FAQs

Q. What affects water consumption the most?

A. There are several factors that affect water consumption, and as a result, your water bill. Chief among them are weather, home conditions and leaks.
  • Weather: Water consumption typically changes on a seasonal basis. Most people use less water during the cooler months than in the summer. Frequent watering of lawns and gardens increase usage. If you have a sprinkler system, your usage and bill will be higher during the months of its use.
  • Living Conditions: Have you made changes or improvements to your home? Expansion (e.g., adding an apartment, bathroom, etc) will increase usage. And of course the more people living in your home, the more usage. Consequently you’re likely to receive a higher bill.
  • Leaks: Check your home for leaks. Little things add up. For example a dripping faucet can account for substantial increases in water usage over time. Even a toilet tank leak can add up to higher bills.

Q. How do I detect a leak?

A. There are many ways to determine if you have a water leak. First check all sinks and faucets for drips. Do you have to jiggle the toilet handle to stop it from running? To detect a silent leak in your toilet tank, test by putting 10 drops of food coloring in the water tank behind the toilet. Don’t flush for several hours. If the colored water shows up in the bowl, the tank is leaking. If you do suspect a leak, we recommend calling a plumber for assistance. Outside, see if the faucet heads are dripping. An outside hose or faucet mistakenly left dribbling can waste thousands of gallons of water over the course of the summer. With sprinkler systems, look for signs of water pooling around the sprinkler heads.

Q. I’m installing a sprinkler system. Is there anything special I need to do?

A. Have your sprinkler system installed by a professional. A backflow prevention device and a rain sensor are required with the installation of a sprinkler system.

Q. I’m moving… How do I close my account?

A. Please call our office at 631.261.0874. Please have the following information ready:
  • Your account number
  • Service (current home) Address
  • Seller’s Forwarding Address
  • Purchaser’s Name
  • Please call our office for a final meter reading.

Q. Do you accept payments over the telephone?

A. At present payments can only be made by mail or in person: Greenlawn Water District 45 Railroad Street Greenlawn, NY 11740 USA Office Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Q. Is there a grace period for payments?

A. In accordance with Town Law, overdue water bills as of September 15, 2007 will be entered on property tax bill. Any water charges placed on the tax bill will be subject to a 10% penalty charge.

Q. When is my next payment due?

A. You should receive a bill every three months.

Q. How is my bill computed?

A. Greenlawn’s billing cycle is based on a 90-day (quarterly) billing cycle for three months of use. Your bill is based on water consumption as registered through a meter. Payments and rates are graduated by usage, with an 8,000-gallon minimum.

Q. Why didn’t I receive a bill?

A. You should receive a water bill quarterly (every three months). If you didn’t receive a bill within the scheduled time frame, please call our offices at 631.261.0874.

Q. Why is this bill higher than my previous bill?

A. If you feel your bill is too high, please contact us directly. You can also make an accurate examination by comparing bills from corresponding periods (e.g., June 2015 vs. June 2016). Many factors can contribute to fluctuations in your water bill especially the weather, living conditions and especially leaks. Contact us and we will check your readings and your system for leaks.

Q. Is an estimated bill a true reading?

A. No. Estimated bills generally are issued when inclement weather prevents actual readings. If you desire a true reading of your meter, please contact GWD directly.