Frequently Asked Questions

Even though your financial institution takes care of your payments, you will still receive a water bill statement. You will know how much will be deducted from your account and when. 

Microbiological contaminants (bacteria, viruses, protozoan, etc.) can come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural live stock operations, and wildlife.

Inorganic chemical contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater run off, industrial and/or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

Pesticides and herbicides which may occur from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gasoline stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production, or mining activities.

Auto-Pay is a free service from the Monroeville Municipal Authority. There is no charge per transaction. You save the cost of postage, any bank charges and the cost of the check itself.

The MMA receives its primary supply of finished water for resale from the Wilkinsburg – Penn Joint Water Authority (WPJWA) system. Like the majority of water utilities in the U.S., the WPJWA uses a multi-step treatment process at their water treatment plant. River water is pumped from the Allegheny River to the treatment plant and chlorinated. The water is then coagulated (which means the smaller particles in the river water join together by adding chemicals, which encourage this attraction). The water is mixed to ensure that the added chemicals are well blended and reacting with all of the smaller particles. The water is allowed to settle so that the newly joined particles sink by gravity to the bottom of the sedimentation tanks. The sediment is then removed and sent to the Allegheny County Sanitation Authority (ALCOSAN) for treatment. The settled water is then filtered to remove any remaining particles. Chlorine is then again added to prevent the growth of bacteria during transport and storage.

The finished water enters the MMA system through two separate metered connections. By agreement with WPJWA, the  MMA is permitted to withdraw 6.0 million gallons per day (mgd) of monthly average flow and 7.5 mgd of peak daily flow from the above connections. In addition to the primary source of supply, the MMA maintains two emergency interconnections with the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (MAWC) system. The MMA maintains four storage tanks to serve as a reserve for fire protection and to maintain adequate water pressure. These tanks have a combined capacity of 13.5 million gallons. The water is then delivered to your home or business through a network of over 165 miles of waterlines varying in size from 4 to 24 inches in diameter. If you desire more information about the quality of the water provided by the MMA, please call the MMA Manager, Joseph Storey or log on to our web site at http:// www.monroevillewater.org. The MMA Board of Directors meets at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month at 219 Speelman Ln., Monroeville, PA 15146, and these meetings are open to the public. The MMA water system identification number is 5020027.

Monroeville water contains approximately one part per million of Fluoride.

Because of the growing number of serious residential backflow cases, many water purveyors are now requiring the installation of approved dual check valve backflow preventers at residential water meters. They are also educating the public concerning cross connections and the danger of backflow into the local water supply. Since water purveyors cannot possibly be responsible for or monitor the use of water within a residence, the requirements for these cross connection control programs are increasing throughout the country.

Briefly, Double Check Valve Assemblies may be used ~ where the degree of hazard is low, meaning that the non- ~ potable source is polluted rather than contaminated. The degree of hazard is oftentimes determined by local Inspection Departments and, therefore, such departments should be questioned in order to comply with local regulations.

Most people are familiar with the details of the Holy Cross Football Teams' "hepatitis" incident, which was later determined to be caused by a backflow of contaminated water. It took close to nine months for officials to determine that a severe fire in nearby Worcester lowered the pressure in the football field area to the point where a back pressure backflow condition was created allowing contaminants from a sunken hose bibb pit to backflow into the field house drinking bubbler.

Back pressure-backflow is created whenever the downstream pressure exceeds the supply pressure which is possible in installations such as heating systems, elevated-tanks, and pressure-producing systems. An example would be a hot water space-heating boiler operating under 15-20 Ibs. pressure coincidental with a reduction of the city water supply below such pressure (or higher in most commercial boilers). As water tends to flow in the direction of least resistance, a backpressure-backflow condition would be created and the contaminated boiler water would flow into the potable water supply.

The property owner is liable to pay the tenant unpaid bill for service rendered to the tenant by the Authority. 

A cross connection is a direct arrangement of a piping line which allows the potable water supply to be connected to a line which contains a contaminant. An example is the common garden hose attached to a sill cock with the end of the hose lying in a cesspool. Other examples are a garden hose attached to a service sink with the end of the hose submerged in a tub full of detergent, supply lines connected to bottom-fed tanks, supply lines to boilers.

Back-siphonage is the reversal of normal flow in a system caused by a negative pressure (vacuum or partial vacuum) in   the supply piping.

The degree of hazard is a commonly used phrase utilized in cross connection programs and is simply a determination on whether the substance in the non-potable system is toxic (health hazard) or non-toxic (non-health hazard).

Toxic substance is any liquid, solid or gas, which when introduced into the water supply creates, or may create a danger to health and well being of the consumer. An example is treated boiler water. A non-toxic substance is any substance that may create a non-health hazard and is a nuisance or is aesthetically objectionable. For example, foodstuff, such as sugar, soda pop, etc. Therefore, you must select the proper device according to the type of connection and degree of hazard. There are five basic products that can be used to correct cross connection.

The hardness for 2013 has ranged from 79 - 101 mg/l

Residential customers are responsible for section of waterline from the shut off valve located near the edge of the street (curb stop) up to the water meter. Also all plumbing after the meter is the customer's responsibility.

A hose bibb vacuum breaker should be installed on every sill cock to isolate garden hose applications thus protecting the potable water supply from contamination.

 Leakage from a backflow preventer is normally attributed to foreign matter lodging on the seating area of either the first or second check valve. Most times this can be corrected by simply flushing the valve that will dislodge any loose particles. It is, therefore, most important on new installations that the piping be thoroughly flushed before installing the unit. It should be remembered, however, that spillage does provide a "warning signal" that the valve is in need of maintenance.

Bills can be paid at the Authority office at 219 Speelman Lane during regular business hours located at the bottom of each page.  Also, there is a drop off box  for after hours bill payment.

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Everyone can benefit, but this automatic payment may work well for someone who is ill or elderly. If you know such a person, be sure that customer knows about Auto-Pay.

State and federal regulations require the disinfection of all public water supplies. The EPA and other health agencies recognize that using chlorine is one of the most effective ways to protect public health from disease causing organisms that can be found in surface waters. Because chlorine used alone can react with natural materials in the river water to chemically form disinfection by-products such as Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), the Authority has been evaluating chlorination procedures to reduce the formation of TTHMs. However, we will continue to ensure that the water distributed to your home has a sufficient "chlorine residual" to prohibit the growth of bacteria and other organisms, to not increase TTHMs, and to not have an offensive chlorine smell and/or taste.