City of Sheridan : FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we locate underground water service lines to homes?
No - they don't belong to the City

Is the little black thing on the outside of a house the water meter?
No - it's the sensor that is connected to the meter that is under the house.

My water service line is leaking, will the City repair it?
No - this is the property owners responsibility.

What should I do about the sewer smell in my house?
Put water in all the drain traps, these keep the sewer gas out when full of water.

Why is the light flashing at the pump station?
This is a signal that something is wrong and you should call the Police Department and have us paged.

Why did my water go off?
It is either frozen, a valve in your house was accidentally shut off or you didn't pay your bill.

I have sewage backing up in my house, what should I do?
Call the Police Department and have Utilities Maintenance paged.

How do I get my water shut off in emergencies?
Call the Police Department and have Utilities Maintenance paged.

How do I get City owned underground lines located?
Call One-Call of Wyoming at 1-800-849-2476

Can you fix my streetlight?
Call Montana Dakota Utilities.

Can I get information on my sewer tap?
The location of your sewer tap on the main line can be obtained from our office. There is no application for this and it is free.

Why does my water have a brown tint?
The light brownish color in the water is iron that leaches from the inside of water mains that are 50 or more years old. These pipes are not lined and the corrosive effect of our water eats away at the metal of the pipe. This is not harmful from a health standpoint, but just doesn’t look good.

Why is my water bill so high?
You may want to check to make sure your toilet is not leaking. These types of leaks are constantly using water and running up your water bill. If you do not believe you have any leaking appliances in your home, you can contact the Utility Billing division at City Hall to further investigate your water use. They have historical records for water use at your address and can help you evaluate whether this is an accurate reading. You may also contact the Utility Billing office at 674-6483.

Why is my water meter so noisy?
It is due to the volume of water running through the meter as well as the plastic chambers and clicking of the meter registers. The meter could possibly be changed but this is no guarantee.

How about some information on water meters.
The City of Sheridan has two full time employees, Marilyn Morris & Peggy Driskill, who read water meters for the City and the Sheridan Area Joint Powers Water Board. The shop phone number is 672-5794 (best to call late afternoon). In addition to reading the meters, the staff also locates curb stops, turns water off in emergencies, replaces old meters, repairs systems, and tests existing meters.