Public Works Week - Monrovia Utilities Division

As part of National Public Works Week Monrovia is highlighting its Public Works Department with a series of features. Here is the second:

Ever wonder where your water comes from?  How about where is goes once it’s down the drain?

TODAY: The Utilities Division.

The City of Monrovia operates its own water utility.  With a Well Field located at the south portion of the City, the Utilities Division ensures that each household in Monrovia has clean water and a sewer system you never have to think about.

The Water Maintenance Section is responsible for installation, maintenance and repairs to over 84 miles of water mains and approximately 9,317 water services. The Water Maintenance Section also exercises over 3,000 water main valves bi-annually.

Incredibly, the City’s 93 miles of sewer mains are cleaned once a year by a two person crew.  The Sewer crew is also responsible for all video inspections of the sewer system.

Monrovia produces its own water through a series of 5 ground water wells, 11 reservoirs, and 6 booster stations. All of the water that is pump from the Main San Gabriel Basin is treated, an average of over 7 million gallons per day. The treatment of the water is done by aerating the water through the air stripping towers and adding chlorination.  Without fail, Monrovia meets or exceeds the Federal and State water quality regulations.

On average, Monrovia’s Utilities Division produces 2.4 Billion gallons of water each year.  A single household of four consumes approximately 4,900 gallons per week.

“Water conservation is so important, that’s why we offer our Water4Life program which assists residents in reducing their overall water consumption inside and outside of their homes,” said Shawn Igoe, Utilities Division Supervisor. “The City offers water conservation kits which include low flow shower heads, faucet aerators, toilet leak detections tablets, and even water audits available at no cost upon request.”

To maintain a high level of customer service, while meeting the demand for water, Monrovia relies upon meter reading.  Customer Service staff read the 9,317 meters every month, investigate leaks, and test backflow devices. Ask the experts and they can give you answers to why you may have low & high water pressure, explain water quality or general inquiries about water. 

Source: Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard