Occasionally, customers contact us because of sudden, unexplained increases in their water bills. Though errors in water meter reporting do sometimes occur, these instances are rare, and water meters are generally very reliable.
A high bill is often explained by simple changes in home water use. So, the first thing you should do is compare your current water usage to similar periods in the past. You can do this using the consumption data and charts on your bills or My Utility Connect. Look at several months at a time since changes in weather, or household activity, can result in dramatic changes in water usage from one month to the next.
We find increases in water usage are typically the result of one of two things: 1) increased home water use, which is often a seasonal occurrence, and 2) leaks in a home’s plumbing system. Let’s look at some of these in more detail.
Irrigation
Lawn and garden irrigation accounts for a large percentage of summer water use. With hotter, drier summers, we’re more apt to leave that lawn sprinkler on for a few extra minutes, or give that flower bed an extra dousing. It all adds up, especially over the course of a summer. You can learn more about how to conserve water outside on our Water Conservation page or the EPA’s WaterSense page.
Running Toilets
A running / leaking toilet is a common cause of water waste inside the home. Toilet tank flappers typically only last a couple years before they begin deteriorating and slowly leaking water. A toilet leaking water 24/7 can add up to hundreds of gallons very quickly. So, check all your toilets periodically, especially those in a basement or guest room you don’t use on a regular basis.
Home Plumbing Leaks
Leaks in your home plumbing (including connected systems such as irrigation and pools) can appear at any time. If you see a sudden, unexplainable increase in water use, you should consider doing a leak test, using your water meter. Leaks never get better, so if you discover you have one, and the cause is not easily rectified, you should have your plumbing checked immediately by a qualified plumber.
If you’re still unsure about what has caused a high bill, please contact us. We’ll be happy to work with you to first rule out any meter reporting errors, and then discover if your home may have a leak. And if a significant leak is discovered, we have a Leak Adjustment Policy to help you out.