New Kent Public Utilities encourages customers to know the cost of their utility use and plan accordingly. A few simple steps can save up to hundreds of dollars per month in utility fees.

• Listen and visually inspect toilet flappers for signs of leakage or overflow into the bowl
• Utilize water saving shower heads and fixtures
• Visually inspect your yard & crawlspace for signs of plumbing leaks
• Utilize native, drought tolerant grasses in turf areas & landscaping
• Know where your main shut off valve is and turn the water off when you are gone for extended periods
• Prevent frozen and burst pipes by winterizing your crawlspace and plumbing

For irrigation system owners:

• Contact Public Utilities about installing an irrigation meter, to segregate indoor (water + sewer) and outdoor (water only) use, if you don’t already have one
• Utilize the services of an irrigation professional to optimize the use of your system
• Utilize a rain sensor or other similar device to cancel unnecessary irrigation events
• Utilize drip irrigation in flower beds
• Utilize a rain gauge to set each irrigation zone to provide the minimum necessary amount of water per week
• Regularly observe & inspect your irrigation system operation to check for overspray, leaks and damaged heads
• Winterize and disconnect your irrigation system in the off-season to prevent frozen and burst irrigation pipes

If you have utility questions, or if you’d like Public Utilities to come speak to your homeowner’s association about irrigation water use and cost, please contact Mike Lang, Utilities Director, at 804-966-9678.

*The data in the graphic below is based on utility billing from spring & summer 2022.