Service & Information

FAQ

What is the main water meter?
The main water meter measures the total amount of water supplied to a property that has more than one water meter.  For example, in an apartment building that includes a number of apartments, the main water meter measures the amount of water supplied to all of the building’s apartments and the measurement differences and the shared consumption of water in the building (water that serves for purposes of irrigation, operating the tap in the garbage room, maintenance of the building, etc.).
?What is an  individual  water meter
The individual water meter measures all the water consumption of a particular consumer in a particular property.  In an apartment building, the water meter that is associated with the apartment and which measures the consumption of that particular apartment is an individual water meter.  In contrast with the main water meter, which measures the water supplied to all the consumers in the property, the individual water meter is registered in the Company’s books in the name of a specific consumer. 
What is the Mei Raanana Water Company Water Company?
Mei Raanana Water Company is a proprietary limited company that operates as a water and sewage corporation established by the Raanana Municipality, by virtue of the Water and Sewage Corporations Law of 2001.  The main goals of the Mei Raanana Water Company Water Company include providing the service of the supply of water to residents, while maintaining its quality and quantity; the removal of sewage from the city to the wastewater treatment compound; the regular maintenance of the water and sewage systems and the development of the water and sewage infrastructure in the new neighborhoods scheduled to be built.
Who Owns Mei Raanana?
The Raanana Municipality owns the Mei Raanana Water Company Water Company and it currently holds 100% of the corporation’s shares.  Mei Raanana Water Company Water Company may also distribute dividends to its owner, if there are surplus funds after the investment in the water infrastructure.  The dividends will be transferred to the municipality and may be used for any purpose.

 

Who determines the water prices?
Water prices are set by the National Council for Water and Sewage, and not by the water corporations.  In January 2010, water prices were raised considerably, pursuant to a government decision to no longer subsidize the water industry, as it had done in the past, and to adjust the water prices to the real costs of the national water industry, including all the investments required in setting up the desalination system.  In addition to the rate structure for consumers and the actual rates, the council also sets the rates for the water purchased by the corporation from Mekorot, the national water company, and the levies for producing the water from the wells.  This means that the difference between the buying and selling price for the water for the corporation is predetermined and all regular maintenance and the corporation’s investments in the water infrastructure are financed from this difference.
What water and sewage malfunctions is Mei Raanana Water Company responsible to repair?
Mei Raanana Water Company is required to repair malfunctions in the water system up to the point of the building’s main water meter, and in the case of private homes, up to the house’s water meter.  However, water and sewage malfunctions that occur beyond the point of the main water meter, such as on the building’s land, the house, yard or parking space, etc., are considered to be private malfunctions, and are the responsibility of the tenants who must contact a professional of their own accord.  Malfunctions in the sewage system - Mei Raanana Water Company is responsible to repair sewage malfunctions only in the municipal system up to the boundary of the private lot.  The boundary of the lot is determined and defined in the sanitation appendix on the date of submitting the building permit by the contractor.
Is  drinking tap water recommended for drinking?
Raanana’s drinking water, supplied through the water system to residents, is rated as the highest sanitation level and is permissible and even recommended for drinking.  However, if you wish to drink water that has been filtered through a household device, ensure the proper maintenance of the water devices at home.   If there is special equipment for water treatment installed in your building, such as storage containers, filters, backflow prevention devices, etc., ensure they are properly maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and replace the devices’ filters, clean the pressure reducing valves, maintain the water tanks according to the instructions that appear on this  website and rinse the household pipes in new houses.  In the event a problem arises in the household system, contact a plumber.  In homes in which these instructions are followed, you may definitely drink the tap water.
How can you ensure the quality of the drinking water?
Assurance of the bacteriological quality of the water is executed by disinfecting with chlorine.  The use of chlorine to ensure the quality of the drinking water is controlled and closely supervised as required by the Ministry of Health’s regulations and instructions.
What is a water meter reading?
A water meter reading is the number that appears on the water meter clock.  The water meter measures the amount of water that has passed through the water meter in cubic meters (cu.m.).  As a general rule, the Company charges the consumers for water consumption based on the amount of water that was measured and read by the water meter at the end of each consumption period. 
How does the Company charge for water consumption?
As a general rule,  the water bill is comprised of two main charges:  the first is for the private consumption in the property that was measured by the water meter that is associated with that particular property and consumer and the second for the measurement differences that are related to the property.  The private consumption and the measurement differences related to the property constitute the total consumption related to the consumer.  The Company charges the consumer for water consumption according to the product of the water quantities measured by the water meter associated with the consumer during the billing period according to the water tariffs.  The water consumption is measured based on the water meter reading at the end of the present billing period and the water reading at the end of the previous billing period.

In a shared property, where there are a number of consumers, the Company also charges each consumer for his relative stake in the measurement differences.  In certain cases, the Company is entitled to charge the consumer based on the consumption assessment and not according to the actual water meter readings.

How is water inspected and who conducts the inspection?
Inspections are conducted by the Mei Raanana Water Company Water Company’s employees, who have passed a Ministry of Health certification program for conducting microbial tests.  The samples are sent to the Health Ministry’s laboratory, which reports any deviation in the water quality.  Chemical testing is conducted by outsourced companies and sent to an outsourced laboratory.   Water samples are taken from the points of connection with the Mekorot Company, from Raanana’s water wells, at the entry and exit to the collection pools, and at a large number of sampling points in the municipal pipe network, according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health.  The chemical components in the water sources are tested every few years, according to the population size and its distribution and based on the instructions set in the Health Ministry’s drinking water regulations.
Is water that contains chlorine safe enough to drink?
Yes.  Many tests have proven that the level of the chlorine in the drinking water, whose purpose is to maintain bacteria-free water, is safe for drinking.
What are coliforms and what are the ramifications if they are detected in the drinking water?
Coliforms are a group of bacteria found in the intestines of humans and animals.  Consequently, the presence of coliforms in drinking water is an indicator that there is a possibility that there are bacteria in the water that cause diseases.  As part of the tests conducted on the drinking water, the likelihood of the existence of coliforms is assessed, according to the Health Ministry’s regulations.
Can the quality of the water be determined based on its appearance, taste or smell? 
These three indicators are important, although they should be considered only a preliminary indication.  Naturally, you should avoid drinking water that does not look clean, which tastes strange or smells bad, except for a very slight scent of chlorine that is added to the water according to the standard, to ensure its quality.

 

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