Oberlin has operated a public water supply since 1887. Today, the City Water Division maintains over 40 miles of water line and operates a 2.25 million gallon a day water treatment facility serving nearly 3,000 homes and businesses. The treatment plant is located at 43885 Parsons Road, along the Black River. The river supplies most of the water to the plant, supplemented by the Oberlin reservoir and two elevated storage tanks. The plant is Ohio EPA-licensed to treat 2.25 million gallons per day and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The treatment process is broken into many steps to produce premium quality drinking water, including: coagulation using aluminum sulfate and settling to remove particles; softening using lime and soda ash to remove calcium and magnesium which contribute to water hardness; disinfection using chlorine to kill harmful microorganisms; filtration using dual media filters to remove fine particles; fluoridation for dental protection; corrosion control using phosphate; and taste & odor control with powered activated carbon. The water is softened to approximately 160/mg/1 or 9.3 gpg and has a fluoride level of 1 mg/l. Additional water quality information is available by contacting the plant at (440) 775-7290.
BOIL ALERTS
If improvements to the water system take place or the Water Department must perform repairs City water mains, notification of related boil advisories will be posted in a banner at the top of the city’s homepage. In addition, information will be distributed in the Emergency Alert System. Click here to sign up.
LEAD & COPPER
Oberlin Water Department staff takes its responsibility to protect customers from lead and copper exposure seriously. For more information, and to find out how to identify your water service pipe and why to replace galvanized service lines, Click Here
BACKFLOW
Here you can find information on backflow and cross-connection control. Learn more about backflow and download forms for Backflow Testing.
2024 HYDRANT FLUSHING
The Water Department will be flushing water mains to test fire hydrants and improve water quality. This maintenance work will take place from June 20 through July 1. To minimize inconvenience to water customers, most of the water main flushing will be performed between the hours of 12:00am and 7:00am; but, as required, flushing may continue during daytime hours. Your patience and cooperation is appreciated during this period. Please check water quality for discoloration prior to starting laundry or food preparation. If you find water to be cloudy, cold water faucets should be turned on until the water clears.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES:
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has released a the following video to help consumers understand where lead comes from, how it gets into water, and what households can do to keep their water lead-safe.
View the brochure below for tips on winterizing your plumbing.