Know the location of the fuse or breaker box(es) in your home. Usually, it is on an interior wall near your electric meter. Check the fuses and/or circuit breakers to be sure the trouble is not in your household electric system. Always keep a working flashlight and spare fuses of the correct size and type handy.

If you find that your fuses or breakers are okay, call OMLPS at (440)775-7260 to report the outage. If it is after 4:00 p.m., call the Police Department at (440)774-1061. Service is available 24 hours a day.

Know the location of the master water valve in your home or business. If a pipe or plumbing fixture inside your home or business develops a leak, quickly shutting off your water may prevent serious damage to your home and its contents.

Your master shut off valve is typically located where your water service line enters your premises. If you have a basement, the water service will most likely enter through the basement wall facing the street, although some areas of Oberlin have water mains located in utility easements behind homes. If you have a crawlspace or your home is built on a concrete slab, your water service line will most likely enter through the floor of a utility room or near a washing machine or water heater.

It's a good idea to test your master valve once each year to make sure it will work when you need it. Simply close the valve completely and open a faucet. If water continues to flow out of the faucet, the master valve is in need of repair or replacement. If your home or business does not have a working master valve, contact a plumber and have one installed; your property is too valuable to risk by not having a working master valve.

To report a water leak, call the Public Works Department at (440)775-7217. If it is after 4:00 p.m., call the Police Department at (440)774-1061. Service is available 24 hours a day.