Homeowners are responsible for all water use, even if it results from a leak.
If you are wondering why your bill is higher than usual please consider the following items:
- Is this the time of year for outside watering or sprinkling?
- Is there a faucet leaking or dripping in your home?
- Does the toilet fail to shut off after flushing or have a leak?
- Is the water softener functioning correctly?
Water bills are based on how much water is used. The accuracy of the City’s water meters is +/- 2% of 100%. If you should experience an unusually high usage on your monthly bill, it could indicate some type of leak in your plumbing. We recommend that you first compare the reading on your bill with the current reading on your meter. The reading on your meter should be slightly higher than the billing, depending on the amount of time that has passed since the reading and how much water you normally use.
Oftentimes, running toilets are identified as the problem. You cannot always hear or see a toilet that is running and may result in significant usage. You can check your toilets for leaks by putting food coloring into the tank. If there is a leak, the food coloring will show up in the bowl without flushing.
Another source of high usage is a water softener, which may be leaking or regenerating improperly. To check your water softener, take a water meter reading before you retire for the evening. Take another reading in the morning, before any water is used. Write down your readings or make notes. Any difference in the readings should be the result of the water used to regenerate your softener. Repeat this procedure for a week or two to check consistency of usage. This will verify how often the softener is regenerating. It should not be regenerating every night. If you believe the amount of water used is too high, or that your softener is regenerating too frequently, check with your manufacturer or dealer for proper usage and instructions on how to correct the problem.
Other areas for common leak sources are indoor outdoor faucets, humidifiers attached to furnace and irrigation systems. You may be able to hear a leak before you see it, so listen carefully for water flow or leaks.