To find out if a specific home or business is connected to BGMU’s sewer system, please call 270-782-4368. This service is free to anyone who calls.

Even pin-hole sized leaks can cause a significant amount of water loss. At 40 pounds of pressure, you may lose the following amount of water each day:

1. Locate your meter, which is typically in your front yard on the corner near the street.
2. Remove the protective cover from you meter box. Remember to replace this cover when you are finished.
3. Locate the shut-off valve, which is located on the street side of the meter.
4. You will need a tee wrench (also called a cut-off key). This wrench can be purchased at any hardware/home improvement store.
5. Attach the tee wrench to the shut-off valve and slowly turn the valve clockwise a quarter of a turn.
6. Confirm that you have indeed closed the valve and stopped the water flow by going
   inside and turning on a faucet.
7. To reactivate your service, attach the tee wrench to the shut off valve and slowly turn the valve counter clockwise.

1. Turn off all faucets inside and outside. Make sure that your dishwasher, washing machine, toilets, etc. are not running.
2. Record your meter reading on the water meter located outside your home (usually on a front corner of your property). While recording your reading, you can also check the dial located in the middle of your meter that resembles a pinwheel. If you see that your pinwheel dial is moving, you can assume you have a leak. If the pinwheel dial is not moving, proceed to Step 3.
3. Wait 2 to 6 hours using absolutely no water. (Remember not to flush any toilets during this time.)
4. Record your meter reading again and compare the two readings.
5. If the reading has increased, you may have a leak, and you may want to contact a licensed plumber or repair the leak yourself.
6. If the reading is the same, you do not have a leak.

Most of the time when there is a sudden increase in pressure, it is because your pressure reducing regulator is in need of repair or replacement. Most homes have some type of pressure regulating device that adjusts the amount of water pressure placed on your pipes. If you are experiencing this type of event, a licensed plumber will be able to assist you in correcting the problem.

The State of Kentucky requires public water systems supply a minimum water pressure of 30 PSI as measured at the customers meter. If you believe your water pressure is less than 30 PSI, some possible causes could be:

• A leak; refer to “How do I check for a leak?”
• The length, size, material and/or age of the service line piping that runs from the water meter to your home or business.
• An older galvanized iron service line that is corroded or clogged.
• Clogged water filters and faucets, home filtration systems, pumping systems, and/or faulty or inappropriately adjusted pressure regulating devices.

A licensed plumber can help you investigate any of these problems that may exist between your water meter and your home or business. If you have investigated these potential causes of pressure loss and would like a technician to check the water pressure at your water meter, please contact our Water/Wastewater Engineering Department at 270-782-4368.

Water can exert a natural force on pipes when it changes directions in fittings an/or bends, or it is suddenly stopped or started. This is commonly called “water hammer.” Sometimes a water outage in your area can cause this, as line repairs can produce air pockets. To see if this is the case, turn on an outside faucet or bathtub faucet and let it run for a few minutes. If the noise continues, here are common causes.

• Commode fill valve is malfunctioning
• Pressure balance valve in tub and/or shower is malfunctioning
• Pressure reducing valve needs to be replaced.

Call a licensed plumber to determine what needs to be done.

Visit this helpful website for answers to these questions and more conservation tips:

Preparing Your Water Pipes for Winter

Every winter, many homeowners face the expensive and inconvenience of frozen water pipes – make sure you’re not one of them by taking a few simple precautions.

Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses

Detaching the hose allows water to drain from the pipe so an overnight freeze doesn’t burst the faucet or the pipe it’s connected to.

Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas

It’s best to wrap water pipes in unheated areas (such as the garage or crawl space) before temperatures plummet. You can find pipe wrapping materials at any hardware or building supply store.

Consider installing “heat tape” or “heat cable”

Install “heat tape” or similar materials on all exposed water pipe (i.e. exterior pipe, or pipe located where the temperature might drop below freezing). It is relatively easy to install and can be found at your local hardware or building supply store. Be sure that you use only UL-listed products and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

Seal off access doors, air vents, and cracks

Winter winds whistling through overlooked openings can quickly freeze exposed water pipes. DO NOT plug air vents used by your furnace or water heater.

Find the master shutoff valve.

Usually located where the water line enters your house (or near the water heater or washing machine), the master shutoff valve turns off the water to the entire house. Paint it a bright color and make sure everyone in the household knows where it is.

Check with your water company.

Various additional precautions (such as letting a small trickle of water run from the faucet or covering outdoor meters) may need to be taken depending on local circumstance. Contact your water company for additional measures.

What if it’s too late?

During an extended cold spell, your pipes can freeze, even if you take all the proper precautions. If you think you know where the freeze occurred and and want to try thawing it yourself, the easiest tool to use is a hair dryer with a low heat seating. DO NOT under any circumstances use an open flame. Using the hair dryer, wave the warm air back and forth along the pipe. DO NOT heat only one spot on the pipe, as this can cause it to burst. If you don’t have a hair dryer, you can wrap the frozen section with rags or towels and pour hot water over them. It’s messy, but it works. Be careful when heating the pipe. It may already be broken and just not leaking because the water is frozen. When you thaw it out, the water could come gushing out. Be ready to run for the master shutoff valve if necessary.