Leaks and High Bills
Did you know that a dripping faucet can waste 20 gallons a day? Leaks from faucets and toilets waste your water and your money.
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, toilets, and outside taps. You can learn how to test for leaks or watch a video on how to detect leaks in your house on our website. Most household leaks are easily repaired with parts from a hardware store.
If you have a leak, your water bill will increase. However, there are many causes of high water bills, including:
- Toilet leaks
- Watering the lawn with sprinklers
- Watering the garden or flower bed
- Extra amounts of laundry
- Outside faucets leaking
- Underground leaks
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. If your consumption is higher than this average, check to make sure you don't have any silent leaks.
If you receive a bill that you feel is too high, check over these types of items. This may help to pinpoint the source of the high bill. If no leaks are detected and you still feel that your bill is too high, call 853-5700. They will explain how to detect leaks and schedule for the meter reading to be rechecked. If the meter reading is checked and found to be accurate, you may need to contact a plumber or other professional to help determine the source of a leak. There is no charge for re-checking a meter if the meter was misread. Otherwise, a charge may apply. Property owners are responsible for water lines from the meter to the residence and for leaks inside the home. If you have checked for leaks and found none, you may wish to call 853-5700.
Click here for a one-page summary of how to check for leaks.
Here are some related links to information on leaks:
The Care and Repair of Toilets
Conserving Water