FAQs

Water / Sewer Questions

Why is my water bill so high?

There are several reasons your bill could be unusually high. The most likely reason is an undetected leak. A running toilet caused by a leaking toilet flapper can use thousands of gallons of water per month. Replacing your toilet flapper with a new one costs only a few dollars.

In the summer, bills can be higher due to outdoor irrigation, filling swimming pools and watering plants or sod. Learn More

Why is water so expensive?

Many factors contribute to the cost of water. View this video for more detailed information.

Does the district service my address?

The district provides service to a specific area in and around Dickinson. View our service map to determine if your address is within our boundaries or call Customer Service at 281-337-1576, option 1.

How do I cancel my service?

To submit a stop service request, call Customer Service at 281-337-1576, option 1, or you can print and complete this form, attach required documentation and email to customerservice@gcwcid1tx.gov.

What do I do if my water is turned off due to non-payment?

To make a payment and have your service restored, you will need to come in or call the office during regular business hours at 281-337-1576, option 1.

What do I do if I need help paying my bill?

If you need help paying your bill, contact one of these social service agencies.

Can I read my own water meter?

New smart water meters are being installed throughout the district. If you have a new meter you can download the Eye on Water app to monitor your water usage and set leak alerts. Learn More

Can I turn off my own water at the meter?

If you need to turn off your water, you can have the water district turn it off at the meter by calling Customer Service at 281-337-1576, option 1 during regular business hours. Or you can open your meter box to access the cut-off valve, however, be careful not to damage the wire or any components inside the meter box as there is a $500 fee for damaging the equipment.

What can I do if I see colored particles in my water?

Which of the following best describes the particles in your water?

Black Particles

  • If the particles are hard and similar to large coffee grounds – They are probably granular activated carbon (GAC) from the inside of a GAC water filter. To stop this problem, replace the filter cartridge or consult with the manufacturer of the unit or the salesperson who sold it to you.
  • If the particles are solid yet rubbery in texture – They could be pieces of an old disintegrating faucet washer or gasket. If this is the problem, the particles would likely only be present at one faucet and that faucet might leak. To fix this problem, replace the faucet washers and the packing at the ends of the supply lines.
  • If the particles are very small in size and oily or sooty in texture – They are probably from the inside of a flexible hose. These hoses are made of black rubber but they are covered with a braided stainless steel mesh. Over time, the chlorine or chloramine in the water causes the rubber to break down. These hoses are located under the sink connecting the water supply to the faucet, or at the water heater connecting it to the water supply. To stop this problem replace the hose with one of the new styles that have a water disinfection resistant lining (clearly advertised on the label) or change to a different style of hose that is not made of black rubber.
  • If the particles are small, irregular in size and shape, very hard, and may include particles of different colors as well – They consist of mostly iron and are not a health hazard but they can be a nuisance if they clog your washing machine screens, shower heads, and/or the screens at the ends of your faucets (called aerators). If the water is clear with these particles in it, they probably came from the inside of your pipes. If the particles come from the water mains, the water will usually be discolored for a few hours as well.

Orange or Brown Particles

  • If the brown or orange particles are very hard and irregular in size and shape – Usually small pieces of rusted steel that have broken off the inside of your water pipes or water mains. These particles are very hard, irregular in size and shape, and can be several different colors (including black). They consist of mostly iron and are not a health hazard but they can be a nuisance if they clog your washing machine screens, shower heads, and/or the screens at the ends of your faucets (called aerators). If the water is clear with these particles in it, they probably came from the inside of your pipes. If the particulars come from water mains, the water will usually be discolored for a few hours as well.
  • If the brown or orange particles are small, round beads that are uniform in size, shape and color and the size of fish eggs – A common cause is a broken water softener. Inside a water softener are many small round beads. The mechanism that keeps these beads in the tank can break, releasing them into your water. These beads vary in size and color depending on the manufacturer; however, some commonly used beads are about the size of fish eggs and are brown or orange in color. If you see that these particles are uniform in size, shape and color and you have a water softener, call your service agent for repairs.

White or Tan Particles

  • If the white or tan particles are flake-like, very thin, and irregular in shape – Can be a combination of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate; this material is often referred to as pipe scale. Calcium and magnesium carbonates are naturally occurring minerals and are found in varying concentrations in most waters around the world. These minerals are not a health threat; in fact, they are beneficial to human health. Over time, these minerals can deposit on the inside of your pipes and then begin to flake off. Although this process usually occurs slowly over a long period of time, there are three common circumstances that can cause it to happen rapidly. If your water was turned off for repair work or some other reason, the pressure and turbulence created when it is turned back on can dislodge the minerals from the pipes. If the water supply becomes softer or if you add a water softener to your plumbing system, the softer water can begin to dissolve the minerals from the pipes again and pieces may begin to break loose. If you have galvanized steel pipes, they will corrode over time, begin to swell, and cause the minerals to flake off. There is no practical way to remove pipe scale from the inside of your pipes; if the problem is severe, you may want to consider re-plumbing.
  • If the white or tan particles are round and sand-like – Particles formed from minerals can accumulate from the water heater. As the water is heated, the minerals begin to precipitate out of the water forming white or tan sand-like deposits. As you use the hot water, these minerals can be carried along clogging the inlet screens in washing machines, shower heads, and faucet aerators. To keep mineral deposits from accumulating in the water heater, flush it at least once a year. Flushing the water heater regularly also extends the life of the heater and makes it operate more fuel efficiently.
  • If the particles float, are flaky and irregular in shape, very small, can break apart easily, and can have a faint bluish-green tint – The water heater can put floating white particles into the water. Some water heaters contain a plastic dip tube which is an extension to the inlet of the water supply located on the inside of the heater. It allows the cold incoming water to enter the tank at the bottom. As the tube gets old, it can begin to disintegrate and show up as white particles in the hot water. These particles vary in size and will break apart fairly easily. They can have a faint bluish-green tint to them, but they are mostly white. To correct this problem, contact the manufacturer for advice; they might replace the tube for free.
  • The particles are small, round beads that are uniform in size, shape and color – Can also be water softener resin beads. Inside a water softener are many small, round beads. The mechanism that keeps the beads in the tank can break, releasing them into your water. These beads vary in size and color depending on the manufacturer; however, two commonly used beads are very small and are white or tan in color. If you see that the particles are uniform in size, shape, and color and you have a water softener; call your service agent for repairs.

(Courtesy of the City of Corpus Christi’s Water Department)

What can I do if my water is discolored?

Which of the following best describes the discoloration in your water?

Brown, Red, Orange, or Yellow

Brown, red, orange, or yellow water are all caused by rust in the water. There are two major sources that can cause water to be rusty: the water supply mains or the water pipes in your house, apartment, or business.

There is a fine brown sediment that accumulates at the bottom of some distribution water mains over the years and may contain small amounts of silt and organic material from reservoirs. However, most of it is rust from the water main walls. If an unusual flow of water through the main occurs, this sediment can become disturbed and temporarily suspended in the water causing a brown, red, orange, or yellow color. Unusual water flows are commonly caused by main breaks or firefighting events. This type of disturbance usually lasts for approximately two to four hours after which time the sediment will settle back out and the water will clear. This discolored water is not a health threat. However, it is often very unpleasant, so it is best to wait several hours for the water to clear before using it. Do not wash any laundry during this time, as the rust can stain clothing; and do not use any hot water, or you will draw this rusty water into your hot water tank. If you were doing laundry when the water became discolored, rewash it later when the water clears. Use a rust stain remover, or regular detergent. DO NOT USE CHLORINE BLEACH. Chlorine reacts with the iron and can form a permanent stain.

The other major cause of brown, red, orange, or yellow water is rusty water pipes in your house, apartment, or business. If your water is being discolored by old, rusty pipes, the only permanent solution is to replace them. Replacing only some of the pipes can improve the problem, or it can actually make it worse. If some of the old steel pipes are replaced with new copper pipes and the two different metals are connected directly together, the copper can cause the steel to rust even more than before the replacement. This process can be stopped with the use of a proper dielectric coupling between the two dissimilar pipes. Consult an experienced plumber. Water that is being discolored by rusty pipes is not a health hazard; however, it is an indication that the pipes are corroding and they can eventually begin leaking.

The first step in solving a brown or yellow water problem is to distinguish if the problem is located on your property or if it is in the water supply. The following are some common characteristics of a water main disturbance:

  • The water was clear earlier but all-of-a-sudden became discolored.
  • Only the cold water is discolored.
  • The water is discolored at all of the water faucets on the property and does not clear or improve after the water has been run for several minutes.

