The Water/ Sewer department ensures the residents of the City of Rittman receive quality drinking water, and that the water returned to the environment is safe. Responsibilities include: Water quality, treatment and distribution as well as wastewater collection and treatment. We receive our water from a well field located west of Rittman in Milton Township.

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.

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.