City of Manhattan Beach : FAQ

Utilities

Cable TV Service

The City franchises with two cable companies that operate within the City and monitors them for quality and appropriateness of service. Inquiries regarding cable services should be directed to; Time Warner, 1529 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254, (888) 892-2253, or Verizon at (888) 553-1555,

The City Manager's office provides ombudsman services to residents with questions or concerns related to cable television. For assistance call (310) 802-5054.

Electrical Outages

Electricity services are provided by Edison. Edison can be reached at the following telephone number (800) 655-4555 or visiting the Southern California Edison's website.

If there is a power outage, or electrical lines are down, you can contact Southern California Edison (800) 611-1911. More contact information can be found at Southern California Edison's website.

Elevated Water Tank

The Manhattan Beach City Council, Fire Department and Public Works staff all feel that the elevated water tank provides an essential level of redundancy in the City’s water and fire prevention system. There are currently no plans to remove the tank.

Water Quality Concerns

The Public Works Utilities Division operates and maintains the City's water system. Whether you are experiencing cloudy or dirty water, or your water has developed an unusual odor or taste, please contact the Public Works Utilities Division immediately so that they may investigate the situation. It may be due to old galvanized plumbing on private property or City Water Distribution Operators performing valve maintenance or repairs on the water system. Why does my water smell like rotten eggs? Bacteria growing in sink drains can make hydrogen sulfide gas. The gas causes rotten egg smells that appear to be coming from the water. The smell is really coming from the drain. When water runs down the drain, the gas is forced out where you can smell it. Prior to contacting the City please try the following:

For cloudy or dirty water, or discolored water:

• Run cold water from the bathtub for several minutes.

For the smell:

• Pour a cup of household bleach down the drain to help kill the bacteria and take care of the smell.
• Water heaters can also harbor bacteria that cause rotten egg smells. If your sink drain is not the source, check your hot water for rotten egg smells and flush your water heater if necessary.

High Water Bill

If your water bill is high, remember that water consumption is seasonal. Everyone uses more water during warmer weather, and less throughout the cooler months. Check (or have a reputable plumber check) for even seemingly insignificant leaks on all your household plumbing fixtures, including outdoor spigots, sprinkler systems and indoor faucets, appliance supply lines, and especially all your toilets. Repair immediately.

We would also be happy to assist you in checking your meter. You can contact the City of Manhattan Beach Public Works Department Water Field Supervisor, Ken Holcomb. You can contact Ken Holcomb at (310) 802-5326 Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM .

Natural Gas Service

Customer Service Representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for routine and emergency service requests. For any suspected gas emergency, or questions regarding a gas odor or carbon monoxide, residential customers can call the Southern California Gas Company at: (800) 427-2200. Commercial and industrial customers call (800) 427-2000. You can access the Southern California Gas Company's website for more information.

Phone Service

Telephone and digital services are provided by Verizon. Verizon can be reached at the following telephone number (800) 483-5000 or visit Verizon's website.

Rates and Infrastructure

Infrastructure is mostly over 50 years old with a significant portion 80 years old. It would cost an estimated $500 million to replace today. It has been recommended the City replace $165 million dollars of infrastructure in the next 20 years. The City’s investment in infrastructure has not kept up with our use of the system and we need to catch up. Wholesale water costs increased 20% on September 1, 2009 and are projected to have similar increases in future years.

We know that our infrastructure is bad because a TV camera filmed almost half of our sewer system and observed pipe deficiencies. The City has begun to update their Water and Sewer Master Plan beginning in August of 2008. An in depth analysis has revealed that our sewer system has significant deficiencies that can be classified as “severe.” Although not possible to fix all of them at one time, the rate structure proposed starts the process of replacement. The Water Plan notes a significant amount of water pipe that is undersized and corroded with resulting water pressure reductions.

Increase infrastructure funding for aging system, reaching $5 million per year (water) and $2.5 million per year (sewer) in five years. Put in place tiered water rates to promote conservation. Put in place rate structure that benefits users who conserve that will lessen impact on their rate increases. Acknowledge that if the City does not start to replace infrastructure now more serious problems will occur.

