Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find information that might help you understand how to find things or learn about information you might need to know about your city or town.
Water Division
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Water Division
City council modified Solvang utility customer water and sewer rates in June 2022. The city council also modified the drought ordinance, taking effect August 1st, 2022. This document goes into detail on some of the FAQs.
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Water Division
The City of Solvang accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover for your convenience. You can pay online at: https://www.municipalonlinepayments.com/solvangca. There is a $1.25 fee to pay online. You may also pay with a credit card in person at City Hall, or over the phone. There is a 2.25% fee to pay in person or over the phone. For more information call 805-688-5575 EXT 202.
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Water Division
The average water use for a single family household is 18 ccf (based on 2.5 persons on 1/4 acre lot).
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Water use is measured in hundred cubic feet (ccf). There are 748 gallons per ccf.Water Division
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There are 7.48 gallons in a cubic foot.Water Division
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Water Division
Only exchange tanks, such as from Culligan or Rayne, are permitted for Commercial customers. Effective January 1, 2022, no person shall replace or install any water softening or conditiioning equipment that discharges waste into the city sewage system, unless said water softening or conditioning equipment is a high efficiency system, with diagnostic functions, operating at an efficiency rating of not less than 4,000 grains of hardness removed per pound of salt used in regeneration. Residential and Non-Residential portable exchange tank water softening or conditioning system that do not discharge waste are not prohibited.
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White color means there are air bubbles in the water. Let the water stand and it will clear on its own. This can occur when the water level is low in city wells and the well pumps are working hard. Brownish or red color is usually from iron and manganese sediment from pipes stirred up when city well water level is low or when hydrants or lines have been flushed. Smell is most often chlorine which is added to the city's well water as a disinfecting agent. It will sometimes smell like sulfur if water faucets have been off for a while. Running the water to flush the lines will help.Water Division
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No, because water has gone through the meter, the user is responsible for payment. However, the city may consider crediting sewer charges over average use for commercial accounts, since water from a leak hasn't gone through the sewer.Water Division
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From the meter box to the street is the City's responsibility. From the meter box to the house is the owner's responsibility. If the leak is in the meter box, the Water Division will inspect to determine if it is the owner's or the city's responsibility.Water Division
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Water Division
Low water pressure can be caused by various problems. There are a number of things you can do before calling the City to check your water pressure. See the Low Water Pressure page for information.