lostyankee
enthusiast
Posts: 1261
Reg: 10-27-05
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08-13-11 08:39 PM - Post#136552
I almost had to dial 911 to report a heart attack when I saw my water bill. With no additional watering this month my bill almost doubled. I don't have any leaking toilets or faucets, how do I find the source of the high water usage?
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vm7mm
enthusiast
Posts: 1381
Loc: Allen Tx usa
Reg: 08-12-04
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08-14-11 08:54 AM - Post#136562
In response to lostyankee
Turn off all faucets in and outside your house and take off the meter cover in your yard, if the needle is moving at all, you most likely have a leak somewhere. If not call the water dept. and get them to do a confirmation meter reading. Also sometimes the toilet will drain from the tank to the bowl without being noticed. I had the same problem once and the needle was moving on my meter so I made sure all water faucets were turned off and hooked up an air compressor to one of the outside faucets with around 20 pounds of pressure. I walked slowly around the house and in the yard listening for water bubbles and I found a leak at our house water shut off valve that we never knew we had. The builder put it in the flower bed and covered it up with mulch.
Edited by vm7mm on 08-14-11 09:03 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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jogo
enthusiast
Posts: 1319
Reg: 08-31-05
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08-14-11 09:41 AM - Post#136566
In response to lostyankee
There could also be a leak in your sprinkler system and the ground has been so dry that you don't notice it. That has happened to us before. Since the rate increases as your usage increases, it doesn't necessarily mean you used twice as much water. Our bill was extremely high too but I have been watering alot (shame on me - I know - but I'm scared of having issues with our pool and the pipes around it).
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lostyankee
enthusiast
Posts: 1261
Reg: 10-27-05
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08-14-11 09:46 AM - Post#136567
In response to vm7mm
Thanks.... No water leak I can detect, will call the city tomorrow and have them re-read the meter.
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starrlac
enthusiast
Posts: 642
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 11-03-00
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08-15-11 12:15 PM - Post#136651
In response to lostyankee
Also, check the number of days you were billed for. One time we had one bill for about 6 weeks of service, and the next for about 2 weeks. That might have been our electric bill, though.
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vm7mm
enthusiast
Posts: 1381
Loc: Allen Tx usa
Reg: 08-12-04
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08-15-11 12:44 PM - Post#136656
In response to jogo
I don't turn the water on to our sprinkler system until I am ready to water, maybe twice a week. We do have a small leak in our system that we have not been able to find, not to much trouble.
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Pirate
enthusiast
Posts: 539
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 06-20-03
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08-29-11 12:53 PM - Post#137771
In response to vm7mm
I haven't made a change to my sprinkler system or watering schedule since before last summer but our last bill was three times higher than anything we've received this year.
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cloggergirl66
enthusiast
Posts: 407
Loc: Allen, Texas
Reg: 02-01-07
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08-29-11 09:31 PM - Post#137849
In response to Pirate
Mine was also much higher this month. I was billed for over 30,000 gallons of water and don't understand how that's possible for what's essentially a one person household. I do 3 to 4 loads of laundry a week, and run the dishwasher about once a week. The sprinkler system was running 2 to 3 times a week until the restrictions went into place. If I can use that much water by myself, I feel sorry for all of you with families because your bills must be comparable to your electric bill.
| The 12-step chocoholics program: NEVER BE MORE THAN 12 STEPS AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE! |
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Pirate
enthusiast
Posts: 539
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 06-20-03
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08-30-11 09:00 AM - Post#137868
In response to cloggergirl66
Does anyone know if they actually check everyone's meter every month? Or do they estimate a month or so and then true it up the following month?
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richardb
enthusiast
Posts: 396
Loc: Allen
Reg: 04-17-00
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08-31-11 10:30 PM - Post#137978
In response to Pirate
Does anyone know if they actually check everyone's meter every month? Or do they estimate a month or so and then true it up the following month?
Unfortunately they don't. August '09 and '10 my meter wasn't read. My September bill, when I watered less, was the makeup bill and my statement was over twice as much.
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ConserveNature
member
Posts: 57
Reg: 10-15-05
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09-01-11 08:57 PM - Post#138040
In response to cloggergirl66
I'm single also but maybe watered less because I used only 12,000 gallons. It's hard for me to believe that my average daily usage was 429 gallons.
Can't wait for September's bill.
On another point, I noticed that they have a small message about Stage 2, so was probably missed by people. I almost missed it but really looked hard to find it. I've seen 8-10 violators in my area. They should have made a separate notice in big letters so more people would read it.
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V-Girl
enthusiast
Posts: 2705
Loc: Allen, TX, US
Reg: 07-12-01
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09-01-11 11:05 PM - Post#138051
In response to ConserveNature
A yellow flyer came in the mail. Though I almost threw it away thinking it was junk mail.
Crazy doesn't even begin to cover it. 
