The two most common reasons for high consumption are leaks and irrigation. Once water passes through your water meter, the homeowner becomes responsible for the water usage. The City has no way of knowing specifically how the water was consumed. Other potential sources of high consumption include: pressure cleaning, filling a pool, washing vehicles, laundry loads, long showers, new sod or plants.

Please call our office at 954-973-6732. We are happy to review your water consumption with you and can arrange to have one of our technicians check your meter.

• Increased water consumption may sometimes be an indicator that you have a leak. If you have all of the water turned off in your home, you can go to your meter and check to see if your meter is spinning. If it is, it is likely you have a leak and will need to call a plumber. If you irrigate, please check your sprinklers while they are on. Please search for broken sprinkler heads as they can also be a reason for water loss.
• If you do find a leak, you can provide proof of repair to our office, and we will apply a leak adjustment to your account to help provide relief on your water bill.

The City does review reporting to analyze high consumption or unusual consumption. Technicians are sent to your home to check the meter box and meter, and will inform customers of any leaks.

The City cannot know exactly how the water was consumed, but it can help to identify certain factors that typically lead to high consumption. Consider these factors: Did you water your grass? Did you refill your pool? Have you been home more often? Have you had guests? Have you had any work done on your home? Many of these result in high water consumption and are often overlooked.

Below is a list of ways to reduce your water consumption:

• Fixing leaks and replacing old plumbing fixtures
• Changing leaky toilets [TIP: To determine if there is a leak, use food coloring in the tank. If color appears in the bowl, there is a leak.]
• Installing displacement devices in toilets. They fit easily inside your toilet tank and reduce the volume of water used in each flush.
• Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the size of load you are using.
• Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen food.
• Retrofit all wasteful household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictions.

You can test to see if your meter is working by determining if it is registering water. If you turn on your hose or your faucet and go out to your meter box, you will see a dial spinning. As long as your dial is spinning, your meter is functioning properly. Meters do age. However, they have long lives and are meant to withstand the elements. Additionally, as meters age, they slow down, registering less usage.

Most meter boxes are located in the ground normally at the edge of your property line. The meter will have a metal gray, dark green, or black lid.

• First, ensure that you are not using any water in the house. For example, your washing machine and dishwasher are not running, faucets are off, etc.
• Then, locate your meter box, remove the lid and locate the dial on the meter inside the meter box. It will look similar to the face of a wrist face.
• Last, check if the indicator on the register dial is turning at this time. If so, there may be a leak.
• To isolate whether the leak is inside or outside your home, turn off the house valve and if the dial stops turning, the problem would be inside the house. If the dial continues to run, the problem would be outside between the meter and the house valve.

No, the City uses touch read meters that require a physical visit to your meter box monthly.

Payment is due within 20 days of the statement date. If payment has not been received timely, a delinquent notice is sent on the next bill with a turn off date for nonpayment. The City makes courtesy calls on past due amounts prior to disconnection.

The billing period ranges from 29-31 days on average. The City does not bill customers for more than one billing period each month. Your meter is read month-to-month and there is never a delay or overlap in the service periods.

The City does not use estimates to arrive at water consumption for monthly billing. A meter reader physically visits your meter box monthly.

No, you do not incur solid waste or bulk pickup charges on your water bill. Solid waste charges for single family homes are included in your property tax bill.

The City offers the following methods to make payments:

• Pay with our automated line 24/7 by calling toll free 1-833-418-0066
• Pay online using our web platform by CLICKING HERE using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, e-check, or Pay-by-Text.
• Pay by automatic debit from your bank once you have applied for the Automatic Funds Transfer (AFT) program.
• Place payment and bill stub in the drop box in front of City Hall
• Pay direct to Cashier at City Hall: 4800 West Copans Road, in the form of cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express