High Water Usage Checks

Self Check

If your water usage has increased but you don't think you are using more water than usual, there are many areas you, as the homeowner, can troubleshoot.  

  • Are there additional people staying or living in the residence?

  • Did you have visitors over the holidays?

  • Do you have any faucets or spigots with a slow drip or leak?

To check your Indoor faucets make sure they are completely turned off and there are no drips coming from faucet or from under the cabinets.

To check your outdoor spigots make sure that the knob is completely turned off at the spigot, especially during the summer months when you may be watering your lawn, flowers, shrubs, or washing vehicles. 

  • Has one of your toilets been running ?

This is the Number 1 reason for high usage because it is not always obvious the toilet is running. Sometimes you can hear the toilet running, while other times you cannot. The times you cannot hear it running are considered silent toilet leaks. How to test if your toilet is running:

Dye Test

  • Flush the toilet and wait five minutes for it to refill. 
  • Put a few drops of food coloring in the back of the toilet tank.
  • Wait about an hour and do not flush. 
  • If the same color is now in the bowl of the toilet you will need to check, and in most cases, replace the plunger and seal in the toilet tank.  

Stand Tube Test

  • Flush the toilet and wait five minutes for it to refill. 
  • Remove the back of the toilet tank cover. 
  • Sprinkle some powder on the top of the water. 
  • If the water level is too high, you will see the powder on top of the water drain into the stand tube. This is a silent type leak in your toilet. You will need to adjust the water level 1/2 inch below the stand tube. 

  • Is your water heater leaking?

Check around you water heater to make sure there are no leaks. Also check that the tank is not constantly filling up.

  • Is your water softener stuck cycling?

Older water softeners often get stuck cycling, especially after power outages. Please check your softener periodically to to make sure it is not continually cycling water through.

Water Department Walk-Throughs

If you have checked all of the above, and your water usage is still increasing monthly, you can contact the water department at 513-539-7374 ext. 1000 to request to set up an appointment to have the water technicians come to your home and walk through to see if they can spot any possible problems.

If you refuse to do the food coloring test and the high usage is the result of a running/leaking toilet, a trip charge of $35 will be added to your next bill.

*An adult over the age of 18 must be present at the time of the appointment.