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Emergency Services

After Hours Emergency Telephone Number: 209-632-3522

The best way to handle an emergency is to be prepared before it happens. Please take note of the following suggestions.

LOCKED OFF WATER METER
If no water is coming to your house and you can see that the meter is locked inside your meter box, you must contact Hilmar County Water District. Do not remove lock! If the lock is broken or if the meter is damaged, the owner will be subject to the full cost of repair and/or replacement before service is restored.

MAIN WATER VALVE 
Prior to an emergency, determine where your main water valve is. This valve turns off all water to your house and is usually located near your front hose connection. If an emergency results from a water leak inside your house - for instance, if your faucet is broken - turn off the water immediately.

WATER HEATER
Your water heater should be firmly secured by metal straps attached to wall studs. In the event of an earthquake, the water heater is a very vulnerable appliance and can cause much water damage if it falls away from the wall.

RADIO 
If there is an accompanying power outage, a battery operated radio is vital to keep in touch with all emergency information. It is recommended not to keep batteries in the radio but rather alongside it and they should be checked periodically.

WATER STORAGE
For each person in your household fill a 2 gallon plastic container with water. Store these containers in a cool, dark place - such as your garage - for use in an emergency. This water supply should be replaced every six months to ensure freshness. (Hint: Place a piece of masking tape on the containers and write the 'Use By' date on them)
Alternatively, water can be frozen indefinitely and then thawed and used in an emergency. An added benefit - if you lose power these bottles can serve as a refrigerant for your foods, then, as the water thaws, you will have drinking water.

DISINFECTION OF WATER
If it becomes necessary for you to disinfect your tap water, you will be notified by radio and television broadcasts (see 'Radio' above). You will receive instructions for proper measures to disinfect your water as part of the notification.
It is not recommended to use swimming pool or spa water due to the chemical content and other contaminants that may have been introduced into it.