Gowrie Municipal Utilities
1102 Main Street Phone: 515-352-3065
Provides Water, Sewer, Electricity and Garbage pickup.

Application for Service

Water Service
Installation/Costs:
It is the responsibility of the home builder to install the water line from the house to the city service line in the street. If a tap on the city service line is required, the tap will be installed by the utility and the builder’s contractor. Ther service line that extends from the tap to the curb box (at the property line) must be ¾” copper or larger. The curb box provides and external shut off for water line to the house. The water line from the curb box to the residence may be plastic (PVC) or copper of a size desired by the builder. A water meter must be purchased from the utility at an approximate cost of $75.00. The utility assumes the responsibility for all future maintenance of the water meter.

Deposit requirements may be satisfied by providing a letter of credit from the owner’s previous electrical provider. (Most likely, this has been done in applying for electrical service.)

Current charges for water service are $11.00 per month plus $3.60 for each 1,000 gallons used.

Comment:
Gowrie Municipal Utilities currently obtains its water supply from two deep wells. Water is periodically tested for purity and contaminants. Disruptions of water service have been infrequent and brief.

Sewer Service
Installation/Costs:
It is the responsibility of the home builder to install the sewer line from the house to the City service line in the street. (This includes the connection or tap to the City line.) The material used for the line may be vitreous clay tile or plastic (PVC). It is illegal to discharge sump pump drains or gutter drains into the sanitary sewer system. There may be some unpaid sewer assessments on some undeveloped residential lots. Original sewer assessments were waived or reduced for some undeveloped lots. Check with the utility office to determine if a particular lot has any unpaid assessments.

Deposit requirements may be satisfied by providing a letter of credit from the owner’s previous electrical provider. (Most likely, this has been done in applying for electrical service.)

The current charge for sewer service is 100% of monthly water charge for the residence.

Comment:
The Gowrie sewer plant was modernized in the 1980’s. The operation of the plant is monitored by a certified full time employee of the Gowrie Utilities. Currently the storm sewer is being expanded on the northwest side of town.

Electric Service
Installation/Cost:
Gowrie Municipal Utilities will provide an above ground service line to any new house. The utility will pay all costs for an above ground service line including the meter loop and meter. The meter loop is to be installed by the builder’s electrical contractor according to the building codes of Gowrie and costs are billed by the contractor to the utility. If the builder desires underground service, this involves additional costs and responsibilities for the builder. The builder should inquire directly with the utility for details.

A deposit or letter of credit from the builder’s current or previous electric provider will be required.

Current charges (as of February 2005) for electrical service are $8.75 residential and $12.25 commercial per month connection fee plus 8.5 cents per kilowatt hour used.

Comment:
Gowrie Municipal Utilities currently buys power from outside sources. However, a local service crew provides maintenance and service which allows service problems to be addressed quickly. In addition, the utility has local generating ability when power from outside suppliers is disrupted. Therefore, service disruption tends to be infrequent and of short duration.

Garbage Service
Cost: Garbage service is mandatory for residents of the City of Gowrie. Businesses may contact TCB Sanitation (Tim Blair) directly at 515-547-2626 for garbage removal. TCB Sanitation currently picks up garbage on Mondays and Thursdays.

Jim Blair Sanitation does the curbside recycling (included in the monthly charge) on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month.

Current charge for residential garbage pickup is $13.75/month.

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