Potential Causes of High Water Consumption
Abnormally high water bills are often caused by a leak or change in water use. Common causes of high water bills include:
- A leaking toilet, or a toilet that continues to run after being flushed. This is the most common problem
- A dripping faucet
- Watering the lawn, new landscaping such as grass, or trees
- Irrigation systems, check for leaks and the run times on automated systems
- Kids home for summer vacations or school holidays; additional guests
- Faucets or a hose bib being left on
- A broken water pipe or obvious leak; check the pipes and water heater
- Service line leaks between your water meter and your home, check for wet spots in your yard
Generally, water consumption is higher during the summer months due to the higher temperatures, watering of lawns, pools, and gardening. On average, each person in the home can use 80-100 gallons of water per day (source).
Tips for checking your toilet
The most common leak is a deteriorated flush valve (flapper) ball at the bottom of the toilet tank. If it does not make a tight seal, water will leak into the toilet bowl and the toilet will be continuously filling. To check for this:
- Take the lid off the tank behind the bowl, flush the toilet, then wait for it to fully refill.
- Put a few drops of food coloring or a colored dye tablet in the tank.
- Wait at least 30 minutes; longer if a small leak is suspected
- If there is any color in the toilet bowl we know the valve is bad and needs to be replaced
The second most common type of leak has to do with an improperly adjusted or broken fill (ballcock) valve. To check for this, take the lid off of the toilet tank, flush, and see if water is draining into the overflow tubes when the tank is full.
What can I do if I feel my water bill is too high?
If you receive a bill that you feel is too high, check over the common causes listed above. This may help to pinpoint the source of the high bill.
Please review the document below and contact us if you are unsuccessful in locating the leak or issue and want to request an investigation.
Download the Veolia High Usage or Leak Investigation Workflow
