Water Bills Suddenly Jumped

Started by EdwardC1 • 16 replies • 1919 views

💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

EdwardC1 (Florida)
Posts: 90

Posted:

This month, the water bills for many (all?) have jumped 15-20%. Water company checked the meters and for leaks and they say that everything is OK.

Someone suggested that the HOA is now having the cost for the water in our sprinkler systems be applied to our water bills directly.

Is that possible? Has anyone heard of this happening (without a commensurate reduction in the monthly fee)?

Ours is an over-55 community of detached houses in NJ.

Thanks.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Are you sure the Water department did not raise rates? Ours recently did. Also have you checked out your actual water average this month versus others? You can get copies of your previous utility bills and see if your water useage has changed during this time of year.

Our area we have been without rain for almost 3 weeks. Which has driven water bills up a bit higher than normal. The previous years may have been cooler or less dry. I would review your bills for the last 2 year and see if there is a trend.

Former HOA President

CarolF (Florida)
Posts: 435

Posted:

Do you have a pool? If so, and you have an autofill, it might mean that your pool is leaking.
Of course, if you don't, forget this idea.

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

So your each on your own meter, and you had the water company check out your meter?

If you know exactly how much water you are using, and it shows on the meter, what does your HOA have to do with this?

They cant add extra cubic feet of water to your meter. It would mess up the readings. Seems to me your water rates went up and you didn't notice. Check your old bills or ask the water company about new rates

EdwardC1 (Florida)
Posts: 90

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MelissaP1 on 06/27/2015 1:42 PM
Are you sure the Water department did not raise rates? Ours recently did. Also have you checked out your actual water average this month versus others? You can get copies of your previous utility bills and see if your water useage has changed during this time of year.

Our area we have been without rain for almost 3 weeks. Which has driven water bills up a bit higher than normal. The previous years may have been cooler or less dry. I would review your bills for the last 2 year and see if there is a trend.

They have not raised their rates AFAIK but I will check again.

Everyone has already checked old bills. There's no trend.

EdwardC1 (Florida)
Posts: 90

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By CarolF on 06/27/2015 2:52 PM
Do you have a pool?

YES!!

But it's a community pool!

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By EdwardC1 on 06/27/2015 1:02 PM

Someone suggested that the HOA is now having the cost for the water in our sprinkler systems be applied to our water bills directly.

Unless the Association is the one sending you the water bill (vs. the municipal water company), it isn't possible.

Water usage is based on meters. Perhaps someone is using your outside hose bib without your knowledge. To be sure, turn the water off to the bib (should be a valve somewhere in the basement or crawl space) and see what the usage is next month.

Look for leaking toilets. Home repair stores (Lowes, Home Depot, True Value, etc.) have dye tablets you can purchase to see if that is happening. You drop one in the tank at night and look in the bowl later on. If the water in the bowl turn the color of the tablet, then you have a leak. Just remember to look for the color change before you use the toilet.

EdwardC1 (Florida)
Posts: 90

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By SteveM9 on 06/27/2015 3:21 PM
So your each on your own meter, and you had the water company check out your meter?

If you know exactly how much water you are using, and it shows on the meter, what does your HOA have to do with this?

They cant add extra cubic feet of water to your meter. It would mess up the readings. Seems to me your water rates went up and you didn't notice. Check your old bills or ask the water company about new rates

I don't know what the meter says. However, it seems to me that the water company is seeing meter readings from each house and the clubhouse and who knows where else, so they could be taking the values from the sprinkler system and distributing them amongst the residents.

EdwardC1 (Florida)
Posts: 90

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By TimB4 on 06/27/2015 4:28 PM

Posted By EdwardC1 on 06/27/2015 1:02 PM

Someone suggested that the HOA is now having the cost for the water in our sprinkler systems be applied to our water bills directly.

Did you miss the part where I said that everyone is complaining about an increased water bill or did I forget to mention it?

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By EdwardC1 on 06/27/2015 4:30 PM

Posted By TimB4 on 06/27/2015 4:28 PM

Posted By EdwardC1 on 06/27/2015 1:02 PM

Someone suggested that the HOA is now having the cost for the water in our sprinkler systems be applied to our water bills directly.

Did you miss the part where I said that everyone is complaining about an increased water bill or did I forget to mention it?

No.

I answered your question and then provided additional info on possible reasons for a higher bill.

EdwardC1 (Florida)
Posts: 90

Posted:

So you think that everyone is experiencing unwanted bib usage and/or leaking toilets to the tune of a 15-20% increase? Seriously???

LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099

Posted:

Edward,

I think we are all trying to make sense from the limited information you have given us.

If each homeowner has an account with the water company, under what provision of their contracts would the water company be authorized to charge them for a share of the HOA's sprinkler usage? To me, this makes no sense.

You also said the water company checked the meters and found no leaks, implying that the meters are reading correctly. So this means one of two things: everyone started using more water or the rates went up. How much water were you billed for the previous month and what was the rate? What are the numbers for this month?

NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216

Posted:

We have been tracking our water bills for the last 3 years. We look at gallons per billing period rather than dollars per billing period. I attached a copy.

As others have said, rate changes can be a factor. That's why we measure in gallons.

Re our usage: We learned that our use varies seasonally. Month to month comparisons are almost meaningless. Year to year comparisons can give you something to go on.

We have also learned that our water provider's bills to us and to other surrounding communities show unexplained spikes from time to time. Generally, these spikes even themselves out over time - That's why we usually wait 90 days before reacting to a change to see if there is a trend or a unique event. The water company gives no explanation for these spikes.

📎 Attachments (1):

⏸ Downloads temporarily unavailable

📄1627451031171.pdf(14 KB)

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.

GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491

Posted:

Edward, my guess and it's only a guess is that previous meter readings were off, either by a lax reader just guessing and not actually reading the meter or giving homeowners the benefit of the doubt and now you have a new meter reader or the company replaced the meter with more accurate ones. As others have said you need to look at previous bills to see if the usage is consistent, if it is then the rate went up or and this is just off the top of my head, you could ask the water company to explain the increase in bills. Even if the rate and usage are the same, additional fees may have been approved by the Utilities Commission to pay for infrastructure upgrades and replacements.

Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Our individual, standalone homes water bill goes up during the summer. It is more water usage for personnel usage and for sprinkler systems. We each pay for our own sprinkler systems. The HOA water bill goes up also as the common area sprinklers are the only thing on it but we budget all year for that.

I believe I have heard of some HOA's striking deals with the water company to increase the water bills of individual homes to cover the associations water usage. Anybody else familiar with this practice?

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

I like the idea of it could be a new meter reader or even meter reading equipment. Ours is now read electronically. They just walk over it. My bill went up last winter due to an outdoor water pipe that won't shut off all the way. I never plugged it off properly and left it leaking. That way would not cause damage when it froze up in the hose. I've now got a shut off on it. Just a small leaking hose made my bill go up $5.

Former HOA President

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Something wrong with the water bill? Ask the water company.

🎯 You've read this entire discussion

Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

✓ Ask follow-up questions
✓ Share your experience
✓ Get expert advice
✓ Access 350,000 discussions

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in here