$4,300 water bill... Any help would be appreicated

Akron, Ohio
Managing Your Property
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$4,300 water bill... Any help would be appreicated

Sean O'Brien
Member since 2020 · 15 posts · 10 votes

Hey everyone, 

I've had properties for about 5 years now and have never had this happen to me before. We were charged $4,300 for ONE MONTH of water bills when historically the bill was about $100. There were no leaks, no damage or anything but the city changed the meter. 

Is there any way to fight this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  

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Bill B.
Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
3y

In MOST areas if you find the leak and fix it the water department will refund your bill. I know water bills escalate by usage but even if they quadrupled from $1.25/1,000 gallons. You’d be looking at over 3.5million gallons. 100,000 gallons per day. That sounds impossible. A garden hose is 6gpm. Under 400gph under 1,000gpd. That means 100 hoses running 24/7. 

Now maybe you’re paying 10x normal prices because of usage but that’s still 50 hoses 24/7. Seems like a noticeable amount. Walk out to street and see if meter is spinning. If so, Turn off the water at the house see if meter is spinning. If so turn off water at the house side of meter and see if it’s running. 

If no after step 1, leak is in house, if yes but no after step 2, leak is between house and meter, if yes on step 3 the meter is defective. I’m going to assume that there was a transcription error somewhere and a number was written down wrong. Check the meter reading for the last 2 bills. Then go look at the meter and check current reading. (Remember this is costing you $150/day if it’s a leak.)

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  • Bill B.
    Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    3y

    In MOST areas if you find the leak and fix it the water department will refund your bill. I know water bills escalate by usage but even if they quadrupled from $1.25/1,000 gallons. You’d be looking at over 3.5million gallons. 100,000 gallons per day. That sounds impossible. A garden hose is 6gpm. Under 400gph under 1,000gpd. That means 100 hoses running 24/7. 

    Now maybe you’re paying 10x normal prices because of usage but that’s still 50 hoses 24/7. Seems like a noticeable amount. Walk out to street and see if meter is spinning. If so, Turn off the water at the house see if meter is spinning. If so turn off water at the house side of meter and see if it’s running. 

    If no after step 1, leak is in house, if yes but no after step 2, leak is between house and meter, if yes on step 3 the meter is defective. I’m going to assume that there was a transcription error somewhere and a number was written down wrong. Check the meter reading for the last 2 bills. Then go look at the meter and check current reading. (Remember this is costing you $150/day if it’s a leak.)

    10Reply
  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    3y

    Do you mean that the city changed the meter and then the next bill showed that amount of usage? That sounds like it is their problem. It is certainly worth a call to them first. Then call your local news department....this would make a good story and embarrass the heck out of the City.....

    8Reply
  • Sean O'Brien
    OP
    Member since 2020 · 15 posts · 10 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

    Do you mean that the city changed the meter and then the next bill showed that amount of usage? That sounds like it is their problem. It is certainly worth a call to them first. Then call your local news department....this would make a good story and embarrass the heck out of the City.....


     That is correct Bruce 

    0Reply
  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    3y

    Call them. This should be a no-brainer.....

    1Reply
  • Sean O'Brien
    OP
    Member since 2020 · 15 posts · 10 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Bill B.:

    In MOST areas if you find the leak and fix it the water department will refund your bill. I know water bills escalate by usage but even if they quadrupled from $1.25/1,000 gallons. You’d be looking at over 3.5million gallons. 100,000 gallons per day. That sounds impossible. A garden hose is 6gpm. Under 400gph under 1,000gpd. That means 100 hoses running 24/7. 

    Now maybe you’re paying 10x normal prices because of usage but that’s still 50 hoses 24/7. Seems like a noticeable amount. Walk out to street and see if meter is spinning. If so, Turn off the water at the house see if meter is spinning. If so turn off water at the house side of meter and see if it’s running. 

