Is your water usage higher than normal?

If your water meter was recently read and you noticed that your usage is higher than normal and the cause is unknown, here are some suggestions to help you determine the cause: 

Learn how to read your water meter to verify water usage and check for leaks. If water is not being used and the meter's leak detection indicator is moving, you may want to investigate further. The District reads your meter once a month, but it is recommended that you monitor your reads in between District reading cycles. Learn your meter reading cycle and how to read your own meter...

If you suspect there's a problem with your irrigation system, you can request a free water-efficiency survey (landscape irrigation audit). Irrigation is the #1 water user in residential homes. Schedule your water-efficiency survey....

Check for running toilets, as a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons every day.  One of the biggest bathroom issues is a toilet that keeps running after you flush it or runs by itself without being flushed. If left untreated, this problem can run up your water bill.

Here are the two most common toilet issues:

Water Level: If the water level is above the overflow pipe, water will continually flow down the drain without you seeing it. Make sure that the water level is adjusted according to the manufacturer's instructions — the appropriate water level is usually stamped inside the tank. 

Flapper: (Rubber seal that lifts when you flush the toilet). If the flapper is leaking, it will keep triggering the fill valve to refill the tank. To see if the flapper is leaking, here’s a simple test: 

• Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank (or get dye tablets from our Customer Service team)
• Wait for 10 minutes
• If the color spreads into the toilet bowl, there's a leak and the flapper may need to be replaced. Be sure to replace the flapper with the correct model number for your toilet as generic flappers may not resolve the leak. 

For further questions or assistance with a high water bill, contact our Customer Service team at (760) 744-0460 and they can work with you with this unexpected high bill.