City of Austin charging 5000 gallons for 1 week of usage (waterpark, lawyers)

[watercheck]

I just recently moved to a new house and got my bill a few days ago. I am being charged for 5000 gallons of water for 1 week. I have called the city of austin utility twice but they just told me to put dye in my toilet tanks to check for leaks. Obviously, 5000 gallons in one week is excessive but it looks like I am going to be stuck paying for it. Anyone here ever have a problem with being overcharged before? I don't even use 5000 gallons in one month and this isn't the first house I have lived in.

[CarnivalGal]

There have been thousands of complaints from people in Austin that they have been grossly overcharged for water and charged for water they couldn't possible have used. Been on the news a lot. City doesn't seem to care or admit fault, but I think they did hire an "independent" audit that showed it wasn't their fault.

Too much to go into here, but if you Google it, it'll come up. I personally know someone who was charged for more water than a waterpark could use in a month, and got no where. She's had lawyers involved even.

[watercheck]

Originally Posted by CarnivalGal

There have been thousands of complaints from people in Austin that they have been grossly overcharged for water and charged for water they couldn't possible have used. Been on the news a lot. City doesn't seem to care or admit fault, but I think they did hire an "independent" audit that showed it wasn't their fault.

Too much to go into here, but if you Google it, it'll come up. I personally know someone who was charged for more water than a waterpark could use in a month, and got no where. She's had lawyers involved even.

Wow, that is so disheartening to hear. Ugh.

[centralaustinite]

Do you have an irrigation system? Even if it isn't turned on, you can get leaks, several of my neighbors have had irrigation leaks that were nearly invisible yet used thousands of gallons.

[rangergrit]

I think council member Troxclair is the best person to contact.

[Trainwreck20]

It is quite possible to use 5,000 gallons in a single watering cycle, so check to see if the irrigation system is turned on (assuming there is one) and what the time settings are.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

Do you have an irrigation system? Even if it isn't turned on, you can get leaks, several of my neighbors have had irrigation leaks that were nearly invisible yet used thousands of gallons.

This. I should have said that. Turn all the water off in your house, then check the meter. If it's moving you have a leak. If there's no leak then there may be an issue with the city.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by watercheck

I just recently moved to a new house and got my bill a few days ago. I am being charged for 5000 gallons of water for 1 week. I have called the city of austin utility twice but they just told me to put dye in my toilet tanks to check for leaks. Obviously, 5000 gallons in one week is excessive but it looks like I am going to be stuck paying for it. Anyone here ever have a problem with being overcharged before? I don't even use 5000 gallons in one month and this isn't the first house I have lived in.

Go into your garage and correctly program your sprinkler system. When I first bought my house, it was going off daily and my bill was astronomical. I switched to the twice weekly as per the restrictions and it went down considerably.

[unihills]

A leak of only 1/2 gallon per minute will use 5,000 gallons in a week. It adds up quick. As people noted, if it is underground you might not even notice that depending on soil conditions.

[Novacek]

Had the house been vacant for a while before you moved in, or was it a quick-in/out. Had the water been turned off (and you had to have the city turn it back on?) What was the condition of the lawn when you moved in? As mentioned, do you have a sprinkler system.


It might not be possible (privacy concerns) but it might be at least worth trying to see if CoA will give the magnitude of the last previous owners billing cycle. Or at least tell you if it's in line with what you're seeing.