Question 1

How do I start or stop water and sewer service when I move?

Accepted Answer

Call the office at 724.238.7464 at least three business days before your move. We schedule a final read at the old address and open the account at the new one. A short application and proof of ownership or a signed lease are required for new service.

Question 2

When are bills sent and when are they due?

Accepted Answer

Water and sewer are billed quarterly. Bills are mailed at the start of each quarter and are due by the date printed on the bill. Pay online through AuthorityPay, by mail, by phone, or in person during office hours.

Question 3

What should I do if I think I have a leak?

Accepted Answer

Shut off the main valve to the house, check the meter, and call the office. Smart-meter customers can log in to EyeOnWater and review hour-by-hour usage to spot continuous flow. Leaks on the customer side of the meter are the property owner's responsibility, but we will help you locate them.

Question 4

Who owns what between the main and my house?

Accepted Answer

LTMA owns and maintains the main in the right of way, the service tap, and the meter. The property owner owns the service line from the curb stop into the building and all interior plumbing.

Question 5

My water looks cloudy or has a taste or odor. Is it safe?

Accepted Answer

Cloudiness is usually trapped air after a main flush or hydrant use and clears in a few minutes. If discoloration or odor persists, run a cold tap for several minutes and call the office so we can investigate and pull a sample.

Question 6

Do I need a backflow device or a pressure regulator?

Accepted Answer

Lawn irrigation systems, boilers, and most commercial fixtures require a tested backflow assembly under PA DEP Chapter 109. Pressure regulators are recommended where static pressure at the meter exceeds 80 psi.

Question 7

What about my private well or on-lot septic system?

Accepted Answer

LTMA does not regulate private wells or on-lot septic systems. Wells fall under the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and your county conservation district. On-lot septic systems are permitted and inspected by the township sewage enforcement officer under the PA Sewage Facilities Act, Act 537.

Question 8

How are commercial water and sewer rates set?

Accepted Answer

Commercial accounts are billed on metered consumption at the rates published on the Rates and Fees page. Larger users may be assigned to a separate tier. Sewer is calculated from metered water use unless a deduct meter is installed for irrigation or process water that does not return to the sewer.

Question 9

Do food service businesses need a grease interceptor?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Any establishment that prepares or serves food must install and maintain an external grease interceptor sized to fixture flow. Cleaning logs must be kept on site and made available on request. Grease in the collection system causes blockages and overflows that violate our NPDES permit.

Question 10

What pretreatment applies to industrial discharges?

Accepted Answer

Industrial users that discharge to sewer are governed by 40 CFR Part 403 and the receiving plant's local limits. Most LTMA sewer flow is treated by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County, which administers the pretreatment program. Contact the office before any new industrial process is connected.

Question 11

Can I get a dedicated fire service line?

Accepted Answer

Yes, where the main is sized to support it. Fire service lines require a double check or reduced pressure backflow assembly, an approved fire department connection, and annual testing. Hydrant flow tests for sprinkler design are available by request for a fee.

Question 12

How do I open a hydrant for construction water or street sweeping?

Accepted Answer

Apply for a hydrant meter through the office. We assign a metered hydrant wrench and bill consumption at the bulk water rate. Unauthorized hydrant use is a violation and damages the system.

Question 13

What is the plan review process for a new subdivision or land development?

Accepted Answer

Submit construction drawings, a planning module, and supporting calculations to the LTMA office. Review runs in parallel with township land development review. Water main extensions follow AWWA C600 and C900, and sewer extensions follow PA DEP Chapter 73 and the Ten States Standards. A developer agreement and financial security are required before construction.

Question 14

When is a DEP planning module required?

Accepted Answer

Any subdivision that proposes new sewer service, a sewer extension, or a change in sewage facilities triggers an Act 537 planning module. The township and LTMA must sign the module before it is submitted to PA DEP for approval.

Question 15

What permits cover construction in the right of way and near streams?

Accepted Answer

PennDOT highway occupancy permits apply in state right of way. Stream crossings and wetland impacts require a Chapter 105 permit from PA DEP and, in many cases, coordination with the US Army Corps of Engineers. Earth disturbance over one acre needs a Chapter 102 NPDES permit through the Westmoreland Conservation District.

Question 16

What tapping, connection, and inspection fees apply?

Accepted Answer

Tapping fees are calculated per Act 57 and published in the current fee schedule. Connection, customer facilities, and inspection fees are charged in addition to the tapping fee. Fees are due before the tap is made or the meter is set.

Question 17

What materials and testing are accepted?

Accepted Answer

Ductile iron and C900 PVC for water main, SDR 35 PVC or ductile iron for gravity sewer, and HDPE for directional drilling. Pressure and leakage testing per AWWA, bacteriological clearance, and CCTV inspection of sewer mains are required before acceptance.

Question 18

How are easements handled?

Accepted Answer

All mains outside the public right of way require a recorded easement to LTMA, typically twenty feet wide centered on the pipe, with additional width for deeper installations. Easements must be cleared of permanent structures and large trees.

Question 19

How do I request a final read and closing letter?

Accepted Answer

Email or fax the request to the office at least five business days before settlement. Include the address, parcel number, buyer and seller names, and closing date. We schedule a final read, prepare a payoff and lien letter, and coordinate transfer of service to the new owner.

Question 20

Is a dye test required at sale?

Accepted Answer

A dye test is required where the township or buyer's lender requires confirmation that stormwater is not connected to the sanitary sewer. LTMA performs dye tests on properties in our sewer service area for a fee. Properties outside our service area are handled by the township sewage enforcement officer.

Question 21

Are there outstanding balances or municipal liens on the property?

Accepted Answer

Request a lien letter from the office. We certify the current balance, any pending charges, and any recorded municipal claim. Per the Pennsylvania Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act, unpaid water and sewer charges follow the property.

Question 22

Is the property on public water and public sewer?

Accepted Answer

Service status varies by neighborhood. See the Service Area page for the current list. A property can be on public water and on an on-lot septic system, or on a private well and public sewer. The lien letter and a service confirmation from the office will state exactly what is connected.

Question 23

Does the buyer need to set up a new account before closing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The buyer must submit a new account application with proof of ownership before the day of closing so service transfers without interruption.

Question 24

Who regulates the drinking water LTMA delivers?

Accepted Answer

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection administers the Safe Drinking Water Act in Pennsylvania under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 109, with primacy delegated by the US Environmental Protection Agency. We sample and report on a schedule set by DEP and publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report.

Question 25

Who regulates the sewage we collect?

Accepted Answer

Collection and treatment are regulated under the Clean Streams Law and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 91 through Chapter 95. Our Darlington plant operates under an NPDES permit issued by PA DEP. Flow conveyed to the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County is covered by that authority's permit.

Question 26

What is Act 537 and how does it affect new development?

Accepted Answer

The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, Act 537, requires every municipality to maintain a sewage facilities plan. New subdivisions and changes in sewage disposal trigger a planning module that must be approved by the township and PA DEP before lots are recorded or building permits are issued.

Question 27

Who handles lead service line work and the LCRR?

Accepted Answer

Under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, every public water system must inventory service line materials on both the utility and customer sides. LTMA maintains the inventory required by EPA and PA DEP and notifies customers if lead or galvanized requiring replacement is identified.

Question 28

What agencies might I need to contact for a project?

Accepted Answer

Common touchpoints include PA DEP for water, sewer, and stream permits; PennDOT for state road crossings; the Westmoreland Conservation District for erosion and sediment control; the Westmoreland County Planning Department for subdivision review; and the township for zoning, building, and sewage enforcement.

Question 29

How do I report a regulatory or environmental concern?

Accepted Answer

Call the office during business hours for routine concerns. For an active sewer overflow, a chemical spill near a waterway, or anything that threatens drinking water, call PA DEP's southwest regional office and 911. We coordinate with DEP on every reportable event.

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