At their September 1, 2009 meeting, Council considered five different scenarios for rates for the next five years. The complete agenda materials are available on the City website. The City Engineer, Steve Finton, can provide information about the progress of the Water and Sewer Master Plans and their recommendation. He may be reached at sfinton@citymb.info. Additional information about the City's Water and Sewer Rate Analysis or the City's Water and Sewer Capital Improvement Programs is available for review by clicking on the following:

Sewer Service Problems

If you are experiencing problems with your sewer service, there are many things that may be causing it. In all cases, you should first determine whether the problem is local to your home or is being experienced by your neighbors as well. If many homes are suffering from the same problem, please call the Public Works Department to inform them of the situation.

If the problem is just in your home, there are different choices you should make depending on the situation. If you have slow drainage, you may have a block in your system, most often caused by disposing cooking grease and large foreign objects in the sewer system. Tree roots can also cause sluggish drains when they grow into the sewer system. Contact the contact the City of Manhattan Beach Waste Water Supervisor, Justin Gervais, first to see if he can quickly help you solve the problem or refer you to a plumber.

With any type of service problem, feel free to contact the Public Works Utilities Division to have your questions answered and to receive additional instructions. Utilities Division offices are open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday and can be reached by phone at (310) 802-5304. .

The City's Water

The City of Manhattan Beach operates three water storage facilities with a storage capacity of 9.83 million gallons.

The water system also consists of approximately 110 miles of pipeline and 13,500 service connections.

The City obtains 85% of its water supply from connections with the Metropolitan Water District’s system. The remaining 15% is obtained from two City-owned wells located in Redondo Beach. The Metropolitan Water District filters and chlorinates water at a treatment plant before the water reaches Manhattan Beach.

The City’s water has the following characteristics: approximately 120 milligrams per liter of hardness, roughly 2.5 milligrams per liter of nitrate, and less than 0.2 milligrams per liter of flouride.

For questions regarding your water bill, please contact the Finance/Revenue Department at (310) 802-5556 or (310) 802-5559. Issues or questions concerning service, connections, or water quality can be directed to the City's Water Supervisor, Bob Erikson, at (310) 802-5325.

Water and Trash Turn On - Turn Off

To connect your residential water and trash services through our automated call system, call the Water Division at (310) 802-5000, press #1191. To disconnect your service through the City's automated call system, call the Water Division at (310) 802-5000, press #1192. You can also contact a live water services representive during regular business hours 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM by calling (310) 802-5559. You may also fill out an online Water Turn On - Turn Off Form to submit your request.

Utility Pole Relocations

At the City Council’s March 7, 2000 Council meeting, Resolution Number 5538 was approved, establishing a policy regarding utility pole relocation in connection with development of private property. This policy does not allow the relocation of utility poles for view or aesthetic reasons. If there is a sufficient engineering justification to relocate the pole, then the pole in question may be moved the minimum distance to resolve the issue. Any exceptions to this policy that are based on an engineering justification require a public hearing before the PPIC (Parking and Public Improvements Commission) and subsequent City Council meeting. Prior to these meetings, notices regarding any potential relocation must be sent to residents within a five hundred foot radius of the property to allow for residents to comment on the possible relocation of the utility pole. For more information on this matter, and how to get on the PPIC agenda, please contact Rosie Lackow in the Planning Department, at (310) 802-5515.

Utility Providers

Southern California Edison provides the City's electrical service. To report electrical problems, please contact Southern California Edison at (800) 655-4555.

Natural gas service is provided by the Southern California Gas Company. In the event of an emergency or if you are having problems with your service, please contact the Gas Company at (800) 433-5071.

Verizon provides telephone service in Manhattan Beach, you can contact Verizon at (800) 483-1000.

Time Warner Cable is the local cable television provider, you can contact Time Warner at (800) 892-2253.

Utility Undergrounding

To determine who is responsible for the specific location of your sewer line or sewer lateral it would be best to speak with the City of Manhattan Beach Waste Water Supervisor, Justin Gervais. Justin can be reached at the City of Manhattan Beach Public Works Utilities Office at (310) 802-5320 from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.

The easiest and the legal way to avoid hitting an underground utility is to call Underground Service Alert of Southern California, a.k.a. Dig Alert. Dig Alert, is a one call notification center that supports all of Southern California. Plus, it is a simple process to help you avoid the costly error of cutting fiber optic cable or to the hazardous situation of damaging a powerline or a gas main. If you are planning to excavate on your property where utilities such as electric, water, telephone, or natural gas lines may be buried, please call Dig Alert at (800) 227-2600. You must call Dig Alert two days prior to digging. Utility company personnel will locate their utilities for you with two working days. By contacting the utilities before you dig, you will be protected from possibly serious injuries and from the liability that would result from damaging underground utilities.

