High-Water Bills?
If you receive a bill that seems high we strongly encourage you to look for a leak. A leak does not necessarily mean that there will be water on the floor or something you can hear. Most leaks go undetected and can end up costing hundreds of dollars to a single water bill. The following are common causes that may help you pinpoint the source of a high bill:
- A leaking toilet, or a toilet that continues to run after being flushed (see the document below).
- A dripping faucet; a faucet drip can waste 20 gallons of water a day or more.
- Water softener problems – cycles continuously.
- A broken water pipe or obvious leak. Check the pipes in the basement or crawlspace. Check your water heater for any signs of a leak.
- Check under your house or in the service line between your water meter and your home; look for wet spots in your yard, all may indicate a possible leak.
- Filling or topping off a swimming pool.
- Watering the lawn, new grass, or trees; also check for an open hose bib.
- Kids home for summer vacations or school holidays; house guests.
- Water-cooled air conditioners.
- Did you do anything out of the ordinary in the last month that uses a good amount of water?
Generally, water consumption is higher during the summer due to watering of lawns, pools, and gardening. Typically, an average family of four uses 4000-5000 gallons of water a month.
Abnormal usage in the past month?
Water billing is done in the arrears so when you receive a bill printed in July it is billing for the usage back in June. Did you have house guest, water your lawn more than usual, or do anything else out of the ordinary in the billing month that uses a lot of water? If so, this may account for an increased in your water bill.
Check for leaks
Leaks, whether unseen or unfixed, can waste hundreds and even thousands of gallons of water. It is important to routinely check your plumbing and home for leaky faucets, toilet, and outside taps.
Toilet and faucet leaks
The most common cause for a high-water bill is running water from your toilet. A continuously running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day. That can double a family's typical water use, so fix toilet leaks as soon as possible. Some leaks are easy to find, such as a dripping faucet or running toilet. You can usually but not always hear a running toilet. See document below for more information.
Outdoor and underground leaks
Leaks can also occur in harder to find places, such as under your house or in the service line between your water meter and your home. Check outdoor spigots and crawl spaces, and look for wet spots in your yard, which may indicate a leak.
Water Softeners
Water softeners are great those who own one normal have higher water bills due to the regeneration or backwash cycles their systems go through. The systems are preset to regenerate or backwash on a regular basis. The systems will use water to clean the filter media and discharge the wastewater into the ground next to the system. There are times when these systems will get stuck in a cycle which will cause higher water use.