Waterbill/usage (Baltimore, Catonsville: townhouse, live in, cost)

[edd821]

My issue is not about the water bill itself since Balto City has raised its rates b 48% in the last 6 years. My actuall usage seems very hgih for just my wife and I. we seem toaverage about 200 - 250 gallons of water a day. In addition, the avg gals vary from time to time - sometimes as low as 130 gals a day. We both work so our usage is on the weekends and evenings - we only do about 4 loads of laundry per week and live in a townhome so no lawn to water. The homes are about 25 years old and I believe its the original meter (?). We have the low flush toilets - and we only take 10 showers per week. I had a plumber come out a check for leaks in our home (he found none) and also checked the meter (seemed okay). I just can't believe the two of us use 200 gals of water a day. Can anyone help?

[Miss Crabcakes]

I've only been in our house for a little over one year but there was some news coverage a year or so back about incorrect water bills in he city and people getting stuck with these really hig, ridiculous bills. It seems to be an issue within the city limits.

My husband and I are the only two in our townhouse in B-more county and we only average about 70-80 gallons a day = $14.55 quarterly. Our highest bill was $16. Once. I am not sure how accurate these water bills are.

Hopefully another local will have more insight.

[edd821]

Hi Miss Crabcakes, thansk for your reply - we lived in Catonsville befor emoving to Canton. Our bills use to run about $90 per quarter but there was 4 of us. We moved to Canton in June 2007 my water bills now run $150 - 250 per quarter. Our meter has got to be faulty - there is no rhyme or reason to our usage - anywhere from 116 per day to 260 gal per day - it's really insane!!!!

[cdmoore125]

This quarter my water bill is the exact same as my friend who lives a block away. To the penny. He has 2 people and is there most of the time, while I don't spend much time here, and it is just me. What are the odds of that? Something like $89.54. That seems pretty fishy to me...

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by edd821

we seem toaverage about 200 - 250 gallons of water a day.
Can anyone help?

Just me; but my parsimonious usage is low:
250-450 Cu Ft per month (x7.48g/cf ~/30days) = 62 to 112 gal per day

Check for leaks. Start at the meter by turning it OFF.
Then see if it still spins.

[mrboltonman]

My bill was just $250. I'm not sure about the usuage a day right now but it's 6 people plus 2 dogs and friends once in awhile

[North Beach Person]

Are you paying a minimum charge? The 250 gal/day number is what's used to size water systems and most bond issuers require a minimum charge per user to cover bond payments.

Your usage is a bit high for two of you, should be around the 130 gal/day number you mentioned. Length of showers? Run water all the time when doing dishes?

I have 4 people more or less and average around 200 gal/day with likely 12-20 loads of laundry/week.

Water bill numbers don't really mean anything across differing jurisdictions, each one will have its own rate base.

[Miss Crabcakes]

Just found this: BALTIMORE CITY WATER BILL SYSTEM IS A BROKEN SYSTEM

I do believe there is a problem with the billing or meter system.

[edd821]

Hello all, thanks for all the comments - FYI, I did have a plumber come out to make sure there were no leaks (and there weren't). Well, I met with the "customer care" dept in Balto City (customer care? that is a joke). all they were concerned with was that portion of the bill which is the total consumption units (which is x 100 cubic feet). Since they felt my "total consumption" was fairly "regular" they wouldn't give me any satisfaction. I tried to explain that my avg daily gals used was way too high but they didn't want to hear it. they wouldn't even comment on my 200-250 gals daily usage - wouldn't even take it into consideration. I asked for a new meter - they said it would cost me $80 but they would test my old meter and if they found it to be inaccurate - they would return my $80. Now it gets even better - they told me that the new meter would most likely make my usage go up since the older meetrs tend to read slower. Are there any plumbers out there that can respond to this last sentence? Did I mention that my meter is 25 years old?

[edd821]

Mr. BoltonMan curious to know what your "avg daily gallon" usage is? Last box on the right on your water bill. Thanks.