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• Telephone Number: 765-807-1100
• Staff Directory
• Department Hours: M-F 8am-4:30pm
  24hr drop box on west side of City Hall
  After hours emergency: 765 807-1700

During the summer months, the City of Lafayette recognizes that our residential customers use their water for outside activities such as watering lawns and gardens.

Every summer we reduce the amount of sewage charged to our residents for these watering purposes.

The summer sewage rate is determined by the average amount of water used during the previous winter months of December, January, February and March. If you did not live at your current address during those winter months, you will be charged for one-half of metered water since no average can be determined.

These rates will be in effect from your July billing (June usage) through your October billing (September usage). At that time your rates will return to normal.

If you have any questions, see Municipal Code 6.05.100. You can also call us at 807-1100 or e-mail us.

• Standard shower heads dispense 5-15 gallons of water per minute
• A full bathtub holds approximately 36 gallons of water
• Shower heads with flow restrictors dispense 3-5 gallons of water per minute

• Standard toilets use 4-6 gallons of water per flush
• The average person flushes 19 gallons per day
• 25% of all water used in the home is flushed down the toilet
• Place a plastic container filled with water in the toilet tank
• Be careful not to block the float arm
• Never use a brick or rock that could crumble and damage your toilet
• Detect and Fix Leaky Toilets (you can't always hear a leak)
• Place several drops of food coloring in the tank, wait 30 minutes and you will see any hidden and silent leaks
• Leaky toilets can use up to 10 gallons of water per minute
• Flush immediately after completing your test to avoid discoloration of your stool
• Don't use your toilet as a wastebasket
• Remember every facial tissue, bandage wrapper, or cigarette takes 4 to 6 gallons to flush

• If you hand wash dishes, fill both basins. Use one to wash and the other to rinse
• Water-efficient dishwashers use between 8-15 gallons per load.
• A dishwasher using 12 gallons of water to wash a full load is probably using less water than an individual who washes the same by hand
• Scrape dishes instead of rinsing them. Garbage disposals gulp down gallons of water

• A leaky tap, dripping once per second, wastes six to seven gallons of water each day.
• A slow, steady drip can account for as much as eleven gallons of water each day. A small stream, 67 gallons each day!

• Don't let water run down the drain to get that cold drink. Store drinking water in the refrigerator
• Catch running water (when waiting for hot water) to use to water plants or rinse fruits and vegetables later
• Insulate your hot water pipes

• Front loading washers use 22-25 gallons of water per load Vs. the 35-60 gallons consumed by a top loader
• Always wash full loads and adjust your washer to the proper load size

• Avoid mist spray sprinkler heads. They evaporate water.
• Consider using soaker type hoses or low, broad drop sprinklers
• Mulch to retain moisture in the soil and control weeds that compete with plants for water
• Don't over water. Rule of thumb: lawns only need watering every 5 to 7 days in summer. A hearty rainfall can eliminate the need for watering for as long as 2 weeks
• Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are minimized
• Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. This higher cut encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades their root system, and holds soil moisture

• Sweep rather than hosing them down

• Garden hoses can pour out 600 gallons or more in a few hours
• Always turn off outdoor spigots. Do not rely on the shut off nozzle on your hose

Water meters are like any other mechanical device, they break down over a period of time. When water meters age, they become less accurate. Therefore, an older meter will give you a certain amount of water for free.