Some common characteristics of a corrosion problem on your property include:

  • The water is discolored every morning or when first used after several hours of disuse.
  • The water clears after it has ran for a few minutes.
  • The discoloration is only at one or several faucets, but not all of them.
  • The discoloration is only in the hot water.

If you are still not sure if the discolored water is due to your pipes or our water mains, check the water supply. Tum off the faucet, immediately take a clean glass or a white bowl and go to the water faucet {hose bib) at the front of your house, apartment, or business. Turn the water on wide-open and run it for a full two minutes. After two minutes, fill the glass or bowl with water. If the water is clear at this front faucet, the problem is likely being caused by your plumbing and a plumber should be called. If the water at the front tap is discolored after running for two minutes, the problem is likely coming from water main. If the water does not clear within 24 hours, contact your water supplier.

Milky White

Milky white water, also commonly described as cloudy, hazy, soapy, or foamy, is almost always caused by air in the water. One of the many properties of water is its ability to dissolve gases-including air. Sometimes the air comes back out of the water in the form of many tiny bubbles; this gives the water a milky white appearance. To see if the white color in the water is due to air, fill a clear glass with water and set it on the counter. Observe the glass of water for 2 or 3 minutes. If the white color is due to air, the water will begin to clear at the bottom of the glass first and then gradually will clear all the way to the top. This is a natural phenomenon and is completely normal; the water is safe to use.

Green

Green water is usually is due to extreme copper plumbing corrosion. If this is happening. the water will usually have a bluish-green tint and/or will leave a bluish-green stain on porcelain if the water drips from a faucet. This copper corrosion can be caused by your electrical system being grounded to your water pipes, especially if you have a mixture of pipe material. If the green color is only in the hot water, it may be due to the temperature on the water heater being set too high. If you have a hot water circulating system, the return line may be too small or the water may be pumped too fast for your pipe size, or it may be installed incorrectly. Green water can also be caused by dezincification of cheap bronze alloys found in valves, water pumps, and water pump parts. This problem can occur in high-rise buildings and large industrial properties where the water is pumped to storage tanks.

If you are not sure if the green water is due to some plumbing defect on your property, check the water supply. You can do this by taking a large white bowl or bucket and going to the water faucet (hose bib) at the front of your house, apartment, or business. This faucet is usually near the main water shut-off valve for the property (commonly called the wheel valve). Tum the water on wide-open and run it for a full two minutes. After two minutes, fill the bucket or bowl with water. If the water is clear at this front faucet, the problem is likely being caused by your plumbing and you should consult a plumber. Some copper corrosion problems can be very complex and may require consulting a corrosion expert.

Blue

Having blue water is rare. It can be caused by a leaking water valve in a toilet where you are using a blue colored toilet tank/bowl cleaning system {such as drop-in pellets or a hanging bottle in the tank). This usually happens when the toilet is upstairs and the water supply has been shut off for some reason.

(Courtesy of the City of Corpus Christi’s Water Department)

What can I do if my water has a particular taste or odor?

Which of the following best describes the taste or odor in your water?

A Rotten Egg, Decayed, or Sewage-like

There are two common causes of a sulfurous, decayed, or sewage-like taste or odor in the water: bacteria growing in your drain or bacteria growing in your water heater. By far, the most common cause of this type of problem is the drain. As bacteria accumulate, they produce gases that smell. It is natural to assume the bad odor is coming from the water because you only smell it when you turn the water on. However, there is nothing wrong with the water, you just need to disinfect the drain. You can do this by pouring a cup of bleach down the drain, let it sit for about 5 minutes and then run water down the drain to flush.

Another cause of a rotten egg or sewage smell in the water is bacteria growing in the water heater. This is most likely to occur if the hot water has been unused for a significant period of time, if the water heater has been turned off for a while, or if the thermostat on the heater is set too low. The bacteria that produce this problem are not a health threat; however, the taste and odor can be very unpleasant. This problem can be solved by heat disinfection of the water heater. To eliminate bacteria from the water heater, you need to raise the water temperature above 140 degrees for 8 hours. Bacteria die out at temperatures above 140 degrees. To safely follow this procedure, first make sure your water heater has a functioning temperature and pressure relief valve. Also, to prevent accidental scalding, warn users that water will come out of faucets extremely hot and should not be used at the increased temperature.  You can check the tap water temperature by holding a thermometer (one used to measure liquids) under the faucet to check water temperature.

