Did you recently get a letter stating that your water usage was higher than normal? There could be a logical reason for that and you may be aware of the increased use. However, if you are unsure why your home water usage has increased, here are a list of possible reasons that your water usage was higher:

• Watering your garden
• Sprinkler systems
• Putting water in your pool
• Extra people in the household taking showers and doing laundry

If none of these pertain to your situation there could be other reasons that your usage was high. Is your water softener running continuously? If your water softener is stuck in regeneration mode it is running water continuously thus spiking your water usage.

Another reason your water usage could be high is a leak – i.e. a leaking faucet or toilet. At times your toilet valve may malfunction and allow water to continue to flow down the drain. To test the toilet, place several drops of food coloring – red, green, blue – into the tank in the back. After 15 minutes look in the bowl, if you see the food coloring your toilet is leaking.

The best way to check for leaks is to turn all the water off in your home and wait a few minutes. Then go to your water meter and check to see if the dial is moving. If the dial is still moving even after the water is off then there is a leak and you should call your plumber for further assistance.

If you still aren’t sure please don’t hesitate to contact our Authority office.