Frequently Asked Questions

Customers with concerns or questions about their bill should contact the District Office at (661) 947-4111 option 2, and discuss it with a Customer Service Representative.

Don't come home to find your water turned off! Anticipate and pay your bills in advance. Also, if you are moving, remember to call the District about having your water turned off and taking service out of your name.

Most water meters are located at the front of your property at either the property line near the sidewalk or street. The District uses a "speedometer" type meter that works like the odometer in your car... except that it records cubic feet of water instead of miles traveled.

The series of numbers in the odometer reflect your water consumption in units of 100 cubic feet (=748 gallons of water). Read the numbers left to right, but don't include the last two numbers on the far right. For example, if last month's reading of 004500 units is subtracted from this month's reading of 006500, then 2000 cubic feet for water usage that has been logged. This in turn equates to 20 units of billable usage. This is what would be reflected on your bill.

If you receive a water bill, which is unusually high, you may have a water leak. If you suspect a water leak there are some things you can do to find out. Read your water meter – use your water meter to check for leaks in your home. Start by turning off all faucets and water-using appliances. Make sure no one uses water during the test period. Take a reading on your meter; wait about 30 minutes then take a second reading. If the dial has moved, you have a leak.

Is the leak inside or outside your home? Turn off your house valve (emergency shut-off valve, usually found below your hose spigot) and repeat the above process. If the dial has moved, the leak is between your meter and your home, otherwise, your leak is located inside your home, or in the pipes under your home.

• Check for toilets that run...the most common source of leaks is in the toilet. Check all toilets for leaks by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If after one hour the dye shows up in the bowl, the toilet has a leak.
• Check for leaky faucets...the next place to check for leaks is your sink and bathtub faucets. One drop of water per second wastes 2,7000 gallons of water per year! Replacing the rubber O-ring or washer inside the valve can usually repair dripping faucets.

If you have taken the above steps to detect and correct the water leak and your consumption continues to increase, please call the District at (661) 947-4111 option 2, to speak to a customer service representative.

Unless you have a valve on the house-side of the meter, the angle stop valve on the street side of the water meter must be shut off by Palmdale Water District. During office hours, call us at (661) 947-4111, and after hours (and weekends) call us at (661) 947-4114.

Note: If a consumer is found to be responsible to any damage done to District property, such damages shall be reimbursed to the District at cost plus administrative overhead. If responsibility for damage is not known, charges will be made to the current consumer or property owner.

Example: If an angle stop valve becomes damaged by the consumer during normal District hours, the cost will be assessed at $440.00. After hours repairs for same damage will be assessed at $600.00.

After office hours and weekends call (661) 947-4114 in case of emergency. If a pipe breaks, you may need to have your water turned off if you don't have a shutoff valve on the house side of the meter. For customer service questions, please wait to call (661) 947-4111 during our regular office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Note: If a consumer is found to be responsible to any damage done to District property, such damages shall be reimbursed to the District at cost plus administrative overhead. If responsibility for damage is not known, charges will be made to the current consumer or property owner.

Example: If an angle stop valve becomes damaged by the consumer during normal District hours, the cost will be assessed at $440.00. After hours repairs for same damage will be assessed at $600.00.

There are a few easy steps to follow if you suspect a leak on your property. Start by turning off all faucets and water-using appliances. Make sure no one uses water during the test period. Next, go out to your meter and look for the red triangle on the face of the meter. If the red triangle is turning, you have a leak somewhere on your property.

Is the leak inside or outside your home? Turn off your house valve (emergency shut-off valve, usually found below your hose spigot) and repeat the above process. If the dial has moved, the leak is between your meter and your home, otherwise, your leak is located inside your home, or in the pipes under your home.

• Check for toilets that run . . . the most common source of leaks is in the toilet. Check all toilets for leaks by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If after one hour the dye shows up in the bowl, the toilet has a leak.
• Check for leaky faucets . . . the next place to check for leaks is your sink and bathtub faucets. One drop of water per second wastes 2,7000 gallons of water per year! Replacing the rubber O-ring or washer inside the valve can usually repair dripping faucets.

A pressure regulator is a device that reduces water pressure to your house when the pressure in the street is above 80 pounds per square inch. Pressure regulators may be installed on the service line that comes into the house from the meter. District staff are available to help determine if you have a pressure regulator, however, any adjustments or repairs are the responsibility of the property owner.

A deposit made with the District for a “Single Family Residence” is refundable after one (1) year provided that the customer makes a request in writing (Deposit Refund Request Form) and the customer meeting all the requirements of the Districts rules and regulation Section 10.03.B “Refund of Deposit (Single Family Residences Only)” as further outlined below:

1. As per section 10.03.B.2.a - Customer does not have more than one (1) 48 hour Disconnection Notice (doortag) on the account within the one (1) year period immediately prior to the refund request.

2. As per section10.03.B.2.b - Customer has not incurred any additional disconnect charges on the account.

3. As per section 10.03.B.2.c - Customer has not had any additional checks returned from bank (e.g. insufficient funds), rejected electronic funds transfer or any credit card charge backs.

No. Palmdale Lake and Palmdale Dam are owned and operated by Palmdale Water District. The Fin and Feather Club has leased the lake and area for their recreational activities for more than 50 years. In return, the club maintains strict guidelines to ensure the water quality for the District's customers.

When old pipes are replaced or new ones are installed, the pipes must be disinfected with chlorine before they are connected into the District's system. After a day or two, water is flushed through the pipes to rinse out the chlorine before the pipes are put into use. In addition, the District regularly runs water through the system to flush out the 360 pipe ends where stagnant water can collect. This type of work is done to assure water quality to our valued customers.

Water shut-off valves are usually located where the plumbing comes into the house near the front yard hose bib. Some older homes may not have a shut-off valve so if you need to make repairs you should call the District at (661) 947-4111 and we will send a service technician out to turn the water off at the meter.

Note: If a consumer is found to be responsible to any damage done to District property, such damages shall be reimbursed to the District at cost plus administrative overhead. If responsibility for damage is not known, charges will be made to the current consumer or property owner.

Example: If an angle stop valve becomes damaged by the consumer during normal District hours, the cost will be assessed at $440.00. After hours repairs for same damage will be assessed at $600.00.

The best way to keep pipes from freezing is to insolate or wrap exposed pipes, faucets, and valves. This can be done with foam insulating tubes or self-stick insulating tape. It's also helpful to disconnect garden hoses and close inside valves for outside taps.

If your pipes do happen to freeze, a warm towel may help them defrost or as the day warms up the pipes may thaw on their own. If your pipes freeze and break, turn the water off at your water shut-off valve, not at the water meter.

The best way to file a customer service complaint is by email.