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capelady101 · Aug 4, 2009, 03:09 PM

Here's a puzzle. Recently received letter from water department asking if I had a new irrigation system. Average bill for Jan-June went from $82. To $582 for that period. Let them install new meter Jan 9. Here's the problem. House is shut up for the most part during that period and water to house is turned off! Open house last two weeks of June to get ready to rent for 5 to 6 weeks in summer. Of course bill is usually higher for second halve of year. They say they took the actual reading July 23rd which showed 120,000 gallons were used. I tell them water to house had only been on for 5 weeks at the time of reading and only rented for two. They then try to tell me maybe I have a leaky toilet. They go out and find a little drip at my outdoor shower and are trying to say that could be the cause in the spike but their meter doesn't lie. Have fixed drip and have tenants in for next 2.5 weeks (as usual). Any ideas what my solution is? I have to question the accuracy of meter since water was shut off to house. My plumber checked for leaks, found none and fixed drip. He agrees that the drip from outdoor shower could not be cause of spike. Thanks

Stratmando · Aug 4, 2009, 03:16 PM

Got a neighbor with a swimming pool?

speedball1 · Aug 4, 2009, 03:35 PM

Ahhhh! But meters do lie. When mine spiked I raised hell with the Water Department until they came out and replaced it. Turns out it was faulty and gave high readings. Do you have a new sprinkler system? About the only other way this could
Happen was if you had shut the house off at the house stop and had a leak in the service between the meter and your house. But with 120,000 gallons you would have have ground water. Let me know how this ends up. Good luck, Tom

capelady101 · Aug 4, 2009, 03:36 PM

Well not a close neighbor, up on a hill behind house. Not even same street.

capelady101 · Aug 4, 2009, 03:44 PM

I have no irrigation system. Also, water department inspector bumped head in basement when he went out to check meter (7' ceilings, full walk out basement. Maybe he is 8'?) and know refused to go back out. They are telling me it is now my problem.

speedball1 · Aug 4, 2009, 04:02 PM

I wonder how a judge would look at it? Good luck, tom PS! I think the water company hosed you! (No pun intended.)

Stratmando · Aug 4, 2009, 04:48 PM

I would turn everything off, don't flush a toilet and not while washing clothes. See if meter's indicator spins.

capelady101 · Aug 4, 2009, 06:33 PM

Unfortunately rent by week, will do in 2.5 weeks. Water dept. suggesting possible scenario of tenant leaving hose on/or shower dripping for 5 weeks consuming 120,000 gals.
Googled: Average family of 4 uses 150 gals. Per day. X 30 = 4500 x 6 months = 27,000 So that would work out to: occupied by 2 for 2 weeks (water shut off for 5 months) = 150 gals + 3 weeks of renters = 120,000 gals)

OOps sorry, 2 for 2 weeks = 2100 gals. They said the meter has a paddlewheel so water went through system and meter can not malfunction. Have checked out other town water dept sites. They all saw to watch your monthly bill for spikes but my town only reads twice a year.

speedball1 · Aug 5, 2009, 04:59 AM

If the Water Department's dragging its heels and won't negotiate the next step would be to consult a lawyer. Good luck, Tom

Stratmando · Aug 5, 2009, 05:14 AM

If you have an Alarm system, and a electric valve for water, it can be wired so when system is armed, water valve shuts off.

capelady101 · Aug 5, 2009, 08:34 AM

Thanks for the advice. Have alarm system guy coming in September, will talk to him and am getting name of lawyer in next town. Thank you all.
By the way, my mistake, not 120,000 gal. Read letter again, 127,000!

Milo Dolezal · Aug 5, 2009, 08:34 PM

I hate to say it: but the most probable cause is a leak somewhere on your property. Could be water main line...

I would do as suggested above: Shut off everything in your house and go to see your water meter. Mark the reading ( or take digi-photo of the gauge) one day. Come back in 24 hours and mark the reading again ( or take another photo ). See if there is any change in readings...

Yes, water meters can malfunction. They are just another mechanical device that may be defective. But from my experience, the chances are small. Most of the time it is a leaking pipe. Start looking for leak...

capelady101 · Aug 6, 2009, 05:30 AM

Update: Talked with water dept. Told them house is only occupied for 6 weeks. They said they could test meter with tandem meter but would have to be 3 months with reading taken same day same time every month and can only be tested when house is occupied. They then told me a story of another guy who flushed toilet wrong, it ran for a day and he went through even more than 127,000 gals. They also said that leak in main line would not register on meter in house. When plumber was out he watched meter and said it was not moving.

speedball1 · Aug 6, 2009, 05:40 AM

They said they could test meter with tandem meter but would have to be 3 months with reading taken same day same time every month and can only be tested when house is occupied.

What a total bunch of hooey! When my water bill spiked and I complained all they did was replace the meter. Next month-- bill normal. Make sense to you? Makes sense to me! Cheers Tom