UTILITIES- Water/ Sewer/ Trash

The Water/ Sewer Department handles all issues dealing with water and sewer. Their responsibilities include:

  • Sewer collection

  • Wastewater treatment

  • Water distribution

  • Water quality

  • Water treatment

The department ensures the residents of the City of Rittman receive quality drinking water, and that the water returned to the environment is safe.

Contact Information by Issue/Request

  • No water or to report a water line leak: 330-925-2059

  • Water billing or to set up a new service account: 330-925-2059

  • Water meter problems or questions: 330-925-2059

  • Drinking water quality complaints: 330-925-2062

  • Report a leaking or damaged fire hydrant: 330-925-2062

  • Sewer backups: 330-925-2062

How to read utilities invoice

Payment

PAYMENT TYPES

The Utilities Department accepts the following payment types:

  • Bank check

  • Cash

  • Credit card through Nexbillpay (See below)

  • Money order

There is a DROP BOX on the East side of the building, in the brick wall, for all payments. Payments accepted 24/7 in our drop box for your convenience. 

You can also sign up for ACH AUTO-PAYMENT, where the monthly bill amount comes directly out of you bank account automatically each month. This is the EASIEST and CHEAPEST way to pay. Over 600 people are already taking advantage of this FREE service. You receive a bill as normal so that you know how much will be deducted from your account on the due date. Just fill out the ACH form (PDF) , sign, and return the form to get started. You can drop it off in person at our office (49 W. Ohio Ave.), mail it in, or email it to utilities@rittman.com.

ONLINE BILL PAY. There is a 2.95% fee anytime a credit/debit card (with a minimum of $1.95 fee) and a check fee of a $1.50 using the Nexbillpay service.

Click here to pay your Rittman Utilities Bill online. NEXBILLPAY

To pay over the phone or for any NexBillpay related questions, please call 1-866-584-3770.

**You will need your account number to pay through this third party. (Please note all account numbers were updated on April 1st, 2025.

LOW INCOME SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT INFORMATION

Contact Us

Utilities

Physical Address: View Map
49 W. Ohio Avenue
Rittman, OH 44270

Phone: 330-925-2045

Fax: 330-925-2066

Hours

Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Quick Links

Pursuant to Ordinance #7472 the city has the authority to offer discounts to senior citizens who are qualified as low income. An annual application must be submitted for review. Completed applications must be turned in by the 1st of February each year. Proof of income must be supplied.

Click the link below for qualifying information.

City of Rittman Low Income Senior Citizen Discount Info

Call the utilities department at 330-925-2059 for further details.

Handling a Sewer Backup

If you experience a sanitary sewer backup in your home or business, here's what to do.

  • Stop running the water and call the City of Rittman immediately, as we handle main line issues. 330-925-2059 during office hours of M-F 8:00am- 4:30pm.

After business hours contact the Rittman Police Department Dispatch at 330-925-8040. The dispatcher will advise Rittman emergency staff to check the main. If the public main is blocked or broken, the emergency crew will fix the issue. If the problem is between your home/ structure and the to connection at the City sanitary sewer main, (the private lateral), you'll likely need a plumber as it is the property owners responsibility to correct the problem. See diagram below.

  1. Document everything: Take photos and videos of the damage for potential insurance claims.

  2. Contact your insurance: Call your homeowner's insurance agent to see if backup coverage applies.

  3. Safety first: Avoid touching raw sewage and wear protective gear if you must clean up.

Sewer Responsibility

Handling a Water Break

Report a Water Break

Water main breaks are unpredictable and occur for a number of reasons and at all times of year, but the most common reasons are age and temperature.

To report a suspected water main break or leak, call the City of Rittman immediately. During office hours of Monday- Friday, 8:00am- 4:30pm call 330-925-2059. After business hours, weekends and holidays call Rittman dispatch at 330-925-8040 and a staff member will quickly investigate the issue. When calling, it is helpful for us to know the following in formation:

  • The exact location with cross street or intersection

  • Any visible damage to the road or surrounding area

  • How much water is flowing

  • If your water service is impacted.

