1. Open a faucet(s) ONLY IF you will be in the home or business until the pipe(s) thaw.
   
   To prevent waste of water and possible damage, do not leave any faucets open at any time when no one will be in the home or business.
   
   Opening faucet(s) will allow some warm air inside your home or business to get into the plumbing pipe(s) and help thaw the ice.
   
   When the ice thaws and water starts to flow, turn off all open faucet(s) and check your plumbing system for leaks by listening for the sound of running water and looking at the pipes if possible.
   
   If there is a leak in your plumbing, turn off your water at your emergency shut-off valve and get assistance from a plumber in fixing the leak. An emergency shut off valve is often in the crawlspace or in a closet near the point where your water service line comes into your home or business from our water meter.
   
   
2. Contact OWASA and ask us to check whether the water meter for your residence or business is frozen.
   
   Staff from our Distribution and Collection Systems Department will check the meter, thaw it if needed and tell you whether it was frozen.
   
   We will check your meter as soon as possible. Please be patient if we are unable to respond immediately due to weather conditions, other workload priorities in maintaining and repairing the public water and sewer systems, etc.
   
   
3. If our water meter is not frozen and you still do not have running water, you may wish to either wait for ice in your plumbing system to thaw or contact a plumber for professional assistance.
   
   If there is ice in your plumbing system, it may be very difficult to know where the ice is. We recommend that customers not attempt to thaw metal plumbing pipes with a torch because of the danger of fire, damage to your plumbing system, injury, etc.
   
   
4. When temperatures are below freezing in the future, protect your plumbing with the following precautions.
   

Please click here for information on how to protect your plumbing pipes.