Highland has been combating the I&I (Infiltration & Inflow) problem for longer than any other local sewer system. Our experience has shown us that NO municipal sewer system in the Greater Johnstown area has lowered its flows to the PaDEP mandated limit (625 GPD/EDU) without requiring homeowners to pressure test their full buried pipeline system.

Highland's secondary, and remotely located Lloydell Reservoir (Beaverdale Reservoir and/or 5-Mile Reservoir) IS NOT open to the Public.

However, Highland's main reservoir (Beaverdam Reservoir) along Route 869 in Summerhill Township IS OPEN to limited Public access and use through a co-operative management arrangement with the PA Fish and Boat Commission.

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Highland's water rates are comparable or less than most similar-sized water systems in Pennsylvania. Unless there has been a mistake on your Bill (a very rare occurrence), the normal amount of your monthly bill reflects YOUR amount of service. If you want to compare your bill or usage to that of your neighbors’ or friends’, make sure you do so with several customers with like-sized families to that of yours. For comparison, the average residential customer throughout Highland's system uses 140 gallons Per Day (gpd). However, an average residential household in our service area is comprised of 2.5 persons. Therefore, a family with 2 or 3 children, or more, would pay a higher bill.

Highland does not own or operate a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). Highland does have a sanitary sewer system in the Geistown/Richland area. This pipeline network provides Collection and Transportation for sewage flow, and your Highland Sewer Bill reflects the charges for that service. Highland's sanitary sewer pipeline network connects to three (3) separately owned adjacent sewer systems (Johnstown Regional Sewage, Windber Area Authority, Forest Hills Municipal Authority). These systems further Transport the sewage flows through their pipelines and ultimately to their STP for Treatment. Accordingly, these entities charge for Transportation & Treatment. The three agencies are completely autonomous from Highland and have the right to establish their own rates for the service they provide. The Johnstown Regional Sewage and the Forest Hills Municipal Authority provide their own billing service and mail out a separate sewer bill. Conversely, through a contractual arrangement, Highland provides the Billing service for WAA, and those charges are shown as a separate item on your monthly "Highland" bill.

"0%", Highland is a Non-Profit municipal authority. There are no shareholders demanding a profit such as there normally are with privately held utilities such as a Phone Co., Electric Co., Gas Co., etc.

A Highland customer may be allowed a one-time credit for sewer charges on the initial fill up of a newly-constructed swimming pool, or if replacing a pool liner. In order to get such credit  for subsequent fillings, a customer must have a "deduction meter" installed, at the customer's expense. However, with some minor plumbing rearrangement, a customer can make full advantage of a deduction meter installation for all "outside" water usage (Car Washing, Lawn/Garden Watering, Filling/Topping-Off swimming pools, etc.). Please call our Office for further details.

At Highland's current Rates the cost of 1 Gallon of water is a little more than ½ of a penny ($.0055). Accordingly, completely flushing a 50 gallon water tank costs little more than Quarter ($.25) . Additionally, customers tend to overestimate how much water they had to let run to clear their water. The true costs are most likely between a Quarter and a Dollar. We always regret such occasional inconveniences, but credit is not issued in such cases.

For quickest customer convenience, Highland has a "Payment Slot" next to (just before) its Drive-Up window. Payments can be dropped off into the Payment Slot 24hr/7wk. If you need change or further PAYMENT assistance, you can utilize our Drive-Up window. Please realize, however, that an employee IS NOT stationed at the window continuously. Just ring the "Call Buzzer" for assistance.

Check out these sites for an explanation and what to do:

http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Hot_Water_Tank_Debris_Flush.php

http://www.doityourself.com/forum/water-heaters/259604-my-hot-water-heater-blowing-white-chunks.html

Highland's water is categorized as "Soft" to "Very Soft".

On the rare occurrence of a milky appearance to your water, it can be attributed to entrapped air (tiny air bubbles). This usually happens after a disturbance (Leak, Flushing, etc.) of the water system in your neighborhood.

Highland's water meets and/or exceeds all Federal and State regulatory requirements for "safe water". In fact, we have received commendations for the operation of our water system. At the cost of HALF A PENNY per gallon Highland’s water is by-far the exceptional value. (Re-fill you “bottled water” container with Highland water!)

No the Authority believes that dental hygiene is the responsibility of the individual and the family, and is not the role for a Public Water Supply System.