Musty, Moldy, or Earthy

The most common cause of this type of problem is bacteria growing in the drain. As the bacteria grow and multiply, they produce gases which can smell musty or moldy. It is natural to assume the bad odor is coming from the water because you only smell it when you turn the water on. However, there is nothing wrong with the water, you just need to disinfect the drain. You can do this by pouring a cup of bleach down the drain, let it sit for about 5 minutes and then run water down the drain to flush.

Bleach-like, Chemical, or Medicinal

There are two common causes for a chlorinous, bleachy, chemical, or medicinal taste or odor in the water; or the interaction of that chlorine with a build-up of organic material in your plumbing system. The first step to identifying and solving the problem is to determine if the problem exists in the District’s water supply or in your plumbing. If the problem occurs in only one or several -but not all -of the water faucets inside your home or business, and the problem goes away after running your water for several minutes, the cause is somewhere in your plumbing system. If this is the case, you can eliminate the problem by disinfecting your drains with bleach to kill any odor-causing bacteria. You can also remove the aerator on your faucets and disinfect those as well.

If the problem is in the water supply, it will occur at every water faucet on the property and it will not disappear after a few minutes of running the water. If the problem is at every faucet on the property and does not disappear after running the water for a few minutes, then the only way to determine the cause is by checking the water supply to the property.

To check the water supply, take a clean glass and go to the water faucet (hose bib) at the front of your house, apartment, or business. This faucet is usually near the main water shut-off valve for the property (commonly called the wheel valve). Tum the water on wide-open and run it for a full two minutes. After two minutes, disconnect the water hose if there is one attached, and sample the water; never drink water that has traveled through a garden hose.

Salty

A salty taste in the water is usually caused by a water softener. This taste will be much more salty than the natural salt compounds dissolved in the source water. When the internal seals of the valve leak in your water softener, salty water can enter the cold water lines during the regeneration cycle of your water softener. This often occurs between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. once or twice a week. The extremely salty taste will still be present in the morning when you brush your teeth or make coffee. The salty water can be removed by running the water for 1 minute. If the salty water does not clear within 5 minutes, a more serious problem may be present. Contact your water softener manufacturer for details.

(Courtesy of the City of Corpus Christi’s Water Department)

Where can I get information about the district’s water quality?

Our drinking water meets or exceeds all federal and state standards and is safe. Learn more by reading the most current Consumer Confidence Reports from WCID #1 and Gulf Coast Water Authority, WCID #1’s wholesale water provider.

Is WCID #1 part of the city?

No. The Galveston County Water Control and Improvement District #1 is a separate local governmental entity established in 1938. It provides drinking water, wastewater and contracted solid waste collection services to 8,700 households and businesses in the greater Dickinson area.

Garbage Questions

Who do I call if my garbage bin is damaged or missing?

Call AmeriWaste, at 281-585-3200 to request a new garbage bin. There is no charge if your bin is damaged due to normal wear and tear, (i.e., the wheels or lid are broken). If your cart is damaged due to misuse or is missing, you are responsible for the cost of a replacement bin.

How do I properly dispose of my household hazardous waste?

Free hazardous waste and electronics recycling services are available for WCID #1 residential customers by appointment at the Stella Roberts Recycling Center in Pearland. Learn More

How do I sign up for curbside recycling?

Call AmeriWaste, 281-331-8400

All curbside recycling is collected on Thursdays.

Review this flyer for more information.

Miscellaneous Questions

How do I obtain specific information about WCID #1?

Submit a written request:

By mail: P.O. Box 307, Dickinson, TX 77539
By e-mail: admin@gcwcid1tx.gov
In person: 2750 FM 517 Rd East, Dickinson, TX 77539

For more information about submitting an Open Records request click here.

How do I request for WCID #1 to disclose my personal information?

In accordance with Texas Utilities Code, Sec. 182.052(c), a customer has the right to request disclosure of their personal information. To request disclosure, print and complete this form, attach required documentation, and email to customerservice@gcwcid1tx.gov or mail to P.O. Box 307, Dickinson, TX 77539.