High Bill

What To Do When Your Bill Seems High

If you have an unusually high water bill, the questions below may help you determine the cause of the high bill:

• Is your water meter moving when all water is turned off?
• Are there any dripping faucets? Thirty drips per minute adds up to approximately 15 gallons per day.
• Do you have a leaking toilet?
• Is there a leaking irrigation valve?
• Do you have a sprinkler system? If so, is it on a timer? Is the timer operating correctly?
• Were you gone for any number of days during the month in question (holidays, vacations)? If so, did somebody take care of your plants and/or animals for you?
• Did you have out of town visitors or guest during this billing period?
• Do you have a water softener? Is it the recycling type? Is it operating correctly?
• Do you have an under-the-sink filter system? Is it operating correctly?
• Does the handle on your toilet have to be jiggled to make the water stop running?
• Do you have a hot tub or pool? If so, have you adjusted the float arm lately?
• Did you fill your pool or hot tub this billing period?
• Did you have your fire sprinkler system serviced?
• Have you repaired any leaking faucets, water heaters, etc., lately?
• Is there a recycling hot water unit? Is it operating correctly?
• Are there any wet spots on the lawn or inside the home on walls, ceilings, etc.?
• If you are a commercial customer (restaurant, convenience store, etc.), do you have a purifying water machine, "serve yourself" machine, or soft drink machine that might need repair or have experienced unusually high usage?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you may have found the reason for your increased water usage. Investigate further.

Check for Hidden Leaks

Make sure that water is not slipping away due to undetected leaks in your system. To check for household leaks, turn off the water inside and outside your home. Go outside and read your meter if it moves while all water using devices are off, there is water pushing through the meter, indicating a possible leak. To locate a leak, try:

• Looking for wet spots that could indicate a leak in the pipe between the meter and the home or the sprinkler system
• Dropping a dye tablet in the toilet tank. Don't flush. If colored water appears in the bowl, the toilet leaks

If you discover a leak and repair it, you may qualify for a billing adjustment.  Click here for information on our appeals process. For more helpful information, visit our How to Test for Leaks page.