For more information on Dig Alert, visit the Underground Service Alert website. For more information regarding the responsibility of maintenance for sewer laterals, visit the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code website. You may contact the City’s Utility Underground Coordinator, Gilbert Gamboa, at (310) 802-5356.

Water Coming Out of a Manhole

If there is water coming out of a manhole in the street or out of a cleanout box in the street, please contact the City of Manhattan Beach Public Works Department Utilities Division at (310) 802-5304. Business hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. After hours, please notify the Public Works Department immediately at (310) 802-5000.

Water Pressure

The City of Manhattan Beach pressurizes the water system using an elevated storage tank and booster pumps. Water pressure varies depending on elevation and system wide demand. Water Plant Operators are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to assure adequate water supply, and sufficient "fire flow" throughout the city at all times. Also, periodically, Water Distribution Operators exercising valves in the system can cause temporary fluctuation of water pressure. Please contact the Public Works Utilities Division at (310) 802-5304 if the water pressure continues to fluctuate. Business hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. After hours, please notify the Public Works Department immediately at (310) 802-5000.

Water Service Contact

If you are experiencing problems with your water service, there are many things that may be causing them. In all cases, you should first determine whether the problem is local to your home or is being experienced by your neighbors as well. If many homes are suffering from the same problem, you should call the Public Works Department to inform them of the situation. If the problem is just in your home, there are different choices you should make depending on the situation. With any type of service problem, feel free to contact the Public Works Department Utilities Division, to have your questions answered and to receive additional instructions. Their offices are open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, and can be reached at (310) 802-5304.

Water Shut Off

Water Shut Off Notice

A shut-off notice indicates that your water bill is more than 40 days overdue. To avoid shut-off, payments must be received within 48 hours of the notice. If a payment plan is developed with the City, it is done so with the understanding that you must remain current while paying off any past due balance. To arrange a payment schedule, contact the Finance Department at (310) 802-5559. You can also pay online by visiting our website for epayments.

Water Turned Off

Water is turned off because of an emergency condition, by request of the owner or tenant, or because of non-payment. For further information, call the Finance Department Water Division at (310) 802-5559.

Someone (mischievous kids or forgetful plumbers) may have interrupted water service to your home or business by closing the "house valve" or main shut off at your front hose bibb or there may be a City mainline leak in your immediate area. When Water Distribution Operators have to make emergency repairs to the water distribution system, they will try to pre-notify residents or businesses affected by the shut-down. Sometimes, depending on the magnitude of the problem, this is not possible. To notify the Water Division, please call (310) 802-5304.

If for any reason this is a billing problem you can contact water billing at (310) 802-5559.

Turning Your Water Off

In order to interrupt the flow of water to your home, you must turn off your house valve. House valves are usually located beneath a faucet outside the home, most typically near the faucet for the garden hose. If you cannot locate the valve and need to schedule a shut-off due to repairs please contact the Utilities Division directly at (310) 802-5304. Business hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. If you require an emergency shut-off after hours, please notify the Public Works Department immediately at (310) 802-5000.

Wastewater

Internal request servicing wastewater issuess.

Manhole Cover

Internal request servicing manhole covers.

Water and Trash Billing

To request residential utility bill information such as water, trash, sewer and/or street sweeping, call the Finance Department Revenue Services Division at (310) 802-5559.

Water and trash payments may be made through the mail using the bill payment envelope with your utilities bill, at the City Hall Finance counter, or go to epayments at the City's website. Yellow payment drop boxes are also located in the City Hall parking lot, in the downtown post office alley, and the parking lot behind the Cultural Arts Center. Always be sure to write your account number on your check and DO NOT send cash.

Automatic debit from your checking account is also offered: call (310) 802-5559 or fill out the "Make A Service Request" from below to request an auto-pay application. Further information regarding auto debit can be obtained by calling (310) 802-5559.

Loose or Rattling Manhole Lid

Please contact the City of Manhattan Beach Sewer Division at (310) 802-5320, if you are aware of a loose or rattling manhole lid.

Report a Water Waster

Please use the form below to report observed water wasting practices. Contact Detail is optional.

Utilities Division Electrical Maintenance

Please fill out this form if electrical work must be completed at one of the Utilities Division Buildings (Peck Reservior, Block 35, Larrson, etc.)

Meter Changeout Form

Please complete form upon reciept of meter change slip.