Protect Your Pipes As temperatures drop each winter, concern grows that water can turn to ice in your plumbing system. Water expands when it freezes, an effect that can crack or break exposed pipes. And a broken pipe can cause serious damage after it thaws and water starts flowing again. There are several precautions you can take to protect your home and business. Prepare for the winter Before the cold weather starts, take a few precautions to reduce the risk of frozen pipes. Insulate your exposed pipes. Wrap them with foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves. You can also use rags or newspaper. Be sure to wrap the pipes with at least an inch of those materials, then cover them with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to keep them dry. When it’s cold outside... Remember, just a little water goes a long way. As the outdoor temperature approaches 32 degrees, turn on the indoor faucet farthest away from your water meter. Run only one faucet with no more than a trickle or water, about as thin as a standard strand of spaghetti, to minimize the chance of water freezing in your pipes. Do not run more than one faucet, and do not run any faucet at full blast. It is unnecessary and can be expensive for customers. It can also contribute to lower water pressures across the city, risking the potential for a precautionary boil water advisory. Once temperatures climb above the freezing point, be sure to turn off your taps. Running them at temperatures above 32 degrees does not protect your pipes in any way. A few extra steps you can take Open the doors to cabinets where your pipes are located to allow heat from the rest of the building to warm them. Open interior doors to allow heat to pass from room to room. Disconnect garden hoses. Should a freeze break a pipe or cause a leak… Call a licensed plumber immediately. Turn off and drain the water in your house. To do this, locate the main water line from your water meter. There should be a valve where that line enters your house. Turn it off. Then run all your indoor faucets to drain water from your pipes. Disconnect garden hoses and hoses to your washing machine. It is important you contact your plumber as soon as possible. WWD#3 can only respond to the most critical emergency situations.
NOTICE
We're actively monitoring the National Weather Service on the possible winter storm. Our office may be closed Monday January 26th if the roads are not safe for our employees to be on. However, we will have crews on call if there is a dire situation that needs attention. 
Upcoming Holiday Closure
 
Emergencies
Office Hours: 7:30am - 3:30pm M-F
P.O. Box 580, Tioga, LA 71477-0580
1306 Third Street, Pineville, LA 71360
1306 Third Street, Pineville, LA 71360
P.O. Box 580, Tioga, LA 71477-0580
Office Hours: 7:30am - 3:30pm M-F
Emergencies

Water Works District No. 3

318.640.1379

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Our Mission

The mission of the Water Works District No. 3 of Rapides Parish is to provide high-quality and safe water services to our commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers in the quantity required for economic development and the health and convenience of our community.

 
 

Water Quality

Each year, the State of Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) requires a submission called the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). It must be distributed to all customers within our water district and gives specific information regarding the content and quality of our water, testing completed during the year, as well as other helpful information. The report is issued in June of each year.

Water Quality

Click here to view the current Consumer Confidence Report for 2024.

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Did You Know?
  • Fight Fraud, Waste & Abuse
  • You can check your home for hidden leaks.  Simply turn off all taps and water-using appliances. Check your meter. Then, after 15 minutes check it again.  If it has moved, you have a leak.
  • Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for each cycle, regardless of how many dishes are loaded.  Always run a full load in your dishwasher.
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Faqs
  • 1.
    How do I respond to a BOIL ADVISORY?

    If we experience a leak in our system that results in a loss of water pressure, our water may be of questionable microbiological quality. and you may be placed under a BOIL ADVISORY.  It is recommended that all consumers disinfect their water before consuming it (including fountain drinks), making ice, brushing teeth, or using it for food preparation or rinsing foods by the following means:
           Boil water for one (1) full minute in a clean container.  The one minute starts after the water has been brought to a rolling boil.  (The flat taste can be eliminated by shaking the water in a clean bottle or pouring it from one clean container to another, or by adding a pinch of salt to each quart of water that is boiled.)

    Upon notification from the Office of Public Health's State Regional Laboratory that the samples collected from our water supply have been found to be safe, the advisory will be rescinded and you will be notified that the water has been found to be safe.

  • 2.
    How is my water meter read?

    Water Works District No. 3 reads the majority of its meters electronically through radio frequency technology.  This technology allows us to collect the reading while simply driving down your street, eliminating the need to stop, get out, and open each meter box.  The result is greater accuracy of the reading and more meters can be read in less time.

  • 3.
    Where does my water come from?

    Water Works District No. 3 distributes water from seven groundwater wells and a surface water structure on Big Creek, near Pollock, Louisiana.

  • 4.
    How much water should I expect to use per day?

    American families use 183 gallons of water per day, on average, for cooking, washing, flushing, and watering purposes. The average family turns on the tap between 70-100 times daily.  About 74% of home water usage occurs in the bathroom, about 21% in the laundry room, and the other 5% in the kitchen.

  • 5.
    Is it okay to use hot water from the tap for cooking and drinking?

    No!  ALWAYS use cold water.  Hot water is more likely to contain rust, copper, and lead from household plumbing and water heaters.  These harmful substances can dissolve into hot water faster than they do into cold water, especially when the faucet has not been used for an extended period of time.
     

  • 6.
    Why do water pipes tend to break in winter?

    Liquids generally contract when frozen and become more dense; however, the unique qualities of water cause it to expand by up to 9% when it freezes.  That is why water pipes burst when temperatures reach the freezing mark.