Will work for shoes!  |
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SB
enthusiast
Posts: 1134
Reg: 09-07-03
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09-02-11 04:45 AM - Post#138061
In response to V-Girl
Yellow flyer from the city about water restrictions came to my home in the mail. Signs giving notice that there are water restrictions were put up all over the city along roads. I think the city did a pretty good job of getting word out so that the city could meet its goal of a 5% reduction in water usage.
Watching all the hurricane news over the past week, couldn't help but wish that some of that rain would come our way - but in a gentler manner to soak the earth and replenish the lakes.
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lostyankee
enthusiast
Posts: 1261
Reg: 10-27-05
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09-03-11 04:57 PM - Post#138179
In response to SB
I checked the meter outside for a slow leak, nothing. Called the city, they reread the meter, still no resolution. They did replace the meter, said it should have been replaced a couple years ago (?).
I did however last night realize one of our toilets was leaking a bit (kept running after being flushed). I must have been an intermittent thing, but I dyed the water in each toilet tank and sure enough, two of the toilets have a leak. New valves installed, so that should put an end to it (I hope)
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kellyf
enthusiast
Posts: 1691
Reg: 05-21-07
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09-03-11 08:04 PM - Post#138184
In response to lostyankee
One of my coworkers just got her water bill. She lives in Frisco. Showed they used 75,000 gallons. She said the mowing company they use has broken sprinkler heads before and her husband has repaired them. This time, they were out of town for 9 days and her neighbor said sprinkler heads were broken again and a geyser of water was shooting straight up into the air. I am pretty sure they had in set to run 3 evenings a week. This would have been before the Stage 2 was put into place.
Kelly
| The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off due to budget cuts. |
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richardb
enthusiast
Posts: 396
Loc: Allen
Reg: 04-17-00
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09-07-11 06:12 AM - Post#138394
In response to richardb
Does anyone know if they actually check everyone's meter every month? Or do they estimate a month or so and then true it up the following month?
Unfortunately they don't. August '09 and '10 my meter wasn't read. My September bill, when I watered less, was the makeup bill and my statement was over twice as much.
Well, it happened again. I watered pretty much on the same schedule in July and August. My bill for July was $142 and my bill for August is $302!
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acs815
enthusiast
Posts: 225
Reg: 06-08-07
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09-07-11 02:32 PM - Post#138421
In response to richardb
Same thing happened to me. My watering schedule has been on the same schedule all season and my bill went up from $98 to $142 (I have a small yard). My sister called me about her bill as well. Did the rates go up?? I'm calling today.
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jogo
enthusiast
Posts: 1319
Reg: 08-31-05
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09-07-11 02:39 PM - Post#138422
In response to acs815
What's with the $142? My bill, covering 7/5 - 8/3/2011, is $142.53 showing a consumption of 28,500 for 29 days of service. The previous bill was $192 however (so we did cut back on some of the watering this cycle).
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acs815
enthusiast
Posts: 225
Reg: 06-08-07
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09-07-11 02:56 PM - Post#138427
In response to jogo
Oh gosh, I didn't even notice that. That is strange. Maybe it's a keystroke error.
I called and the rates did not go up, but they're sending someone out to do a leak check.
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richardb
enthusiast
Posts: 396
Loc: Allen
Reg: 04-17-00
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09-07-11 03:21 PM - Post#138432
In response to acs815
Oh gosh, I didn't even notice that. That is strange. Maybe it's a keystroke error.
I called and the rates did not go up, but they're sending someone out to do a leak check.
They did the same for me and didn't find a leak.
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cloggergirl66
enthusiast
Posts: 407
Loc: Allen, Texas
Reg: 02-01-07
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09-07-11 07:43 PM - Post#138462
In response to richardb
Well, I got the answer to my high bill questions--not necessarily in the way I wanted. I was out of town over the holiday weekend, and came home last night to find I had no water. When I called the emergency number, a very nice gentleman who works for the city came out and showed me that the line had broken where my sprinkler system T's onto the main line.
I had a plumber come out today and fortunately it was an easy fix. They also took care of replacing my outdoor faucets because one of them had a piece that goes inside missing and water was leaking through. My fingers are crossed that the next bill will be significantly lower!
| The 12-step chocoholics program: NEVER BE MORE THAN 12 STEPS AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE! |
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phantomcobra
enthusiast
Posts: 1408
Loc: Between Canada and Mexico...
Reg: 06-18-02
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09-09-11 06:36 PM - Post#138598
In response to cloggergirl66
One really does have to watch the meter readers. In late 2008 I got a bill for water usage that was twice normal and I called the water department. They insisted they read my meter every month and to this day have not retracted that statement. But figure this:
November beginning reading 12445. End reading 12508. December beginning reading 12508, end reading, 12493. You do the math. I generated and returned to the city water system 1,500 gallons on top of what I used?
| Retired and living in another state by a big lake. |
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MCAdventures
member
Posts: 93
Loc: East Allen #1
Reg: 08-06-04
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09-12-11 10:24 AM - Post#138760
In response to richardb
Intersting topic...my water bill usually runs around $60 (small house/household, no watering, no pool, etc.). Then it jumped up to $75-$80 a month as I "sprang" a leak on the main line to my house. City workers told me it was a very very very small & slow leak. The month before last, my water bill was only $32- I knew I was in trouble! Last month * got a $145 bill.
