Water & Wastewater – Village of Monticello, NY

Water Department

Water Department
Water Superintendent
Richard (Chuck) Brodowsky

Contacting the Water Department

Personnel can be reached at the water plant at 845-794-6810. The water plant is manned between 8:00AM and 11:00PM.

If an emergency occurs after 11:00 PM the Monticello Police Department should be called at 845-794-4422, at which time they will contact the Water Department personnel.

Billing inquiries should be made between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Monday thru Friday.

About the Water Department

The Village of Monticello Water Department was established in 1895. The design capacity of the Water Treatment Plant located on Kiamesha Lake is 2 million gallons per day. Also there are 3 Production Wells with a design capacity of 300 thousand gallons per day, for a total of 2.3 million gallons per day. The water is pumped to water towers at three locations in the Village.

In addition to operating the water plant and wells, the employees maintain the distribution system, storage tanks, fire hydrants and water meters. Updating equipment and performing maintenance is performed on a daily basis.

The Village Water Department provides safe drinking water and on-demand reserve available for fire protection.

In order to ensure reliable water will be available, the current water plant which is approximately 100 years old is scheduled to be replaced. The new plant has been designed and plans have been submitted to the Department of Health and Department of Environmental Conservation for approval. In response to new development taking place within the Village, a study is underway to determine the feasibility of increasing the water drawn from the current wells.

All Village water is treated and continually tested to ensure its safety. The plant operates under regulations from the Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Health.

Residential and commercial water is delivered and metered at the users location. Rates are set by the Village Board.

In order to monitor usage and more quickly recognize high water usage due to broken or frozen pipes the Village has installed the Badger Meter System. This system allows Water Department personnel and homeowners to access and monitor water usage to help reduce water waste and high bills. Water users can download the Eyeonwater App by Badger on the App Store for IPhone or Google Play Store for Android. When asked to enter your account in the app, enter the account number shown on your water bill without the hyphens (-).

Water Bills are issued, November 10, February 10, May 10 and August 10 (quarterly). Unpaid bills become a lien on taxes in June.

Water Saving Tips:

Check dripping hot and cold water faucets
Repair leaking toilets, leaking pipes
Install water savers or flow restrictors in faucets and shower heads.
Place a plastic jug with some pebbles inside your toilet tank.
Take shorter showers, or use less water in bath tubs.

If shutting down your home for the winter, make sure the house is drained properly by a responsible plumber. If not drained and you are leaving the heat on, make sure the house is checked at least twice a day, so freezing does not occur.

Conserve Water and Save Money!
A dripping faucet or fixture can waste 3 gallons a day—a total of 1095 gallons a year.

Sewer Department

Sewer Department
Sewer Superintendent
Robert Nelson

Contacting the Sewer Department

The Sewer Department can be reached at 845-794-5920, Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 AM and 3:00 PM and on Saturday and Sunday between 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

About the Sewer Department

The Village operates a sewer collection system which includes 12 pumping stations and a wastewater treatment plant. The plant is permitted to treat 3.1 million gallons per day.

The wastewater treatment plant is located off of Waverly Ave at 38 Plant Drive. The Village of Monticello comprises an area of approximately four square miles, of which almost 100 percent is served by the sanitary sewer system. The system has 27 miles of gravity and force-main sewer lines. The major portion of the system was constructed in the past 60 years.

Storm water from roof gutters and sump pumps should not be connected to the sewer line. Baby wipes and diapers along with grease and grease like products can significantly increase the likelihood of sewer backups resulting in costly repairs and should never be flushed into the sewer system. Baby wipes and diapers frequently clog pumps and valves, causing costly disruptions in service.

The goal of the village sewer system is to prevent public hazards, protect the environment, minimize disruptions in service and provide reliable service now and into the future.

All complaints and requests are documented and investigated. In the case of sewer backups, field personnel will investigate whether the problem is with the sewer Main or the homeowner’s line. If the backup is in the sewer Main the village will repair the problem. If the problem is in the service Lateral, that is the line from the main to the building, the homeowner will be advised. Property owners are responsible for the entire service Lateral.

Sewer Department FAQs

My drains are not working properly what should I do?

In many cases the problem is in the property owners own sewer or drain line and will require a plumber or sewer cleaner. The Sewer Department will check the Village’s sewers at your request before a plumber or sewer cleaner is called. You may call 794-5920 to arrange this. Unless a situation is an emergency the Sewer Department request that all calls be made between 8 am and 4 pm during normal work days.

