Show All Answers

1. What is the water hardness level?

As of 2010, the water hardness level ranged between 18 to 20 grains.

Find more information on the City Water System page.

2. What is the pH level of the city’s water?

As of 2010, the pH range was 6.5 to 8.

Learn more about the City Water System.

3. Is my private well water tested by the City?

The testing of private wells used for drinking water is the responsibility of individual owners. The City strongly encourages that all well owners get their water tested annually.

Water test kits are available at the Anoka Government Center located at 2100 Third Avenue in Anoka.

Protect your household and read more about Private Well Water Safety.

4. How do I know if there are any water restrictions in place?

The City’s sprinkling restrictions are as follows:

• Year-round, odd-even sprinkling days - Residents with an even numbered address can sprinkle on even numbered days. Residents with an odd numbered address can sprinkle on odd numbered days.
• No sprinkling between 10AM and 6PM - From May 15 until September 15 no sprinkling is allowed between 10AM and 6PM. This is the hottest part of the day and most water is lost to evaporation.

Additional information can be found on the at 

Water Restrictions page.

5. What causes discolored or cloudy water?

Water may come become discolored with a brown tint or cloudy due to a number of things happening in the water distribution system.  There can be several reasons why you experience discoloration, such as:

• Hydrant flushing
• Watermain gate valve operations
• Repairs of a watermain break
• Plumber working on your house or neighbors
• Builder connecting watermains for new construction

This type of work could stir up sediment that has collected in the watermain and happened to flow through the system into your home.  Although it is not harmful, it may cause stains in your laundry.

First, we always recommend that you contact the Public Works Department at 763-785-6165.  Staff will be able to answer your questions and provide assistance.  It also helps us hear about potential problem areas in your neighborhood so we can respond if necessary.

6. What should I do if my water is cloudy or discolored?

Remove faucet aerators and filters and fully open your COLD water taps, let them run for 5-10 minutes.  If you run the cold water in a bathtub or laundry tub, it speeds up the cleaning process and may provide a light background to help you monitor the discoloration.  If your water still isn’t clear, wait 30 minutes and try again.  Another option, weather permitting, is to run an outside spigot without the garden hose until the water clears. Though discolored, the water can be used on plants and landscape.

• Cloudy: Water gets cloudy when air gets in and makes tiny bubbles. These bubbles are harmless and will disappear if you let the water sit for a few minutes.
• Discolored: Sediments in the water lines get stirred up and may cause a slight water discoloration for a short time.

7. What if my water has a rotten egg odor to it?

In most cases, the odor is present only when the water is first turned on or when hot water is run.  If you notice this smell in your drinking water, it probably contains hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas.  Hydrogen sulfide gas produces a strong and unpleasant “rotten egg” or “sulfur” odor and taste.  Sulfur, sulfates and hydrogen sulfates are naturally occurring minerals in our groundwater and are not generally considered harmful because the taste and odor is so unpleasant at such low levels that the taste and smell would prohibit most people from drinking it well before it reached harmful levels.

Water heaters can produce hydrogen sulfide gas by providing a warm environment for sulfate-reducing bacteria to live.  Heat forces the gas into the air which may cause the odor to be especially offensive in a shower.  Also, the magnesium anode in the water heater supplies electrons that sustain the reaction of sulfate to hydrogen sulfide gas.  One of the simplest things you can do if your water has an odor is to check the temperature setting on your water heater.    Hydrogen sulfide gas builds up in the water heater when the water doesn't get heated to a high enough temperature to burn off the gas.  Builders and realtors often drop the temperature down to the lowest setting, to save on the heating costs before the home is occupied.  Here’s what you can do:

• Turn the heater up to the highest temperature (or above 160 degrees if it has the temperature setting) for about two hours.   This will heat the water high enough to ‘burn off’ the hydrogen sulfide and have it vented away.
• Turn it back down to a mid-range temperature that you want to use on a daily basis.
• Within about 48 hours the smell should be totally gone.

You may actually use less hot water this way because the temperature is regulated by mixing with more cold water at the showerhead or sink tap.

8. What if my water has a chlorine smell to it?

The water is treated with chlorine at the water treatment plants and well houses throughout the City.  The City treats its water supply to protect against Total Coliform. The City chlorinates within the State guidelines, but occasionally, you may smell chlorine in the water because we chlorinate to meet demand and insure safe water quality.

If you notice a chlorine or bleach smell coming from your water, run your COLD water line for 5-10 minutes.  If it does not dissipate, or you have additional questions, you can contact Public Works at 763-785-6165 to speak with someone in the Water Department. 

9. How and why should I flush my hot water heater?

Water heaters should be flushed every one to three years, depending on the model and water source.  Sediment buildup in the tank can reduce your water heater's energy efficiency and also clog your water lines.  Avoid these problems and increase the life of your unit by flushing the tank.

How to Flush the Tank

1. Turn off the electricity to the water heater or turn off the gas to extinguish the pilot. Shut off the cold-water inlet to the water heater.
2. Connect a garden hose to the tank's drain valve.  Place the draining end of the hose in an area that won't be adversely affected by the scalding hot water.
3. With the pressure relief valve open, open the drain valve and allow the tank to drain completely.  Completely draining the tank ensures that you've removed all of the sediment possible.
4. Close the tank drain valve, disconnect the hose from the valve and close the pressure relief valve.  Open all the hot-water spigots in the house, then turn on the cold-water inlet to the tank.  Opening the hot water spigots will reduce air buildup in the lines.
5. Close each hot-water spigot as water begins to flow from it. After all the spigots are closed, turn on the electricity to the water heater, or turn the gas switch to run.