Frequently Asked Questions: Water

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For more questions, please e-mail us at publicwks@cityofmerced.org

Water Conservation
- What are my watering days?
  Addresses ending in even numbers may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
  
  Addresses ending in odd numbers may water on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
  
  Watering is allowed before 9 a.m. and/or after 9 p.m. on those days.
- Can I water my new lawn every day?
  You may get a permit from the Public Works office to water new lawn daily, except for Mondays.
- What do I do if my neighbor is overwatering?
  To report Water Waste, call 388-HELP or 388-7283.
- Who do I report broken sprinklers in a City park or strip to?
  You can use 388-HELP or call the Public Works office at 385-6800
- How can I learn more about conservation?
  Check out our conservation page here.
Water Meters & Rates
- How do I read my meter?
  Click here to find out how to read your meter.
- What is Eye On Water?
  EyeOnWater gives our water customers, via a mobile app or website, direct access to their own water usage data and provides tools to help manage their water usage.
- How much does a gallon of water cost?
  Less than one cent!
- How much water is included in my base water rate?
  Your base amount of water depends upon your meter size. Most residential meters are 1" or 3/4" and include 20 Hundred cubic feet of water in the base rate, this is equal to 14,960 gallons.
  
  Larger meters pay more and have more water in their base, Click Here for more details.
- How much does it cost if I go over my base monthly rate?
  Each 748 gallons or portion of is $0.77
Water Quality
- How do we know the water in Merced is safe?
  We know that the water is safe because we conduct routine testing, as required by State of California regulations. The sampling results are published annually in the City of Merced’s Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).
- How often does City water get tested?
  Tests are conducted every work day.
- What is the water tested for?
  Everything that we test for can be found in our Water Quality Report Or Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).
- Who is monitoring the City?
  The City is monitored by and reports to the State Department of Water Resources, State Water Resources Control Board, and we must follow all State and Federal drinking water regulations.
- How do we know our City water workers know what they are doing?
  The water technicians must pass and maintain their Water Distribution & Treatment Operator certificates, which are administered by the State Water Resources Control Board. Click here for information on Operator Certification.