My water bill is the highest it has ever been this month. What can be the cause of this???

Question

I only water my yard twice a week and just started watering my flower bed once a day and my bill is up 35% from last month. Do rates change over the summer time? I recently had a leak repaired in my irrigation pipes. I hope its not a slab leak...help!

Answer 1

Could your water heater be leaking?  

Answer 2

It's possible that your rates went up - but utility providers do not usually change their rates seasonally (although there is some pressure in the industry to start charging more for utilities depending not just on the time of year, but even by the time of day).  If you suspect that you have a variable rate, you can look at the bill or contact your provider - they will be able to tell you very easily.   It is much more likely, though, that you have a leak somewhere.  There are conservation and leak detection tips at http://www.ista-na.com/en/information_fo...  

Answer 3

IF YOU LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM AL. THE RATES CAN GO UP IN THE SUMMER,WINTER ,FALL,SPRING,OR WHEN EVER THE WTR BRD THINKS ITS TIME TO BUY NEW TAHOES,SILVERADOS,SUBURBANS,SO ON SO ON.IS IT THE WATER OR THE SEWER RATES THAT IS SO HIGH?HERE THE SEWER IS 3TO4 TIMES HIGHEWR THAN THE WATER BILL. IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A LEAK,TURN OFF ALL WATER OUTLETS IN YOUR HOUSE AND WATCH YOUR METER,EVRYTIME IT MAKES A FULL TURN IN THE SMALL INDICATOR THAT 750GALS.

  GK AND SEE IF YOUR METER HAS BEEN CHANGED OUT.OLD METERS RUN ALOT SLOWER THAN NEWER ONES,DUE TO THE BUILD UP IN THE METER.

Answer 4

leak could have been the problem because they sometimes run behind.

It could be a leak elsewhere. Have you increased water usage inside- longer showers? more dishes? wash clothes? etc?

They have recently raised their rates about 15% here in general (Texas) due to cost of gas to read meters

Answer 5

Make sure you turn all faucets off in the house.  Don't let anyone flush any toilets, and go look at your meter.  On the face of the dial is a large arrow, that revolves.  There should also be a smaller dial indicator, and it should only spin, when water is moving through the meter.  If you have everything turned off, and the dial indicator is spinning, something is allowing water to flow.  Find the main valve close to the house, and turn it off.  Now check the meter again.  If the dial indicator is still spinning, you probably have a broken line in the yard, provided you don't have your sprinkler system on. Follow the path from the meter to the main valve, this is where your underground pipe should be located.  Finding a broken water line in the grass is fairly easy, since water should be evident.  If you have concrete or asphalt, you will need a professional to locate and repair the break.  If the yard line is OK, toilets are the #1 water wasters in a house.  Remove the tank lid, and add a few drops of food coloring into the tank.  Do not flush the toilet.  Leave it alone for 10 minutes.  If you see the food coloring in the bowl,  your flapper is faulty, and needs to be replaced.  Good luck!

Answer 6

you could have a leak somewhere. first turn off the water line going into your house. see if the meter is running if not your main line is ok. if it keeps turning then you could have a slab leak. now make sure everything is turned off on your house and see if the meter still runs. if it does then you will have a leak somewhere. you will have to look to find it

Answer 7

Sounds like you have a water leak beyond the water meter. My water meter has always been inside or on the side of the house. Some areas have the water meter underground at the property line. If that's your case you could have a leak before it enters your house and you wouldn't know it. I would have it checked out.

Answer 8

Have the city to check your Water Meter it could be malfunctioning I seen that happen before and if so ask for a credit for the over charge.

Answer 9

we had the same problem and we found out it was from a malfunctioning toilet that kept draining water.  

Answer 10

maybe your city's water rate gone up, you water more probably, and maybe you forget to shut the tap properly, some leaks in the house...

Answer 11

WHAT LOL you have to pay for water now. They are making us pay for everything and in Ireland were i live i wanted to pump up my car wheel with the air pump and they said 10 euros for that so i told them go **** yourself charging me for air.