[gobarb26]

My brother just purchased an old trailer in Orange Blossom. He has had MANY problems since he purchased it. He is currently renting it out for 6 months. We keep telling him the that the repairs and new floor, etc. are only going to make it better for when he moves here this summer. This past weekend, he got a water bill that said he used over 28,000 gallons of water. There is only one old lady living there. The bills were lower the first couple of months, but now this! He called the VCCD and they had someone come out and say there are no leaks (they were actually fixed before this bill date). They said he is using 14,000 gallons of water a day! This is a trailer and he does not use a sprinkling system. How can we find out why this bill is so high? I have never heard of such a thing, and he is in S. FL, so I try to help him out when I can. Does anyone have any suggestions? We are desperate! He can't afford a $400 water bill! Thanks.

[l2ridehd]

How does 28000 in a month = 14000 a day? 14000 a day sure sounds like an underground leak. 28000 a month could be other things. Check the toilets for one that is continuously running and washer for problems, outside faucets, any all places where you have water that can be turned on or off. 28000 a month or about 1000 a day could be a faulty toilet flapper never closing.

[DDoug]

Check the flapper valve on the toilet or request a new meter or maybe the lady takes very long showers

[REDCART]

Please don't overlook the obvious! My sister received an erroneous water bill that was off the charts. The meter reader walks by the home with a remote device which reads the meter electronically. The system is good but it's not perfect. You have to physically compare the reading on the paper bill with the meter. Obviously, it will never match exactly.

You would think the water company would volunteer to come out and manually read your meter but they will not unless you do this comparison yourself and then point out the meter reading error. My sister's reading was way off and they ultimately adjusted her water bill. After this experience I promised myself that I would read my water bill, but three months have elapsed and I have to admit, I'm lazy. But an outrageous water bill would surely prompt me to read my meter.

[ldj1938]

Shut off all the water in the house and see if the water meter is still moving.. If it is something in the house or between the meter and the house is using/leaking water.

[gobarb26]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

How does 28000 in a month = 14000 a day? 14000 a day sure sounds like an underground leak. 28000 a month could be other things. Check the toilets for one that is continuously running and washer for problems, outside faucets, any all places where you have water that can be turned on or off. 28000 a month or about 1000 a day could be a faulty toilet flapper never closing.

I meant to say was 128,000 gallons, not 28,000.

[Bogie Shooter]

Did the VCCD send some or did they have the water department send some one out?
I would call the water department again.

[justanormalgirl]

Originally Posted by ldj1938

Shut off all the water in the house and see if the water meter is still moving.. If it is something in the house or between the meter and the house is using/leaking water.

[gobarb26]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Did the VCCD send some or did they have the water department send some one out?
I would call the water department again.

I'm pretty sure they sent someone from the water dept. I am not sure. Unfortunately, my brother lives in S. FL and is a very negative person. He is not here to check on things and he wouldn't know what to do anyway. I told him last night that he needs to call every person and supervisor, including the management co. until he can get some answers! have to keep telling myself that it is his problem, not mine!

[scottiee]

1 check the meter to see if its spinning
2 Next walk around the outside of the trailer go slow look carefully
3 Change all flappers the red korkys are the best THEN let the tank fill then put a die or coke in the tank this will change the color of the water if the water in the bowl turns color you still have a leak.
4 SOME water companys will pro rate your bills when you have a leak.

[gobarb26]

Originally Posted by scottiee

1 check the meter to see if its spinning
2 Next walk around the outside of the trailer go slow look carefully
3 Change all flappers the red korkys are the best THEN let the tank fill then put a die or coke in the tank this will change the color of the water if the water in the bowl turns color you still have a leak.
4 SOME water companys will pro rate your bills when you have a leak.

Thanks, I will try that!

[tommy steam]

Originally Posted by gobarb26

Thanks, I will try that!

The water company has people who know how to find out what the problem is. They should send someone out to the house to find it..I worked for a water company and thats their job, to find out why the water bill went from normal to high. They wont fix it but will tell you the problem. Anything after the watermeter is your problem.

[JoeC1947]

The water company is a sneaky lot.

I got a potable water bill of 4X the usual and called them right away. They said they noticed a high usage two weeks before I got the bill and sent someone out and didn't find a leak. The same day I got the bill I looked at my meter and it was spinning with no water turned on, that means a leak on my side of the meter. I dug by the meter box and found the leak. I had it fixed in 2 hours but there was still a leak on my side but from the water companies connection so they had to fix that the next day. When I tried to get my bill reduced because they owned part of the leak I was told they would have to take the average usage for the next three months and compare it to the previous three months which is understandable. The thing that ticked me off was that they knew that there was a very high usage and they said nothing. I did something about it on the day I got my bill then, two weeks after that, I get a high usage letter in the mail! That's one month after they knew something was wrong!

[gobarb26]

Thanks, Joe & Tommy for the great information. I don't know what the water co. did, but I think they should come back and really inspect it. There were some leaks right after he purchased the trailer, and they were fixed. Even then, the bill was not nearly that high!