Municipal Utility Services

The City of Northwood bills monthly for Water, Wastewater, and Garbage/Recycling.  New residents to Northwood need to fill out a service application and pay a deposit.  The application is available at City Hall, 627 Central Avenue, or can be downloaded here and returned to City Hall along with a $80.00 deposit.

WATER: Two new wells, each 350 feet deep drawing groundwater from the Devonian (includes Cedar Valley Limestone) aquifer and the new water treatment plant were fully operational February of 2002.  The water treatment plant is rated at 400 gallons per minute.  Treatment consists of aeration, with iron and manganese removal from two sand filters.  Disinfecting is accomplished by chlorine gas; fluoride is added for dental hygiene and phosphate is added to prevent red water problems.  The city has one elevated storage tank with a capacity of 500,000 gallons.

The City of Northwood is a valid provider for new industry and business.  The water plant can produce 550,000 gallons per day of treated water with 500,000 gallons stored in the water tower.  Average use is 200,000 gallons per day; peak use is 300,000 gallons per day.

WASTEWATER: The Northwood Wastewater Treatment Facility, constructed in 1981-82 and fully operational in 1983, consists of a three-cell aerated lagoon system with chlorine contact basin.  It is designed for an organic loading of 500 lbs. of biological oxygen demand per day and a 30-day average wet weather flow of 0.475 mgd.  The actual loadings to the treatment facility are in the range of 120 to 480 lbs. carbonaceous biological oxygen demand per day.  The actual average wet weather flow rate is approximately .31 mgd.

GARBAGE/RECYCLING: The City of Northwood contracts with Northwood Sanitation for the pickup of residential garbage and recycling.  Garbage pickup is Monday only of each week, with special bags required.  The special bags can be purchased at City Hall, 627 Central Avenue or Northwood True Value, 96 10th Street N.  Recycling pickups are the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month, with special yellow or blue container required.  The container can be purchased only at City Hall.

GAS AND ELECTRICITY: For all gas and electricity needs, contact Alliant Energy/Interstate Power and Light Company at 1-800-255-4268.

TELEPHONE: For all residential telephone needs, contact Qwest at 1-800-244-1111.

CABLEVISION: For all cablevision needs, contact Mediacom at 1-800-392-6688.