Show All Answers

1. What are the minerals that cause hardness?

The hardness of water is determined by the calcium and magnesium carbonates naturally dissolved in it. Across the U.S., there are waters that are very soft (low in carbonates) and waters that are very hard (high in carbonates).

If your water contains substantial amounts of these minerals, water is said to be hard because making lather or suds is hard to do. Very hard water also leaves calcium scale or mineral deposits behind when it is heated up.

For more information about hard water, contact our Water Department at 973-266-8869.

For more information contact the Water Department at 973-266-8869.

2. What does GPG or grains per gallon mean?

Parts per million or grains per gallon are both used to describe the dissolved hardness minerals contained in a water.

One part per million (PPM) is one unit of a substance out of one million units of water. Grains, or grains per gallon (GPG), is a unit of weight. It is 1/7000 of a pound. One GPG, (1gpg) is equal to 17.1 PPM.

3. What is hard water?

Hard water is probably the most common water problem found in the home. According to the Water Quality Association of the United States, hard water is above 1 GPG (grains per gallon).

4. What problems does hard water cause?

Hard water is fine for many uses around a home. To water a garden, wash down a driveway and general outdoor lawn care, most water, as it comes from a well or from a municipal treatment plant, works fine.

But for indoor use such as bathing, showers, doing dishes and washing clothes, shaving, washing china and flatware, and dozens of other uses, hard water is not as efficient or convenient as "soft water."
For more information about hard water, visit our Hard Water Information page.

Show All Answers

1. What is the Special Needs Registry?

The Special Needs Registry is a list of East Orange residents who may require additional assistance, transportation and/or sheltering in the event of a major emergency or disaster.

2. Are the Special Needs Registry and 911 the same thing?

No. You must still dial 911 in an emergency.

3. Who is eligible for the Special Needs Registry?

Any East Orange resident with a physical or mental disability who would have trouble leaving their home quickly if told to do so.

The registry is only intended for use by those who live independently, and not in a residential special needs facility (i.e., nursing home or hospital).

4. Is participation in the Special Needs Registry voluntary?

Yes. Your submission of an application is your voluntary request to be included.

5. Will my information be kept confidential?

Yes. However, the city will share the information with local, county, state and federal agencies for the purpose of emergency planning and emergency response.

6. I have submitted an application. Am I on the Special Needs Registry, now?

The submission of an application does not guarantee your inclusion in the Registry. Each application will be screened and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

7. How will I know if my application to join the Special Needs Registry was accepted or not?

You will be notified within 45 days of the Office of Emergency Management receiving your application if your application has not been approved.

For more information on application acceptance, please contact the East Orange Office of Emergency Management at 973-677-8924.

8. Do I have to renew my registration to remain on the Special Needs Registry?

Registrants are obligated to provide updated information to the East Orange Office of Emergency Management on an annual basis.

The city reserves the right to terminate registration at its discretion.

9. How do I remove myself from the Special Needs Registry?

You may request to be removed from the Registry at any time by writing to:
East Orange Office of Emergency Management
404 Springdale Avenue
East Orange, New Jersey 07017

Show All Answers

1. Am I responsible for my tenant's water bill?

Property owners are responsible for any and all water, sewer, and refuse charges incurred by tenants occupying their property.

While owners can make tenant payment of utilities part of their rental or lease agreement, the owner will be responsible for any outstanding charges left by the tenant. For more information, contact the Water Department at 973-266-8869.

2. How can I pay my monthly bill?

You can pay by mail, in person, or online. Visit our Pay Water Bill page for more information.

3. How does water get to our homes and businesses?

Transmission mains transport the water from our pumping station to an elevated underground 10 million gallon holding reservoir; then, by gravity, through a network of distribution mains, water is delivered to our customers’ homes and businesses for their use. Other facilities include control valves, fire hydrants, service lines and meters.

For more information, contact us at 973-266-8869.

4. How is my water rate determined?

The cost of delivering safe, reliable water depends on a number of factors such as: the expense of operating and maintaining the water system; the cost of the electricity used to pump the water from its source to homes and businesses; and the salaries of technicians, meter-readers, administrative personnel and others who help run the water utility.

For more information on your water rate, contact the Water Department at 973-266-8869.

5. How do I apply for a new water and / or sewer service from the East Orange Water Commission?

To apply, call 973-266-8869 or visit the Water Department office at:
99 S Grove Street
East Orange, NJ 07018

To obtain an application we will require the following information:
- Classification status of the property (residential, commercial, institutional, industrial)
- Legal description of the property
- Meter size
- Property address
- Service type

6. How much water does the average person use at home per day?

Estimates vary, but each person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day. Americans drink more than 1 billion glasses of water a day. For more information about water consumption, visit our Water Supply page.

7. What are some ways I can conserve water?

There are many ways to conserve water. Visit our Water Supply page for more information.

8. What causes water mains to break?

Adverse weather conditions and drastic changes in temperature can create havoc with water mains and cause main breaks. You can usually tell when a main break has happened because water is bubbling up from the ground. Sometimes breaks are less noticeable and may only be detected by a loss of water pressure.

9. What is the phone number for Customer Service?

The Water Department Customer Service Center can be reached at 973-266-8869.

10. What part of the service line is the Water Commission’s responsibility and what part is the homeowner’s responsibility?

Any part of the service line beyond the curb box, which is usually located in the right-of-way or at the property line is the owner’s responsibility. The line from the street to the curb box is the East Orange Water Commission’s responsibility.

For more information, contact the Water Department at 973-266-8869.

11. What is potable water?

Potable (which rhymes with floatable) means water that is safe to drink. Potable water must come from a natural source, for example surface or groundwater, and must meet or be better than federal and state standards for drinking water quality.

For more information, contact the Water Department at 973-266-8869.

12. When may the Commission terminate my water service for non-payment?

Your water bill is due upon receipt. If you still have a balance due after 90 days from the date of your bill, the East Orange Water Commission may discontinue your service.

Visit the Pay Water Bill page for more information.

13. Why do water rates keep going up even though we have plenty of water?

When you pay for water, you are mainly paying for a service. This means:
- Labor
- Infrastructure
- Capital investments
- Compliance laws
- Other operating costs

Rate increases are based on how much it costs a water service provider to supply water in any given area. One main driver of increasing rates is capital investment, or the money water providers need to invest to repair and upgrade the water supply infrastructure.

For more information, contact the Water Department at 973-266-8869.

14. Who do I call if I have a leak?

The East Orange Water Commission is not responsible for leaks that occur on private property.

If you are unsure about who would be responsible for a leak, or to report a leak outside of your property or inside the meter box, call the Water Department Customer Service Center at 973-266-8869.

15. Who do I call about a water main break or a fire hydrant leak?

To report a broken water or sewer pipe or fire hydrant, call the Customer Service Center at 973-266-8869 as soon as possible at Emergencies may be reported at this number 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Show All Answers

1. How hard is my water?

East Orange’s water is very hard. For more information on water hardness visit our Hard Water Information page.

2. Is bottled water "better" than tap water?

There is no evidence to show that bottled water is better that tap water. All tap water is required to meet strict standards set by the USEPA (United Stated Environmental Protection Agency) under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The water provided by community water systems is regularly tested for compliance with state and federal regulations, whereas bottled water suppliers do not have such stringent regulatory requirements.

3. I’ve heard about people installing filters or home treatment devices. Is that really necessary?

Water provided by the East Orange Water Commission meets or exceeds all state and federal primary standards for drinking water quality. However, some customers may choose to install additional home treatment devices to meet their personal preferences such as improving the taste or smell of their water.

These treatment devices do not necessarily make the water safer or healthier to drink. And, if not properly maintained, can actually cause water quality problems.

4. Who sets the water quality standards?

Water is treated to meet the levels of purity and quality set by the USEPA. Increasingly stringent USEPA regulations require treatment processes to be continually updated and tested, advancing the levels of technology, skill and chemical solutions.

Nearly all public water supplies in the United States meet USEPA standards for safe drinking water. Standards limit the concentrations, or amounts, of contaminants. In some cases where a contaminant cannot be measured, water supplies must provide specific treatment, such as disinfection and filtration.

5. Why does my water sometimes have a chlorine taste and odor?

Like all public water suppliers in New Jersey, the East Orange Water Commission is required by law to provide disinfectant (chlorine) to the water during the treatment process to kill germs. This may mean that you may encounter chlorine-type tastes or odors from time to time.

If you find this unacceptable, collect tap water in a container, shake it and let in stand for a while before covering the container and placing it in the refrigerator for drinking. The chlorine odor will dissipate.

For more information, contact the Water Department at 973-266-8869.

6. Why does drinking water often look cloudy when first taken from a faucet and then clear up?

The cloudy water is caused by tiny air bubbles in the water similar to the gas bubbles in carbonated soft drinks. After a while, the bubbles rise to the top and are gone. This type of cloudiness occurs more often in the winter when the drinking water is cold.

7. Why is my drinking water ‘dirty’?

‘Dirty’ water may be due to maintenance being performed on the mains. If you are experiencing ‘dirty’ water, open the cold water faucets on the lowest floor of the house and let the water run until it clears. If the condition persists, please call the Water department at 973-266-8869.

8. Why does dishwater or the dishwasher leave spots on glasses?

The spots that may appear on glassware after washing and air drying are caused by nontoxic minerals that remain on the glass when the water evaporates. Spots on glass shower doors appear for the same reason. Commercial products are available that allow the water to drain from glassware more completely.