What is the cause of sewer gas around the house?

Sewer gasses may come from a dried out trap, whether that is an unused sink or a little used basement or garage floor drain. These may be corrected by adding water to the drain to refill the trap. Other causes may be a plugged sewer, broken or cracked pipe or plugged vent pipe.

Can I pour material down the street drains in front of my house?

No. Material such as used motor oil, antifreeze, paint etc., are hazardous. The street drains are connected to storm sewers which discharge directly to a near-by stream, or river and receive no treatment. All such materials should be recycled or disposed of at an approved location.

What is the most common cause of sewer blockages?

Tree roots and cooking grease/oils are the most common causes. Cooking grease/oils should not be put into drains; they should be disposed of in the garbage.

Am I responsible for the maintenance of any part of my sewer line?

Homeowners are responsible for the sewer lateral leading to the sewer main. Any clog or obstruction contained in the sewer lateral is the homeowner’s responsibility to remove. The homeowner is also responsible for the sewer clean out located along the sewer lateral. Personnel from the Sewer Department would be pleased to assist homeowners in answering any specific questions concerning these issues.

Can my sump pump be connected to the village sanitary sewer system?

No, a sump pump must be discharged onto the top of the ground or connected to the storm sewer.

What are the green paint markings in the street?

The Sewer Department marks the location of sewers and sewer structures when it receives notification through Dig Safely of excavation in the area. Green paint is the color assigned to sewers and drain lines.

How do I obtain Permit for a Sewer Tap?

The property owner or their contractor is required to fill out a Sewer Tap Permit Authorization. This form can be obtained from the Sewer Department (or downloaded from this website). The Authorization has to be completed and then signed by the Sewer Superintendent. After the signature has been obtained the completed form has to be submitted to the Village Clerk at the Village Hall and the appropriate fee will need to be paid to the Clerk.

I am having some work done on my property and need to locate my home sewer line, who should I contact?

In many cases the exact location of a private sewer is not known. The Sewer Department will mark the sewers it is responsible to maintain in the street but they may not know the exact location of the private sewer. Before any digging is done you should have all utilities marked by calling Dig Safely New York at 1-800-962-7962.

Also, 24 -48 hours prior to digging, please call the Sewer Department to schedule inspections of the work that is being performed.

Sewer Line Specifications

In addition to other requirements set by the Village of Monticello Sewer Department, the following shall be required as minimum conditions for gravity sewer lateral installation in the Village.

1. Pipe shall be a minimum of ASTM SDR35.
2. Minimum slope shall be 2%.
3. Minimum size shall be four (4) inches, or larger if required by the Superintendent.
4. Connections to sewer main shall be with approved saddle fittings or tee wye connection, if available.
5. Minimum depth shall be four (4) feet below finished grade, unless otherwise approved by the Superintendent.
6. No building sewer shall be backfilled until it has been inspected by the Village Engineer or Sewer Department personnel.
7. Sewer and water services shall not be laid in the same trench. A minimum clearance of 10 feet horizontal and 18 inches vertical separation shall be maintained.
8. Pipe shall be installed as per manufacturer’s recommendations.
9. Whenever the existing foundation is found unsuitable, a compacted bed of screened gravel or any other approved method which will provide a firm stable pipe foundation shall be used.
10. Excavations are to be kept free of water by pumping or other approved means during pipe-laying operations.
11. In areas of rock excavation, pipe shall be placed on six inches of sand or gravel.
12. All exposed ends of incomplete lines are to be plugged when pipe laying is not actually in progress
13. All work shall be done in conformance with OSHA and NYS Construction Safety Code.
14. All excavations for building sewer installations shall be adequately guarded with barricades and with lights when work is shut down overnight or on weekends.
15. Backfilling of building sewer shall conform to the following:
    (i) Minimum of 6″ of crushed stone foundation in wet conditions under the pipe.
    (ii) 6″ of sand foundation under normal conditions.
    (iii)12″ of a select granular fill (or sand)
    (iv)Select run off trench material to finished grade or follow Highway Department backfill specifications in all Village streets and right-of-ways.
16. Any work performed on weekends, holidays or after hours shall not be backfilled until it is inspected by village personnel. Any work that is backfilled without an inspection will be required to be exposed for inspection.
17. Owner or contractor must call Dig Safely New York 1-800-962-7962 a minimum of 48 hours before excavation begins.

Any questions regarding these regulations or if you need any additional information, please call the Village Wastewater Plant at 845-794-5920.