FAQ

These are questions we're commonly asked.  If you don't find what you're looking for, please call our office (503) 623-2016 or send an email to [email protected].

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How do I pay my bill?

We take payments of cash, check, or money order at our office, which is across the street from the Rickreall Post Office, or you can mail a check or money order to:

Rickreall Community Water Association
P.O. Box 44
Rickreall OR 97371

We can also take payment in person or over the phone by credit or debit card.

You can also make a payment online using a credit or debit card.

Many of our customers use their bank or credit union's bill pay service to send a payment.

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What are Rickreall Water's business hours?

The office is open Mondays and Tuesdays only, from 8:00am to 4:00pm.

RCWA Office Location:
9775 Church Street
Rickreall OR 97371

Our technician works full-time, Monday through Friday, performing repairs and maintenance.

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When does the Rickreall Water board meet?

The Board of Directors meets each month, in the Rickreall Community Water Association office.  Unexpected changes occasionally happen, so if you plan to attend a meeting, you should contact our office first to verify the date of the meeting.

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I have a water emergency (broken pipe, no water, etc).  What number should I call?

If during business hours (Monday and Tuesday, from 8:00am to 4:00pm), please call our office.

If after hours, please call our emergency number - (503) 999-4286

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How is my water bill calculated?

Rickreall Water is proud to offer the lowest water rates in the area.

A meter is installed near the property line leading to your home or business.  This meter is read monthly and you are charged for the number of gallons of water you use.  While we attempt to read each meter on the same day of each month, this often is not possible.

While reading your meter, we are on the lookout for possible leaks.  We do this by comparing your water usage with other months.  If we suspect a problem, we attempt to notify you.  This system isn't foolproof, but we find several leaks.  If a leak is found on the customer's side of the meter, it is your responsibility to repair it.  If your phone number changes, or there is a better way of contacting you, please let us know.  We don't share your information with anyone else.

Effective June 1, 2023, there is a flat rate of $25.00 per month, minimum charge, for up to 3,000 gallons.  After that, you are charged an additional $3.75 for each 1,000 gallons of water used (0.375¢ per gallon).

 

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My water service was shut off.  How do I get it turned back on?

This depends on why your service was shut off.  If your service was shut off because you didn't pay your bill, then you can turn it back on by paying your bill, in full, plus an additional $150 fee.  However, if your service was shut off because of foreclosure, and your water meter was removed, then your membership and hookup were terminated.  In this case, you, or any potential buyer, will need to pay the same fee as any customer wanting new service.  Your cost would be $25 for your membership, plus a standard hookup fee.  As of January 2019, standard hookup is $5,000.

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I have a water leak somewhere.  Help!

If you're concerned you have a water leak, and can't find it right away, there are a few things you can do to try and find it.

• Look under your house.  Do you see water on the ground or spraying from a pipe?
• Check your toilets to see if any are constantly running, or if they sound like they flush by themselves.  You might have a flapper that is damaged and needs to be replaced.
• Make sure all outside hose spigots are shut off and water is not running.
• Do you have a water feature on your property?  The auto-fill function of these can be damaged by weather, age, or plants in the water.
• Do you have an area on your property that is saturated with water, but it didn't used to be?  You may have had a pipe rupture.
• If you have livestock, check your water trough.  A lot of times, the automatic fill mechanism gets stuck.

If these ideas don't help, you'll probably want to call a leak detection service.  Many plumbers offer this service, as well.