The cost of water usage is tiered. You get so many gallons for this price, then if you use more, you get that for a higher price, then if you use more than that, you get an even HIGHER price. I can tell that they did NOT read my meter - thus my usuage was combined in to one month which pushed the usage up into an outrageously HIGH tier! That - is - WRONG!! They need to read the meters EVERY month and charge accordingly. I did not use all that water in a single month...but I should have called the City when I saw they only deducted $32 from my account. I'm set up on auto pay so I don't always look at my water bill as it is usually close to the same amount every month. BEWARE!!
Be who you are and say what you feel
because those that mind don't matter
and those that matter don't mind.
Dr. Seuss |
Edited by MCAdventures on 09-12-11 10:30 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Dagwood
member
Posts: 83
Reg: 09-09-11
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09-12-11 10:41 AM - Post#138764
In response to MCAdventures
Moved here to Allen 7/1/11. When opening my account, I was told my first bill wouldn't come out until probably after 6 weeks of solid measurement to get an accurate reading. My first bill (July's bill) was prorated, which included a little of Aug, and only totalled $96 (deposit paid ahead of time, before moving in). Watering was average. Then, restrictions took effect. So, we'll see what the next bill holds for me...
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phantomcobra
enthusiast
Posts: 1408
Loc: Between Canada and Mexico...
Reg: 06-18-02
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09-14-11 02:29 PM - Post#138976
In response to MCAdventures
MC... get your bills together and recalculate it what it should have been if they had billed you properly and ask for the difference in a credit. That is what I did and they credited what they charged me in the higher tiers that I never would have gotten into.
| Retired and living in another state by a big lake. |
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MCAdventures
member
Posts: 93
Loc: East Allen #1
Reg: 08-06-04
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09-15-11 12:33 PM - Post#139063
In response to phantomcobra
Thank you for that suggestion - knowing that the City may actually work with you is motivating. It seems pretty obvious that my bill should have been more than $32...so maybe they'll make some kind of adjustment, at this point anything is better than nothing. I have NEVER gone in to the $3.99 tier in the past...ever.
Be who you are and say what you feel
because those that mind don't matter
and those that matter don't mind.
Dr. Seuss |
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Pirate
enthusiast
Posts: 539
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 06-20-03
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09-19-11 10:46 AM - Post#139251
In response to MCAdventures
Got our water bill Saturday and it was less than 1/2 than it was last month. Still watering my yard on the same schedule since last summer and nothing else changed, so don't know why there was a huge drop. Guess next month I can expect another whopper of a bill...
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lostyankee
enthusiast
Posts: 1261
Reg: 10-27-05
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09-19-11 10:02 PM - Post#139288
In response to Pirate
Same thing here... bizarre
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mkcrod
newbie
Posts: 4
Reg: 11-06-11
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11-06-11 11:13 AM - Post#141831
In response to richardb
Having a similar experience with my bill. My water consumption for the last 11 months averages about 175 to 200 gallons a day. Bill for last 11 months 70 to 80 dollars. Average monthly consumption about 6000 according to statement. No pool, no sprinkler system, no leaks. 2 adults and 1 child in house. Last bill for 9/7 to 10/3 Jumped up to 290.55. 58,000 gallons, 2262average per day. Called city, they came out to re read. Lady called and said meter was accurate and there were no leaks. She couldnt explain were water went as the meter was correct. What am I missing here?
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vm7mm
enthusiast
Posts: 1381
Loc: Allen Tx usa
Reg: 08-12-04
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11-06-11 11:16 AM - Post#141832
In response to mkcrod
Check latest water bill topic under Everything Allen.
Edited by vm7mm on 11-06-11 11:16 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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mkcrod
newbie
Posts: 4
Reg: 11-06-11
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11-06-11 11:29 AM - Post#141836
In response to vm7mm
Thanks.
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vm7mm
enthusiast
Posts: 1381
Loc: Allen Tx usa
Reg: 08-12-04
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11-06-11 11:32 AM - Post#141837
In response to mkcrod
You bet!
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mkcrod
newbie
Posts: 4
Reg: 11-06-11
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11-06-11 11:39 AM - Post#141838
In response to mkcrod
Can this post be moved to the Everything Allen/Latest water bill thread?
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vm7mm
enthusiast
Posts: 1381
Loc: Allen Tx usa
Reg: 08-12-04
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11-06-11 11:50 AM - Post#141839
In response to mkcrod
Guess you could copy and post the link.
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