Call 248-335-6399 with your name, address, telephone number to report this problem. We will dispatch a sewer crew as soon as one becomes available. After 4:30 on weekdays we will transfer your call to our emergency number and they will call out a crew. If you call after business hours, or on a weekend or holiday, your call will automatically transfer to that number.
If the problem is determined to be a City sewer main problem you may be eligible to file a damage claim through the City’s Risk Management Division located in City Hall 47450 Woodward Avenue, Pontiac, MI 48342. If this is the case, we will need to make arrangements to enter your property and photograph the alleged damages. These photos would be made available to Risk Management upon the filing of a claim.
Please be advised that most of the calls we receive are backups due to rain or ground water (which will naturally drain out over time), or tree roots blocking your sanitary sewer lead. The property owner is responsible for all internal sewer plumbing including the building lead out to where it meets the sanitary main.
If the problem is determined to be a “house problem”, you will need to contact a private Company to come out and clean your sanitary lead. Unfortunately, for the sake of City liability, we are unable to recommend any particular company over any other.
Water Meter Change-out Program, what is it, do I have to comply?
The City is in the fourth year of a water meter change-out program. This program is necessary because our water meters are in excess of 10 years old and they are either beginning to slow down, or the battery in the transponder is no longer functioning properly in sending out its information. The life of the battery is roughly ten years. In order to accurately measure the water we sell to you, the water Meter must be functional in both sending out the reads and recording your water consumption. Also, a water meter will only record usage when water is pushing through it; it is driven solely by the force of running water.
If you have received a letter about this please call us to schedule an appointment. If your bill is being estimated, please contact us to see if we need to check or change your meter.
You must comply with this request; although the meter is on your premises, it is Property of the City. When our personnel come to your location, they will be wearing a United Water uniform and will have a photo ID for your protection. They will also arrive in a United Water vehicle bearing the United Water logo on the side.
Please be advised that none of our workers will come to you on behalf of United Water or the City of Pontiac to collect money. Also, you may not pay any worker directly, you must make payment to the City treasurer, located at City Hall, 47450 Woodward Avenue, Pontiac, MI, or it can be mailed as directed on your billing statement.
What to do if you have no water.
Call the Water & Sewer Maintenance division at 248-335-6399 to inquire about lack of water to your address. We may ask if your bill is paid or other questions pertinent to your problem, not to offend you, simply to get your call to the appropriate party.
We may also report to you that we are performing work which has required the water to be turned off in your area. We will do our best to notify you in advance and/or give you a time frame in which to expect the water to be turned back on. In the case of emergencies, such as water main breaks, we are not always able to contact everyone; feel free to contact the Water & Sewer Division should you experience a loss of water services at 248-335-6399.
Please be advised that we do not supply hot water, we only supply water. A lack of hot water may be attributed to many things, and we will recommend that you first contact Consumers Energy. We cannot light the pilot on your water heater, or perform any other non-water related tasks. For your convenience the phone number to Consumers is 1-800-477-5050.
What is MISS DIG? Why/when do I need to call? What happens when I call?
According to their web site it is: a clearinghouse for calls to request staking of all utilities. A Michigan wide one-call excavation safety and utility damage-prevention company that has received in excess of 16 million staking requests since the one-call center opened in 1970
You need to call this number: if you plan to dig call MISS DIG at 800-482-7171 or 811. It is a FREE service available to anyone in the State of MI.
We will receive your request via fax /email directly from MISS DIG, and the City will send out personnel to mark the appropriate services. We will ONLY mark City services, which is why the one-call center was created. They will send requests for staking to all utilities on the requestor’s behalf. We will NOT mark City services without a MISS DIG request, there is a process for emergencies through their system, giving them priority when necessary.
