FAQs • Chicopee, MA • CivicEngage

Why is my water dirty?: Sometimes materials at the bottom of our water pipes get stirred up. This can be due to a water main break, when a fire hydrant is open, during maintenance work, or due to your own internal plumbing. The most efficient way to eliminate this problem is to briefly run cold water through a faucet, bathtubs being the best choice. Do not use hot water as the dirty water will be sucked into your hot-water heater and could possibly damage it. Also, do not run your laundry machine when you have dirty water, as this can discolor your clothing.

If your water does not clear up after several minutes, please call the Chicopee Water Department at 413-594-3420.

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Water Department

1. Why is my water dirty?: Sometimes materials at the bottom of our water pipes get stirred up. This can be due to a water main break, when a fire hydrant is open, during maintenance work, or due to your own internal plumbing. The most efficient way to eliminate this problem is to briefly run cold water through a faucet, bathtubs being the best choice. Do not use hot water as the dirty water will be sucked into your hot-water heater and could possibly damage it. Also, do not run your laundry machine when you have dirty water, as this can discolor your clothing.

If your water does not clear up after several minutes, please call the Chicopee Water Department at 413-594-3420.

2. Why is my water cloudy?: Cloudy water is just water full of air bubbles. The air is completely harmless and is naturally formed. Though we have plenty of appurtenances in our system that discharge air out of our mains, pockets or bubbles of air remain. In fact, if you let your glass of water sit for a few minutes you will see the air settle out of the glass. This cloudy water can ultimately be resolved by briefly running your water through a faucet or bathtub.

If your water does not clear up after several minutes, please call the Chicopee Water Department at 413-594-3420.

3. Is there fluoride in the water?: No, Chicopee's drinking water comes from the Quabbin Reservoir in Belchertown and travels approximately 13 miles down the Chicopee Valley Aqueduct before it meets up with the Chicopee Water Treatment Plant on Burnette Road. At the plant, the water is treated, but at no point is fluoride added to our drinking water.

4. Why is my bill so high?: Water usage can vary greatly throughout the year, with the summer months having much greater usage. However, if you believe you have a higher-than-normal water bill, please check your home for leaks. Please check your sprinkler system, faucets, and toilets for possible leaks. Also, if your bill was previously estimated, it may have been estimated at a usage that was lower than the actual usage.

This will result in a higher bill. The homeowner is responsible for the payment of all water which runs through the water meter, so if the leak is after the water meter, the leaked-out water must still be paid for by the homeowner. Please call the Chicopee Water Department at 413-594-3420 if you have any questions regarding your water bill.

5. Where is my water meter?: Your water meter is located inside of your home (usually in the basement or utility closet) where your water service enters your house. The homeowner is charged for all water which runs through this meter.

Note, some citizens have a remote reader attached to the side of their home. Your water meter is not the remote reader on the side of your house. The remote reader is wired to the water meter and allows our meter readers an easy digital reading of your usage without having to inconvenience you by requiring access to your home. Once again, the remote reader is not your water meter.

6. How do I read my water meter?: Read your water meter from left to right. It is important to read all of the numbers in order to get an accurate water bill.

7. What is my financial responsibility as a homeowner?: The City Water Distribution System, as maintained by the Chicopee Water Department (CWD), will include all distribution system water mains with all service connections within the City property (streets and right-of-ways) up to the private property line where an in-line valve (curb stop) will be installed. Any pipeline within the property line is deemed the property owner’s responsibility, with the exception of the water meter.

The private property owner may contact a licensed private contractor, whose work is subject to inspection by the CWD, or may contact the CWD to affect regularly scheduled repairs or upgrades with the cost of materials, labor, and any associated fee payable to the CWD. The CWD maintains the right to make immediate repairs as necessary in the event of an emergency.

8. What are those blue marks in the road and in front of my home?: According to State Law, DigSAFE must be called for any type of excavation. DigSAFE is a not-for-profit clearinghouse that notifies participating utility companies of your plan to excavate, and once contacted, they will mark out their corresponding utility. The DigSAFE color for potable water (drinking water) is blue.

The Chicopee Water Department is a non-member utility of DigSAFE. This means you must call the Chicopee Water Department at 413-594-3420 or fax us at 413-594-3461 in order to have your water service marked out. For more information, visit the DigSAFE page.

9. Why is my water shut off?: There are 3 possible reasons your water may be shut off. To learn about this reasons, please visit the Shut Off Water page.