1. I have discolored water in my house. Is it safe and why is it discolored?

Yes, the water is safe. The substance you see is manganese, which is a natural precipitant of treated water and normally adheres to the sides and bottom of the water main. When the pressure and/or flow of the water changes, the manganese can scour off the walls of the main water line and get into your home or business. Manganese is a natural mineral and is not harmful. Discolored water happens when a water main is bumped or moved, as in construction, or when there is a change in the pressure and/or flow within the pipe, such as what happens when a fire hydrant is opened, a valve is operated or a main is broken.

2. What can I do about the discolored water?

Discolored water can be caused by many factors, i.e., construction in the area, lightning strikes, operation of a fire hydrant, natural ground movement, and adding additional pumping capacity to the water system. Because most of these factors cannot be anticipated or controlled by the Benton Water Department, it is necessary to address the situation after it has happened.

Determine if the discoloration is in your hot water or your cold water. If only your hot water is affected the problem most likely is in your hot water heater and you will have to address it as a maintenance issue.

If your cold water is affected, use as little hot water as possible to keep the discoloration out of your hot water tank.

If your water is just slightly discolored (the color of a brown paper bag or lighter), open all and only your cold water taps and let them run 5-6 minutes.

Flush your toilets 2-3 times.

If the initial cold water flush does not clear up the problem, wait about an hour and repeat flushing. This amount of water should not affect your water bill.

If the problem persists, DO NOT hesitate to call the Benton Utilities Water Dept., and we will send someone out.

Do not wash laundry in discolored water, it will discolor light clothes. If your water becomes discolored during a laundry in cycle, keep the laundry damp until the water clears. Rewash the clothes, DO NOT USE CHLORINE BEACH.

3. What can I do about milky or cloudy water?

Sometimes when a repair is made to a water main, or a homeowner's water service, air can become trapped in the lines. Because the lines are under pressure, the trapped air becomes suspended in the water. The result is water that is saturated with air, and looks milky when put into a clear glass. In some cases the Water Dept. staff will purge the air out of the line through a fire hydrant, but in most cases it clears up on its own. To clear this up, you can generally let your faucet run for five minutes or so, and it will run clear. This is not enough water to affect your water usage on your bill.

4. Why is my water pressure low?

Most often low pressure is a problem with the private plumbing and not something Benton Water can remedy. Things like galvanized piping, faulty pressure regulators, and stopped up faucet screens can cause low pressure. At the customer's request Benton Water will perform a pressure and flow test at the meter to confirm there is adequate water to and through the meter. A comparison test will be done at an outside faucet if one is accessible at the front of the house. A note will be left reporting the results. The customer need not be home at the time of the test.

5. The water pressure in my house is too high. Can the water company turn down the pressure at my house?

To ensure that water pressure is sufficient to all our customers, it is necessary for Benton Water to maintain a higher pressure in the water mains than is recommended for your plumbing. Refer to the Arkansas Department of Health Plumbing Codes (Arkansas Plumbing Law) for approved ways to regulate the water pressure after it leaves the water meter. The water meter does not regulate the pressure in any way.

6. I need to find my house line and my pressure regulator, Can Benton Utilities Water Dept. locate them for me?

Benton Utilities Water Dept. does not have any records on how your plumbing lines are run, where your shutoff valve is or where your pressure regulator might be.

7. If the leak is across the street or the neighbor across the street ordered a new meter, why are you digging in my yard?

Water is delivered to your neighborhood by a water main system. Generally a street will have only one main running down it. To get the water to the customers on the opposite side of the street the main will need to be accessed and a SERVICE run underground from one side of the street to the other. The main is probably on your side of the street and we have to dig in your yard to tap into the main for the service line.

8. Will Benton Utilities Water Facilities leaks cause my bill to be high?

Leaks on mains, services on the street side of the meter, valves, and fire hydrants will not affect your bill. 

9. What is Benton Utilities Water Dept.’s area of responsibility?

Benton Utilities Water Dept. maintains the public mains, valves, fire hydrants, services to the meters, valve boxes, meter boxes and water meters in our system. Any leaks at the connection and beyond on the customers side of the meter is considered the customer’s responsibility.

10. You tore up my yard working on the water lines. What are you going to do about it?

When it is necessary to excavate on your property the Benton Utilities Water Dept. will make every effort to return the site to the condition we found it. Depending on the time of year this can take several weeks if sod and plant material are not available at the time of the initial excavation or the area is too wet for equipment at the time.

11. I am going to landscape my yard and change the grade. How do I get the meter box and/or valve box adjusted to the new grade?

