FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Board of Directors of the Valparaiso Lakes Area Conservancy District has adopted the following polices and procedures:

Q: What are your office hours?

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. For your convenience, we have a drop box to the right of the front door for payments dropped off after hours. Our phone number is (219) 464-3770. For all billing or service questions, call the office during working hours.

Q: Do you have any emergency #?

A: For EXTREME emergencies only, call the pager number at (219) 548-6245. After you hear the tone, punch in your number and press the # key. Someone will return your call.

Q: Do you require a security deposit?

A: A $40.00 deposit is required from all new customers of LAC Utilities, and a signed Water Agreement Card must be on file at the office. For renters, both the owner and tenant must sign the Agreement Card. Upon termination of our services, the $40.00 deposit will be applied to the final bill. There is a $25.00 fee for any check returned NSF from the bank.

Q: When do you read my meter and when do you bill me?

A: The meters are read on the 15th day of the month and billed on the last day of the month. Payment is due twenty (20) days after the billing date. After the 20th, a late charge will be assessed on the unpaid balance. Failure to receive your bill does not excuse any penalty charges. Water service on delinquent accounts will be terminated on the 10th day of the month following the due date. The service department is not required to knock on doors prior to the shutoff. There is a $20.00 turn-on fee. After normal working hours, the turn-on fee is $40.00.

Q: What if I would like to turn on and off my water service for the winter?

A. A 24-hour notice is required Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.. If fees are accepted in the field by the Service Department personnel, a receipt MUST be issued. A $40.00 fee applies for after-hour turn-offs and turn-ons, which are considered 4:00 p.m. and after Monday through Friday, weekends, and holidays.

Q: Are there any additional charges on the bill?

A: All accounts have a monthly Fire Protection Charge of $0.97 assessed to them. In case of a fire, you would not be charged for the water used to extinguish the fire. Meters larger than 5/8" get charged accordingly.

Q: Where should I place my water meter?

A: All water meters must be readily accessible to our meter readers. If you have dogs hindering the reading, or your Read-O-Matic is inaccessible, you must make alternate arrangements with the office, or your bill will be estimated for 1,000 cubic feet of water.

Q: What if I read my own meter?

A: If you read your own water meter, the meter reading should be called into the office on the 15th of the month. Please have your account number and meter number ready.

Q: What is the minimum water / sewer bill?

If the water service is active and there is no consumption, the monthly minimum charge is $31.73. If the water is turned off, there is still a $12.45 base sewer charge. If our charges are allowed to become delinquent, we have the authority to put a lien on the property and eventually sell the property at a tax sale. Landlords are held responsible for all delinquent bills incurred by their tenants.

Q: What about my sump pump?

Sump pumps that pump unmetered water into the sewer system are in violation of the sewer ordinance and are subject to a fine of up to $1,000 per day.

Q: Do you have a sprinkling average during the summer months?

A. Yes. If you water your lawn during the summer months, the sprinkling rate adjustment will be automatically reflected on the July 31st and August 31st billings. The sewage for the months will be based on an AVERAGE of water usage during April, May, and June. The sprinkling rate adjustment shall not be available to users who have lived in the billed premises for less than three months (or April1) and have not received bills prior to July.

Q: What if I wish to fill my swimming pool?

A. If you have a pool, the FIRST FILL ONLY will have sewer adjusted off if you take the reading at the beginning of the fill and the end of the fill and report them to the office. Unfortunately, no adjustments can be made unless these procedures are followed.

Our office is located at 1805 Burlington Beach Road just west of Calumet Avenue on the north side of Burlington Beach Road (next door to the Family Express Station). CLICK HERE to view a location map.

Phone: (219) 464-3770
Emergency/Pager: (219) 548-6245
Open: Monday - Friday
Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm