If you are experiencing problems with your water and sewer service, there are many things that may be causing it. In all cases, you should first determine whether the problem is local to your home or is being experienced by your neighbors as well. If many homes are suffering from the same problem, you should call the City of Newport Beach Utilities Department to inform them of the situation. If the problem is just in your home, there are different choices you should make depending on the situation. In the case of a water stoppage, the department may have cut the supply to your home to perform routine maintenance, make a repair, or because your account is in default. Contact them for information. If your water is brown, cloudy, or otherwise poor in quality, you may have a problem with your pipes. Contact a reputable plumber to check the condition. If water flow is erratic, there may be air in your pipes. Let the water run for a few minutes to clear the problem. If the problem persists, call a plumber. If you have slow drainage, you may have a block in you system, most often caused by disposing cooking grease and large foreign objects in the sewer system.

Tree roots also can cause sluggish drains when they grow into the sewer system. Contact the department first to see if they can help you quickly solve the problem or refer you to a plumber or drainage specialist. With any type of service problem, feel free to contact the Utilities Department to have your questions answered and to receive additional instructions. Their offices are open between 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday and call them at 644-3011.