FAQs

Someone is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have an emergency after hours and wish to speak to a BLSMWC representative, you may do so by calling the emergency number at (209) 795-7030. Your message will be automatically transferred to the person on call. In most cases, our staff can remedy a problem over the phone. Depending on the nature of the emergency however, a maintenance person may need to be dispatched to the property. Should this occur and the problem is determined to be the owner’s responsibility rather than BLSMWC, an after hours call-out fee will be applied, based on BLSMWC’s actual cost. Rest assured though, that BLWMWC shall respond quickly night or day.

You turn the water off at your house shut-off valve. These valves are the owner’s responsibility to install and maintain. BLSMWC responsibility ends at the meter box. Anything beyond the meter box on the customer’s property is the owner’s responsibility to install and maintain and BLSMWC is not responsible for any water loss or property damage caused by water leaks.

Note: Even if you shut your water valve off, this does not relinquish the property owner’s responsibility for base rate charges, fees and/or penalties.

The Water Pressure serving the majority of the lots in the Blue Lake Springs water system is regulated through pressure reducing stations located in the main lines that serve you. These pressure reducing valves are made of the best materials. However, if they should fail they do so in the open position to provide adequate fire flow. During a failure the pressure serving your lot could exceed 120 pounds per square inch (psi). While such failures are very rare and unpredictable, should a failure of this nature occur there could be damage to your lines, hot water heater, etc. BLSMWC is not liable for any damage arising from high or low water pressure. BLSMWC highly recommends that you install a Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) at the house to protect your pipes, property and plumbing.

Since these valves are installed and maintained by you, the property owner, BLSMWC would not know if you had a PRV or even where it would be located. However, these units are most commonly installed at the house. BLSMWC supplies one at the meter box

Any pluming or building store will carry these units. You should also purchase a pressure gauge at the same time, as you will need to use it to check your PRV annually and to ensure that it is functioning property. You may also contact a certified plumber to purchase and install a PRV for you.

You can either install it yourself or hire a certified plumber to do it for you.

Your pressure regulator should be set at 60 psi (pounds per square inch) on your property. Most units are pre-set by the manufacturer (refer to your user manuals included with your PRV at time of purchase). If the PRV you purchased does not come pre-set, use your pressure gauge and set at the recommended 60 psi.

YES!! BLSMWC strongly recommends customer’s install a Pressure Reducing Valve on their property. Although the water pressure is regulated through pressure reducing stations, failures can occur. Installing a PRV will help protect against any damage caused by water pressure surges and high and low water pressures, much in the way you protect your home electronics against electrical surges and power outages by installing surge protectors.