As soon as the new grade is established call 776-5930, and they will send someone to adjust the boxes. Be sure to give a few days’ notice because it is not always possible to respond to such requests immediately.

12. There are colored markings all over my yard and in the street. What's going on?

Arkansas state law requires anyone excavating to notify owners of underground utilities of their intent to dig in a specific location. The white lines are the area of the intended excavation and the colored lines are the location of underground utilities. You may want to visit the Arkansas One Call Home Page for more details.

13. There was a main break and my water was off. Do I need to boil my water now?

It is not always necessary to issue a Boil Order every time the water is turned off. There are several factors that are considered before a Boil Order is issued. If it is determined a "Boil Order' is required you will be notified either by a door hanger, signs posted in the affected area, or on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/bentonutilities. 

14. Why did you turn off the water in my neighborhood without telling us?

Keeping our customers informed is a priority with Benton Utilities Water Dept. If the Water Dept. has a planned project that requires the water to be off, every effort will be made to notify our customers prior to the shutdown.

However, many times there are spontaneous breaks or breaks caused by contractors hitting the water lines. In those emergency situations we will respond as rapidly as possible to get the water shut off, make repairs and get the water back on. Even in an emergency we will make every effort to keep our customers informed.

15. I have water that tastes and smells odd, is it safe to drink?

Yes. The taste and odor is a palatability issue. There are no health hazards created regardless of the taste and odor.

16. What causes the taste and odor changes?

A natural occurrence in all surface water supplies, an “algal bloom”, is responsible for the taste and odor changes in the water supply. Algal blooms usually occur in late July and into August each year.

17. What are the conditions for an algal bloom to occur in the water supply?

Nutrients must be present – such as nitrogen, phosphorous and calcium, which are derived from decaying vegetation.

Turbidity has lessened – the turbidity or cloudiness of the water has cleared up, allowing the penetration of the sunlight. This occurs due to lack of rainfall.

Temperature increase – the optimum temperature range of the lake water for an algal bloom to occur is between 80 - 85. This is provided through many hot summer days.

When all conditions are met, photosynthesis will take place and the algae will grow or proliferate. Algal species, such as anabaena, secrete an “oily” substance from their cells that causes an odor in the water supply. Aquatic fungi, actinomycetes, grow on dead and decaying algae and cause an earthy taste in the water.

18. Does my water contain Fluoride?

Yes, we fluoridate the water at an approx. one (1) part per million gallons, and this is the suggested dosage recommended by the Arkansas Department of Health.

19. Benton Utilities Water Dept. Personnel did an investigation and said the problem appears to be on my lines. Will you tell me who to call and what they need to do to fix the problem?

Because Benton Utilities Water Dept. employees are not plumbers, we do not specifically identify plumbing problems or answer specific plumbing questions. To get the problem repaired the Arkansas Plumbing Code allows a property owner to make repairs on his own plumbing lines. If you are not the property owner and/or do not feel you can make repairs, we recommend you check the Yellow Pages for a licensed plumber for advice and assistance.

20. What happens when you make a trouble call to the Water Dept.?

Your call will be received by someone at Benton Utilities Water Dept. during normal business hours or at Answerfone after hours. We have crews on call 24 hours a day to ensure customers receive quick and quality service.

The person you talk to will make an effort to answer your questions and concerns immediately. If it is determined that an onsite investigation is necessary, the appropriate personnel will be dispatched. The problem will be prioritized and dispatched to the pipe fitter responsible.

The employee will conduct an onsite investigation of the problem. If the problem is one that Benton Water will repair the employee will determine if emergency, high priority or routine repairs are needed. Emergency orders will prompt the immediate notification of crews to respond to the area. High priority orders are worked the next business day and routine orders are worked as the schedule permits.

21. I need to dig and I know there is underground utilities in my area, who do I call?

You need to contact Arkansas One-Call at 1-800-482-8998 or www.arkonecall.com. They will notify all underground utilities in your area for you and tell you the proper procedures.

22. In the event of a water outage, who do I call?

If you pay your utility bill to Benton Utilities, call 501-776-5930. This phone number is answered 24 hours a day/365 days a year. If your bill has been turned off for non-pay, you will be required to pay the past due amount plus reconnect fee in order to get it restored.

23. Where do I go to get Water turned on at my house or business?

You will go to the Benton Utilities Billing / Service Department at 1501 Citizens Way. Their phone number is 501-776-5930.

24. I have a question about my bill, who do I call?

Call the Billing / Services Department at 501-776-5930.

25. I need a plumbing inspection, who do I call?

Call the City of Benton Community Development Division to schedule one, their number is 501-776-5938.