiltration can cause a blockage to the sewer, resulting in sewage backup in your home and damage to your property.

Tips For Controlling Roots:
The conventional method of removing roots by a professional drain cleaning service involves cutting or tearing roots to solve an immediate problem. However, this method does not stop the growth or destroy the roots outside the pipe. This is similar to pruning the bushes and shrubs surrounding your residence.

An annual chemical root control program is an effective preventive maintenance measure. A product that foams with the addition of water is the most effective means of coating the roots and pipe surfaces. These products may be purchased from your local hardware store or home center.

Illegal Plumbing Connections:
Do not connect French drains, sump pumps, roof gutter drains, or foundation drains to your sanitary sewer service. Not only is it illegal, debris and silt will clog your service line. Consult a plumber to correct any illegal connections.

5. What part of the water and sanitary sewer system does the City of Burnsville own?

Water System:
Outside your home - The City owns the water shutoff in your yard (usually about 13 feet behind the curb) and the water service line between the shutoff and the water main in the street
Inside your home - The City owns the water meter

Sanitary Sewer System:
The City owns the sanitary sewer main in the street

6. What part of the water and sanitary sewer system do I own?

Water System
Outside your home - The owner of the property is responsible for maintenance and repair of the water service line on the house side of the water shut off in your yard and into your home.
Inside your home – The service line in your home along with the meter horn, couplers, piping, pressure regulating valve and isolation valves are all considered part of the home’s plumbing system and are the responsibility of the owner for maintenance, repair, and replacement.

Sanitary Sewer System
Outside your home - The owner of the property owns and is responsible for maintenance and repair of the entire sanitary sewer service line including the connection at the City sewer main in the street.
Inside your home – The sanitary sewer service is considered part of the home’s plumbing system and is the responsibility of the owner for maintenance, repair, and replacement.

7. Water is leaking below the meter, will the city pay to repair it?

No. Although the City owns the meter, the piping, meter horn, couplers, pressure regulating valve and isolation valves are all considered part of the home’s plumbing system and are the responsibility of the homeowner for maintenance, repair, and replacement.

8. My water pressure seems too low, how do I correct the issue?

Here are some troubleshooting suggestions: Bypass your water softener. Often times when softeners begin to fail they restrict the water flow to either low flow or no flow. If you bypass it and the flow is restored, you know it’s your softener. Here is a You Tube link to a tutorial on bypassing your water softener: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvCOlHd9-yw. It goes over four different bypass types which should cover most softeners. Do you have a filtration system? If so, the filter may be plugged. Have you turned the water off at the meter because of plumbing repairs or equipment installation? Check both valves and make sure they are open all the way. If it is not one of the three above items, it is probably your Pressure Reducing/Regulating Valve (PRV). It can fail and cause high water pressure, low water pressure, or no water at all. Replacement is part of the plumbing system which is owned by the homeowner. Please go to the City of Burnsville website to download a copy of the meter and valve information brochure. If you are handy, they are easy to replace. If not, you may want to have a plumber make the repair for you.

Water and Sewer website

9. My water pressure seems too high, how do I correct it?

Here are some troubleshooting tips:

High Water Pressure
You can purchase a pressure gauge at a home improvement store to get the pressure in your home.

If you have a laundry tub with threads on the faucet, you can attach the gauge there and turn the water on to get the pressure. Otherwise, you can attach the gauge to one of your outside hose bibs and turn the water on.

If the pressure is high (over 75 psi), your PRV may need adjustment or replacement. The PRV is bell shaped with a screw in the top and is mounted near the water meter. There is a nut which needs to be loosened to do the adjustment and tightened again when you are done.

Adjusting a PRV –
To DECREASE the water pressure, turn the screw to the left in very small increments. A little does a lot.
To INCREASE the water pressure, turn the screw to the right in very small increments. A little does a lot.

Check your pressure gauge as you turn the screw and turn it until you reach your desired pressure. The recommend pressure is 50 -70 psi. If turning the screw does not adjust the pressure, you need to replace the PRV.

Adjusting your PRV Video - link below
The installation will look different in your home because this video is done in a factory test lab. Your PRV should be before your water meter and in some installations, after the water meter. Adjusting your PRV video

10. Will the City come to my home and test my water pressure?

No. But pressure gauges can be purchased at local home improvement and hardware stores and is easy to test.

11. Do I need a Pressure Reducing/Regulating Valve (PRV)?

Yes. A PRV is a great way to protect the plumbing and fixtures in your home from high pressure and potential water pressure spikes from the City system. Burnsville city code requires every water service have a PRV installed on the plumbing system. The suggested setting for your PRV is 50 - 70 psi. A properly set and functioning PRV can reduce water consumption by one third.

12. Will the City test my water?

Yes, for certain issues.
We can test for content of Chlorine, Fluoride, Manganese, Iron, pH, and hardness.

Please call 952-895-4552 to discuss issues you are having with your water quality to see if you would be a good candidate for a water test.

If you would like other things tested you would have to contact a water analysis lab and pay for those tests results.

13. Where can I have my water tested?

Twin City Water Clinic – 952-935-3556
Tri-City Water Clinic – 952-563-4904

14. Will the city install/reinstall my water meter?

Yes. Call 952-895-4550 to schedule an installation appointment. Please call to schedule your appointment 24 hours before your preferred installation time.

15. My water meter is leaking, will the city send someone to fix it?

Yes, if it is the meter leaking and not the couplers, valves, or piping around the meter. If a staff member responds and it is not the meter that is leaking your water bill will be charged a service call fee.

16. Is there a fee to turn my water off/on to make repairs?

Yes, there is a fee for turn on/off of water service that is adopted by council each year in the fees and charges schedule. There are additional fees for after hours service calls. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 952-895-4550. Appointments must be scheduled 24 hours in advance. Normal business hours are 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. M-F.

View current fees for water turn off/on

17. I need my water shut off. Will the City come turn it off today?

No. The City requires 24 hours notice to turn the water off or on so the operation of your outside water shutoff in your yard can verified.

18. My water usage has increased and seems too high, what is the problem?

Troubleshooting suggestions are below for common reasons for high water use:

Check all toilets for leaks
Even if you don’t hear water running, it does not mean the toilet isn’t leaking. One way to check if there is a leak between the bowl and the tank is to place a few drops of food coloring into the tank; then, wait several minutes to see if the dye enters the bowl. If it does, you have a leak.

Check faucets and shower heads for leaks.

Check proper operation of water softener to make sure it isn’t running too often, or it isn’t running continuously.

Check your meter reading
If you have a water softener or an irrigation system, make sure neither system is set to run that night and read the meter before you go to bed. The next morning before any water is used inside or outside, read the meter again. If the reading increased, you have a leak.

Do a five gallon bucket test
Read the meter, then fill a five gallon bucket. After filling the 5 gallon bucket, read the meter again. If it moves five gallons, the meter is reading accurately.

19. When can I water my lawn?

Burnsville's odd-even lawn watering restrictions April 1 through Sept. 30.
During watering restrictions, homes with even-numbered addresses may water their lawns before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m. on even-numbered calendar dates. Homes with odd-numbered addresses may water their lawns before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m. on odd-numbered calendar dates. Multi-family residences with multiple addresses, businesses with multiple addresses and structures without an apparent address may water before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m. on odd numbered days.

Whenever there are thirty-one (31) days in a month, the thirty first day is a day both odd and even numbered properties can water before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m.