Resources - Mifflin County Municipal Authority

What is the Lateral Maintenance Program?

It's not as complicated as it sounds. It might surprise you to know that the pipe that carries water from your curb to your house is on your property and is actually owned by you. Unfortunately, if something would happen to that line, (a leak or break, etc.) it would be your responsibility to repair it.

Under the Lateral Maintenance program if anything happens to your water service line, MCMA will make the repair at no additional cost to you.

It basically offers protection against the possibility of costly repair bills and covers any service line damages from the curb stop to the outside wall of your home or building.

Downloads

Winter Precautions

Protecting Your Pipes When the Mercury Drops

Take steps now to prevent your home’s pipes from freezing. Pipes can freeze due to sudden drops in temperature, poor insulation, drafts (broken windows or doors) or thermostats set too low

Preventative Steps – What You Can Do Now

Insulate pipes in your home’s basement, crawl spaces and attic.
Seal leaks around pipes that allow cold air inside. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents, and pipes. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out.
Disconnect garden hoses. If possible, use an indoor valve to shut off the drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets.
If a freeze is expected, let warm water drip overnight, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall.
Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to uninsulated pipes under sinks and to appliances near exterior walls.

If Your Pipes Freeze

If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call a plumber.
Do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water.
Never try to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame. It could cause a fire.
You may be able to thaw a frozen pipe with warm air from a hair dryer. Start by warming the pipe as close to the faucet as possible, working toward the coldest section of pipe.
If your water pipes have burst, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve in the house. Leave the water faucets turned on.

**Make sure EVERYONE in the family knows where the water shutoff valve is located in your home and how to open/close it.**

Leaks

What If I Have A Leak?

If you have a soft, wet spot on your lawn or hear the sound of running water, you may have a leak in the service line to your house. Water soaks into the ground causing the soft spots. Close the main shut off valve inside your house. If the sound of running water continues, the outside service line could be leaking. Please call our office immediately at 717-248-0165 so that our service personnel may come out to inspect the line.

If it is determined that there is a leak on your service line, it would be your responsibility to repair it because it is on your property and is actually owned by you. Consider enrolling in our Lateral Maintenance Program to protect you in the event of a leak.

If you have a leak inside your home, we suggest you secure the assistance of a qualified plumbing professional.

Conservation Tips

Shut the water off when brushing your teeth and shaving.
Install low flush commodes and flow-restricting aerators on your faucets.
Fix small leaks in your bathroom toilet as soon as you find them.
Take shorter showers.
Install water-saving shower heads.
Water your lawn only when it needs it.
Don't run the hose while washing your car.
Use your automatic dishwasher only for full loads.
Use your automatic washing machine only for full loads.
Plant drought-resistant trees and plants.
Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.

Ways You Can Conserve Water In The Bathroom

Ways You Can Conserve Water In The Kitchen And Laundry Room

Run only full loads in the dishwasher and washing machines.
Use a dishpan or plug the sink for washing and rinsing dishes.
Install a low-flow aerator on all faucets.
Do not pre-rinse dishes before loading in the dishwasher.
Refrigerate a bottle of drinking water instead of letting the faucet flow until the water is cold enough to drink.
Use the proper load-size selection on the washing machine.
Instead of running water over fruits and vegetables to clean them, fill a bowl of water and use a brush.
If you are in the market for a new washing machine, consider a front loader. Front loaders use less water and are more energy efficient.

Ways To Conserve Water In Your Lawn, Garden And Outdoors

Water during the morning or in the evening to prevent evaporation during the heat of the day.
Install a rain barrel and use the recycled water to water your garden and wash your car.
Plant native plants in your garden and around your yard. They require less water than non-native plants.
Avoid watering the lawn on windy days.
Use soaker hoses and trickle irrigation systems.
Mulch around shrubs and garden plants to reduce evaporation.
Plant drought-resistant plants.
Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways, steps and sidewalks.
Wash the car using a filled bucket.
Make sure your hose has an automatic shut-off nozzle or one that can be adjusted to a fine spray.
Cover swimming pools to slow down the evaporation of water. This can reduce water loss by 30%.
Repair any swimming pool leaks.
Manually clean your pool filter. The average backwash uses between 250 and 1,000 gallons of water.

Ways To Conserve Water In The Community