Start date is Jan. 28 for approved residents

FOR THE STAR JOURNAL

Rhinelander utility customers who have in the past experienced problems with water and sewer lines freezing should start running water at their property Jan. 28, but only those residents who have been approved to do so.

The list of approved utility customer addresses allowed to run water is posted at city hall and on the quick links section of the city website.

Those residents on the list are authorized to run water 24-hours a day in a stream the diameter of a pencil lead, using cold water from one fixture per property. This will better protect utility lines from freezing.

A pencil lead stream flow rate can be checked by filling a 12-ounce container volume in approximately one minute of time.  Special cases of water only customers, or other special circumstances requiring greater flow rates, can also be approved and authorized the same as in the past.

The city will adjust billing of water usage accordingly for the start date of this activity as indicated above.

The running water list will be periodically amended with new locations when frost conditions in the city would require additions of other approved customers.  The city of Rhinelander Utility Department will provide further instructions with an end date as frost levels subside and running water, along with the approved credit will then end.