Some leaks may be on private property, which can be determined in the investigation. Property owners are responsible for repairing leaks on their property.

See diagram below.

Once a break is reported, City of Rittman staff will assess the issue and, depending upon the location and nature of the issue, respond appropriately. Emergency repairs may cause an outage and leave some customers without water service or experience a reduction in pressure or water discoloration.

Repair crews work as quickly as possible to make repairs and return customer's water service. An emergency repair could take 4 to 8 hours.

After Repairs are Made

When water service is restored, there may be air in your water pipes and the water may be discolored. Water breaks can stir up or dislodge mineral deposits in the water lines and rust- colored water is possible in the area. Run cold water taps/ faucets to clear the discoloration.

It is recommended to run the first water from a faucet that does not have an aerator screen, such as a laundry or bath tub or an outside hose faucet.

Open the faucet slowly to allow air to escape. Once the water is flowing, allow the faucet to run until it is clear. The water may be cloudy at first due to air in the water or particles that dislodged as the pipes filled with water. This should clear fairly quickly. Continue this procedure with all your faucets.

Boil Advisories

If the break results in a significant pressure drop in a service line, a boil alert may be required. These incidents are NOT common and affected customers will be advised with a door hanger. Boil advisories are issued as a precaution with a customer's best interests in mind. Once an alert is declared it must last a minimum of 24 -48 hours before a testing lab can confirm a negative result.

Door tags will notify customers when the "All Clear" has been received from the testing labs.

Boil Alert Instructions

Water Service Line

Refuse

Kimble Logo

The Utilities Department also serves as the City's point of contact for their contracted trash service. Currently, this is the Kimble Companies. Kimble uses carts for trash and recycling. The City has weekly trash and recycling pick-up every Tuesday. Kimble will empty each tote and pick up a maximum of ten bags of trash in addition to what is in the cart.

Kimble will also pick up one bulk item per week. Furniture with cushions or bedding (mattresses, box springs) need to be wrapped in plastic, with the plastic taped shut. If your trash or recycling is not picked up by the end of business on the assigned day, please call 330-925-2059.

Backflow Prevention & Cross Connection Control

Backflow Prevention

Backflow prevention is essential for protecting our drinking water from the dangers of backflow. Backflow Solutions, Inc. (BSI ONLINE) administers our Backflow Prevention Program, ensuring backflow prevention devices are installed and maintained in compliance with fedderal, state and local codes.

What is backflow?

Backflow is the reverse flow of water in any pipeline, causing non-potable water to flow into the public water supply.  Backflow can occur when changes in water pressure create a suction effect, forcing non-drinkable water into the City’s drinking water supply.  It is dangerous because it can allow drinking water in plumbing systems to become contaminated and unusabl

Informational Backflow Brochure

Backflow preventers are mechanical plumbing devices installed in a plumbing system to prevent water from flowing backward in the system.  A properly installed, tested and maintained backflow preventer at the service entrance to a building or property can reliably prevent the backflow of water of an unknown quality from flowing back into the community water system.

Typically, backflow prevention devices are required for plumbing system connections that contain chemicals or industrial fluids, irrigation systems, fertilizers or auxiliary water sources (including reclaimed water). 

Annual Testing

The City sends notifications, through BSI Online, to most businesses 30 days prior to their testing due date. As of 2019, the City does not require residents to install a backflow devise on older homes.  The Wayne County building code requires this on all new homes and has done so for the last 20 years. For help determining if you have or need a backflow device, please contact the Utilities Director at 330-925-2062.  Not all devices are testable.

What is a Cross Connection?

A connection between drinking water pipes and any source of potential contamination is a cross connection. When the water pressure changes from internal usage or water system fluctuations, contaminated water may backflow into your plumbing from unprotected cross connections. Common household cross connections are garden hoses left in chemicals or in a pool and attachments to hoses used to apply lawn chemicals.