OMG, $374 water bill, 78000 gallons usage!

oz · #1 11/02/2007, 02:00 PM

Quaterly water bill came. Its $370.74

That seems high. very high. I don't recall it ever being this much.

It says I used 78,000 gallons of water from 07/25-07 - 10/24/07
Water usage charge, 78 x 1.55 = $120.90
Peak Use charge (no idea what this is) 44 x 2.65 = $116.60
So Water bill part is $243.50

In addition, they also charge for Sewer 26,000 gallons, that's another $97.24

Service charge $6

In total, $340.74

78,000 gallons for a family of four (plus a live in babysitter) that's very high isn't it ? And I think I only changed the water for my reef tank once. How could this be.

Doesn't seem right. I'm gonna call them up, may be there's something wrong witht the water meter.

Anemone · #2 11/02/2007, 02:04 PM

78,000 gallons for 3 months? Almost 850 gallons a day? Wow, you either take really, really, really long showers, or you flush an awful lot!

Kevin

Satori · #3 11/02/2007, 02:04 PM

Could be a leak. My usage jumped from a regular 7,500 gallons/month to about 80,000 gallons. Turns out there was a leak under the ground in the yard. Couldn't even tell. The ground wasn't wet or anything.

Nina51 · #4 11/02/2007, 02:05 PM

yep, bet you have a leak somewhere.

crp · #5 11/02/2007, 02:17 PM

My water bill is about $75 a quarter for a family of four. Must be your live in babysitter!

Probably a leak somewhere.

J. Montgomery · #6 11/02/2007, 02:30 PM

My parents received a water bill last summer for their lake house that was shy of $1,000.00! It turned out that the county(?) crew that was cutting grass along the road ran over and broke the water line going into the house. It was gushing water for a couple of days before they decided to fix it.

Needless to say, they didn't pay that bill.

BeltwayBandit · #7 11/02/2007, 02:52 PM

My bet is a service line leak. Lemme guess you have a blue plastic line that comes through the foundation for your service line? Well, guess what, they don't use them anymore because they are junk. I just had to replace mine and it cost $3000. Also, check with your water company. I know Fairfax water offers a 1 time rate adjustment for leaks. What you have to do is call them to verify that your line is leaking. Then get it fixed. Then send them a copy of the invoice for repairs and a form that you fill out. They will issue a refund for the excess usage for one billing cycle.

oz · #8 11/02/2007, 03:44 PM

OK, I called them (Fairfax Couty Water Authority) and they asked if I had toilet leak since that was the number one cause.

I said yes I had a toilet leak (but very little) and I fixed it 2-3 weeks ago already. They said if I can send in proof that I fixed the leaky toilet (receipt, etc), they'll adjust the rate to be what my normal consumption is. So I guess I'll only have to pay the average, looks like, and not this hugh bill. hooray!

Now where is that Home Depot receipt ?

Will they accept credit card statement that shows I spent $$$ at Home Depot ?

I wonder what else they'll accept as proof, if I can't find the Home Depot receipt.

How about pics or video of a good flush.

Muttling · #9 11/02/2007, 04:29 PM

Do you know where your water meter is located?

Turn off ALL the faucets in your house and verify that all of your outdoor spigots are completely off as well. Then go to the meter to see if it's still turning. It will be very very slow if you've got another leak, but it will be turning.

PoukieBear · #10 11/02/2007, 04:38 PM

You guys have to PAY for your water???!!

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!

Anemone · #11 11/02/2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PoukieBear
You guys have to PAY for your water???!!

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!

Yes, we also pay for electricity, gas, groceries and housing. Not all of us have MEN to provide it for us.

Kevin

Scuba_Dave · #12 11/02/2007, 06:35 PM

Yeah, but dats sum good H 2 ooohhhhhhhhh!

AcroSteve · #13 11/02/2007, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oz

Peak Use charge (no idea what this is) 44 x 2.65 = $116.60
So Water bill part is $243.50

Sounds like you got it straightened out but the peak charge could be a surcharge because you crossed a certain threshold of useage.

Nina51 · #14 11/02/2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PoukieBear
You guys have to PAY for your water???!!

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!

not us, we don't pay for water. we pay for the electricity to have the water pumped up to the house from the sand point but we don't actually pay for the water.

about every 3 months we have to buy new hamsters for the wheel that turns the thingie to work the pump and all that.

dkh0331 · #15 11/03/2007, 05:35 AM

We have a water powered hose reelers. It works really well. Last month the stepdaughter washed her car and forgot to turn the faucet of after the hose was reeled in. It ran for about 2 weeks before I noticed it. Our normal; water/sewage bill runs about $100/month. Just got our bills this week - totaled $280 for the month.

BigSkyBart · #16 11/03/2007, 07:42 AM

I live just close enough to town that I'm on the town water system, no meter, WSG (water, sewer, garbage) bill is $33.50 per month, that fee also provides access to the local landfill for anything that is too big to put out for the weekly pick up.
each spring there is a one time per year irrigation surcharge of $25 because water usage goes up to keep a nice green yard

I can live with that

Crazy4salth2o · #17 11/03/2007, 08:01 AM

I don't trust the utilities monitoring systems. I find inconsistencies all of the time. Write a letter.

Scuba_Dave · #18 11/03/2007, 09:44 AM

I'm putting a "well" in of sorts
We have a stream on the property. So I just need to go down far enough to draw some water
I think they would object if I tossed a submersible pump in the stream. But I have thought about it

MikeyNYC · #19 11/03/2007, 08:01 PM

i just puked a little when I saw this, Sorry to hear man.