Department of Public Works
Division of Latham Water

The Town of Colonie Department of Public Works, Division of Latham Water, provides safe drinking water and water for fire protection to 82,000 Town of Colonie residents, except the Village of Menands and Maplewood areas. We are responsible for the treatment and distribution of water, installing and maintaining fire hydrants for fire protection, and maintaining water mains and valves.


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Three different raw water sources are pumped to the Mohawk View Water Treatment Plant where chemical and physical treatment takes place. The quality of our sources before treatment is good, and the treatment plant finishes the job by removing any solids, metals (primarily iron and manganese), color-producing compounds or other organic and inorganic compounds. At the treatment plant, we continuously monitor the clarity and disinfectant level to guarantee the bacteriological safety of the water. Chemical treatment consists of oxidation, coagulation, chlorination and pH adjustment. Physical treatment consists of flocculation, settling and filtration. Finished water is pumped to the distribution system and is stored in nine (9) steel storage vessels located throughout the Town.

Contact

Dan Seaver, Acting Superintendent
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Public Operations Center
First Floor
347 Old Niskayuna Road
Latham, NY 12110-2290

Water Bills & Payment Information

The Tax department is responsible for the collection of the water usage bills on behalf of the Town of Colonie Department of Public Works, Division of Latham Water. For water billing purposes the Town is divided into three sections: North, Central, and South. Water bills are mailed out bi-annually. The North section bills are mailed in February and August. The Central section bills are mailed in March and September. The South sections bills are mailed April and October. For information regarding billing and due dates for each section, visit the Tax department Key Dates page.

Water Rates and Fees

2024 water rates for the Town of Colonie. Keep in mind that all usage is per 6 month period.

  • Inside District metered rate of sale:
    $4.75 per 1,000 gallons
  • Outside District metered rate of sale:
    $7.30 per 1,000 gallons
  • Village of Colonie metered rate of sale:
    $4.35 per 1,000 gallons

Raw Water Sources

Latham's raw water sources are the Mohawk River, five (5) wells located on Onderdonk Avenue with the Stony Creek Reservoir as an emergency raw water source. Choosing which raw water sources to use is based on a number of factors including raw water quality and finished water demand.

From October through April flows average 8.5 million gallons per day (MGD). During the spring and fall, a combination of sources as the demand and availability of the source dictates. The "summer" operation consists of an almost exclusive use of the river, with some of the other sources blended. Flows at this time are as high as 19.6 MGD.

Water Meter Reading

Town of Colonie Latham Water District provides high-quality and reliable water services to residents and businesses. Although the Latham Water District reads some water meters through an automated process, there are certain circumstances where we still need to visit your property or business to obtain an accurate meter reading. Below are some of the circumstances:

  • Water meter leakage
  • Replacement or upgrade of the existing meter
  • Frozen water meter
  • A water emergency at an unocuppied residence (i.e. when the resident is out of state for an extended period of time, etc.)
  • Water bill overestimation

Irrespective of the circumstances listed above, Latham Water meter reading staff will only arrive at your residence by appointment. In the event that we need to enter your residence in an emergency, we will have a Town of Colonie police officer present. If you have any questions regarding any our of meter reader employees, please call the Latham Water main line at (518) 783-2750.

Meter readers are identified by what they wear, drive and their equipment

Town of Colonie Latham Water meter reading employees usually wear a navy blue polo shirt with "Town of Colonie Latham Water" embossed on the top front left, carry a handheld meter reading device, wear Town of Colonie employee badge with his or her picture on it, and drive a white van with blue stripes and the Town of Colonie seal. Below are images of what water meter staff in Colonie you can expect them to be wearing, driving, and holding.

Water Conservation Tips

Latham Water District customers are urged to conserve water whenever possible, but especially during our high demand periods. The best way to help us conserve water is to minimize any outside water use from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. Our customers with automatic lawn sprinklers can help us by adjusting their timers to this schedule and by installing moisture sensors. Some other suggestions for conserving water are:

  • Checking and repairing all leaks: toilets, faucets and garden hose spigots.
  • Installing water-saving plumbing fixtures such as low-flow shower heads and water saving toilets.
  • Covering pools to reduce evaporation.
  • Using a broom, instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.
  • Washing only full loads of laundry and dishes.
  • Turning off the water when shaving or brushing your teeth.
  • Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.
  • Water lawns and landscaping during the morning or evening to avoid excess evaporation. Use mulch around shrubs to save moisture. Use drought-tolerant and native plants.
  • Automatic landscape irrigation systems are a home's biggest water user. To make sure you're not over watering, adjust your irrigation controller at least once a month to account for changes in the weather and install a rain shutoff device, soil moisture sensor, or humidity sensor to better control irrigation.

Water Quality

The quality of water provided to our customers is high. With the exception of water main construction or repair, few customer complaints are received. Even so, New York State law now requires all water suppliers to notify their customers about the risks of cryptosporidosis and giardiasis.

Cryptosporidosis and giardiasis are intestinal illnesses caused by microscopic parasites. Cryptosporidosis can be very serious for chemotherapy, dialysis or transplant patients, or people with Crohn's disease, HIV infection, or otherwise weakened immune systems. People with weakened immune systems should discuss with their health care provider the need to take extra precautions such as boiling water, using a certified bottled water or a specially approved home filter. Individuals who think they may have cryptosporidosis or giardiasis should contact their health care provider immediately. For additional information on cryptosporidosis and giardiasis, please contact the Albany County Health Department at (518) 447-4620.

For access to websites mentioned in the report, click on the links below: