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HI, I’M ANTONIO, I WORK FOR THE GARLAND WATER UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.

[00:00:04]

TODAY, I’D LIKE TO SHOW YOU HOW TO QUICKLY AND SAFELY TURN OFF YOUR WATER IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO TURN OFF THE WATER IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO TURN OFF THE WATER EITHER AT THE WATER METER, OR THE HOUSE SHUT-OFF VALVE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD KNOWS HOW TO TURN OFF THE WATER USING BOTH METHODS. THE CITY OF GARLAND HAS A WATER MAIN LINE THAT RUNS THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN EACH HOME AND BUSINESS IN GARLAND HAS A SERVICE LINE THAT BRINGS THEM WATER.

BETWEEN YOUR HOUSE AND THE WATER MAIN ALONG YOUR SERVICE LINE, THERE IS A METER THAT MEASURES THE AMOUNT OF WATER BEING USED AT YOUR HOUSE. THE PIPE BEFORE AND INCLUDING THE METER BELONGS TO THE CITY OF GARLAND, AND THE PIPE AFTER THE METER BELONGS TO THE HOMEOWNER. WATER METERS ARE FOUND INSIDE CONCRETE METER BOXES WHICH ARE TYPICALLY LOCATED WITHIN YOUR PROPERTY LINES, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE ROAD AND YOUR SIDEWALK. AT THIS HOME, YOU CAN SEE THE WATER METER BOX IS LOCATED ALONG THE VERY EDGE OF THE PROPERTY LINE.

THE NEIGHBOR’S WATER METER BOX IS ALSO LOCATED AROUND THE SAME LOCATION ON THEIR OF THE PROPERTY LINE. IF YOUR WATER METER BOX IS NOT VISIBLE LIKE THIS ONE, IT’S PROBABLY COVERED BY VEGETATION, SOIL, OR HIDDEN UNDER BRUSHES. YOU MAY NEED TO WALK AROUND THE PROPERTY AND POKE AROUND THE GROUND TO LOCATE IT. OTHER TYPES OF METER BOXES MAY BE LOCATED IN THIS AREA AS WELL, LIKE THOSE FOR UNDERGROUND CABLE, PHONE, OR FIBER OPTIC LINES.

IN THE CITY OF GARLAND, THERE ARE SIX DIFFERENT TYPES OF WATER METER BOXES LOCATED OUTSIDE THE RESIDENTIAL HOMES. WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING FOR YOUR WATER METER BOX, YOU’LL BE LOOKING FOR ONE OF THESE LIDS. FROM THE METER, THE WATER SERVICE TYPICALLY RUNS IN A STRAIGHT LINE TO THE NEAREST FAUCET IN YOUR HOME WHICH SUPPLIES WATER TO YOUR HOUSE. THE HOUSE SHUTOFF VALVE IS USUALLY LOCATED HERE. IF YOU CANNOT LOCATE THE HOUSE SHUTOFF VALVE, HAVE A PLUMBER COME OUT AND FIND IT FOR YOU. MARK IT SO EVERYONE IN THE HOME KNOWS WHERE IT IS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. NOW THAT YOU’VE SUCESSFULLY LOCATED YOUR WATER METER BOX, LET’S OPEN IT UP TO TURN OFF THE WATER QUICKLY AND SAFELY. HERE ARE THE TWO TOOLS YOU SHOULD USE TO TURN OFF YOUR WATER.

ONE, THE METER KEY TO ACCESS YOUR METER. SECOND, THE CUTOFF WRENCH. YOU CAN FIND IT AT YOUR LOCAL HARDWARE STORE.

THIS IS THE ONLY TOOL YOU SHOULD USE TO TURN OFF YOUR WATER.

INSERT THE METER KEY INTO THE CURVED SLOT ON THE LID AND TURN IT COUNTERCLOCKWISE UNTIL YOU FEEL IT UNLOCK. USING THE KEY AS A HOOK, REMOVE THE LID SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY SET THE LID ASIDE. TAKE CARE NOT TO DAMAGE THE WIRES ATTACHED TO THE LID. THESE WIRES HELP THE CITY OF GARLAND READ YOUR WATER METER QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY.

CAREFULLY PLACED THE CUTOFF WRENCH OVER THE SHUTOFF VALVE KNOB AND SLOWLY TURN THE WRENCH CLOCKWISE WITH A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE UNTIL IT WON'T TURN ANY MORE. BE CAREFUL NOT TO FORCE THE SHUTOFF VALVE.

IF THE KNOB HAS NOT BEEN USED IN A WHILE, IT COULD BE LOCKED UP.

FORCING THIS VALVE CAN DAMAGE YOUR METER. YOU CAN ALSO TURN OFF THE WATER AT THE HOUSE SHUTOFF VALVE. AT THIS HOME, THE HOUSE SHUTOFF VALVE IS LOCATED NEXT TO AN OUTDOOR SPIGOT.

THIS ONE IS INSIDE A PROTECTED BOX, BUT YOURS MAY BE BURIED UP TO TWO FEET UNDERGROUND.

WHEN YOU’RE READY TO TURN THE WATER BACK ON, TURN THE METER SHUTOFF VALVE COUNTERCLOCKWISE BACK INTO IT’S ORIGINAL POSITION.

BE SURE TO TURN THE WATER BACK ON SLOWLY TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO YOUR PIPES.

DO NOT LEAVE THE METER BOX OPEN. REPLACE AND LOCK IN PLACE THE METER BOX LID WHEN YOU’RE DONE. BE CAREFUL NOT TO DAMAGE ANY OF THE WIRES OR THE METER READ DEVICE ATTACHED TO THE LID.

TO REQUEST OR WATER OR WASTEWATER MAINTENANCE, EMERGENCY SERVICE, OR REPORT AN ISSUE, VISIT GARLAND EASSIST OR CALL 972-205-3210.

(MUSIC) (MUSIC)

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.