High Water Bill?
Do you find yourself asking, 'why is my water bill so high?'
There are a variety of ways customer usage can begin to add up, especially during the warm weather months.
Watering lawns and gardens; filling up pools
- The average sprinkler connected to a garden hose can use about 1020 gallons of water in an hour
- The average residential irrigation system uses between 12-30 gallons per minute depending on the type and size
- A typical garden hose has a flow rate of 5-7 gallons per minute when running open as you water gardens or individual plants (or when you accidently leave it on.)
Do you have a leak?
A toilet leak or a toilet that continues to run after flushing could be another reason why customers may see a jump in their bill. According to the EPA, toilets are the leading source of water used in residential homes and account for almost 30% of a homes total water usage and 95% of wasted water. When there is a leak it can cause a huge jump on the water bill. Most of this water will go directly to the sewer line without any detection.
A dripping faucet or broken pipes
- A dripping faucet can waste 15-20 gallons+ per day
- Leaks as small as 1/16 of an inch can waste up to 100 gallons per day
- Pipe leaks are not as noticeable as appliance leaks so your only sign maybe a higher water bill
So how do I know the cause of my high bill?
- Be sure there are no broken heads on irrigation systems, reduce timing for irrigation systems and make sure sprinkler heads are not directed at concrete.
- If you suspect a toilet leak add food coloring to the toilets tank, wait for 15 minutes and see if color has leaked into the bowl. If it has there's a leak allowing tank water to flow to the bowl. Check the water level and make adjustments.
- Check for pooling water around the toilet and how long it takes for the tank to refill. If it's longer then 20-30 seconds this may indicate a leak.
- If water faucets are dripping try closing it tighter. If it continues, the washers maybe worn or the incorrect size.
- Check pipes that smell musty, have mold growing or have water marks surrounding them.
- Check water heater tanks, boilers, water softener, washing machine, humidifier as possible leak sources.
- As a final check, or if your meter is located outside in a pit, check for standing puddles of water, soft spots or the sound of running water.
- Finally, when replacing appliances look for energy efficient model.
For any questions please contact us at 734-384-9150,
[email protected], or by visiting the Water Office.
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