To ensure that your water bill stays reasonable, the City recommends that homeowners take the following steps:

1. Check your meter reading. - Meter reading errors can and do occur. Double check the reading yourself. The reading you take should be higher than the reading listed on your bill. If this is not the case, call us. We can then send you a corrected bill.
   
   If your bill is extremely low, you should also be concerned since it could indicate an error which will eventually be caught and result in high make-up bills later. In this cases, contact us to arrange for an appointment to make necessary repairs.
2. Perform a leak test. - Take a meter reading (using the inside meter, probably found in your basement) at night before you go to bed, after everyone has used all necessary water. Then read the meter again in the morning, before anyone has used water. If everything is fine, the two numbers should match. If they do not, and the second number is higher, there is a leak somewhere. If this test reveals a leak, contact the City water department to arrange for an appointment. While we are unable to make repairs, in most cases we are able to help you identify the source of the leak. Remember... if your high water bill is due to a leak in your house, it is not the fault or responsibility of the City. You are responsible for all water used in your household.

Remember that even a small toilet leak or drip in the basement faucet can use up to 1,000 gallons of water a day. This translates into as much as $4.14 per day. Multiply that by 60 days, and you’ve now added $248.40 to your regular water bill. Larger leaks, such as a toilet that runs constantly or an outside hose left running, can yield enormous increases. (As much as 650 gallons of water can flow through a 5/8" garden hose in just one hour!) Most problems can be fixed with an inexpensive part from the hardware store.

If you do need to schedule a service appointment, call City Hall at (708) 343-8700.