    If no after step 1, leak is in house, if yes but no after step 2, leak is between house and meter, if yes on step 3 the meter is defective. I’m going to assume that there was a transcription error somewhere and a number was written down wrong. Check the meter reading for the last 2 bills. Then go look at the meter and check current reading. (Remember this is costing you $150/day if it’s a leak.)


     Thanks Bill, this is super helpful, and for some extra context, it immediately stopped after the first month without any intervention so it doesn't seem like it could have been a leak. 

    Maybe some math logic that you applied would make sense there. 

    1Reply
  • Ned J.Pro Member
    Investor · Manteca, CA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    3y

    So it went from $100 to $4300 and then back down to $100 without really doing anything? Sounds like someone at the water company screwed something up

    3Reply
  • Sean O'Brien
    OP
    Member since 2020 · 15 posts · 10 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

    Call them. This should be a no-brainer.....


     We appealed and they denied us somehow. I'm pretty dumbfounded about how this is shaking out rn

    1Reply
  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Sean O'Brien:
    Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

    Call them. This should be a no-brainer.....


     We appealed and they denied us somehow. I'm pretty dumbfounded about how this is shaking out rn


     Call an attorney, get a 1/2 hour consultation.

    3Reply
  • Rick Albert
    Real Estate Agent · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y

    In some cases maybe they didn't actually go out and read the meter. I would double check that they did. But 100% I agree with @Bruce Woodruff on getting an attorney. You pay $300 for the consultation to get back potentially a net $4K or so. It's a no brainer to have the conversation. 

    2Reply
  • Andrew FreedBusiness Member
    Investor · Worcester, MA · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y

    @Sean O'Brien - This happened to be before on multiple properties. I would check to see if you have a leaky toilet. I've seen toilets waste tens of thousands of gallons of water due to this. Google how to check for a leaky toilet, but you simply need to put food coloring in the top of the toilet and if it feeds down to the bowl in 10-15 minutes, the toilet is leaking water and needs to be fixed or replaced. You should do this for all toilets on the premises. Good luck figuring it out! 

    [email protected]781-964-3200Podcast Guest on Show 69 Doors from ONE Real Estate Deal Using Other People’s Money
    2Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    3y

    Escalate it with the utility provider. They just installed the meter, so it's probably faulty.

    Even a toilet running full-time won't utilize that much water.

    The DIY Landlord Book4.7248 Reviews
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    1Reply
  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    3y

    I'd go higher up the ladder when you call. Ask to speak to a manager.  The fact that they changed the meter, it went up for one month and then back to normal suggests there was a problem with the meter.  Did you check the readings from the first and second month in case they read it wrong the first month (eg it was 14540 and they entered/read 41540-flipping two of the numbers or simply misreading a number)?

    2Reply
  • Sean O'Brien
    OP
    Member since 2020 · 15 posts · 10 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Nathan Gesner:

    Escalate it with the utility provider. They just installed the meter, so it's probably faulty.

    Even a toilet running full-time won't utilize that much water.

    Thanks for all the help guys! The reading went from like 5 -> 249
    0Reply
  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    3y

    Gotta be a bad meter. Escalate this as they said. Go in person. And then spend the $$ to get a lawyer.

    1Reply
  • Brandon Frulla
    Real Estate Agent · Omaha, NE · Member since 2018 · 83 posts · 51 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Sean O'Brien:
    Quote from @Bill B.:

    In MOST areas if you find the leak and fix it the water department will refund your bill. I know water bills escalate by usage but even if they quadrupled from $1.25/1,000 gallons. You’d be looking at over 3.5million gallons. 100,000 gallons per day. That sounds impossible. A garden hose is 6gpm. Under 400gph under 1,000gpd. That means 100 hoses running 24/7. 

    Now maybe you’re paying 10x normal prices because of usage but that’s still 50 hoses 24/7. Seems like a noticeable amount. Walk out to street and see if meter is spinning. If so, Turn off the water at the house see if meter is spinning. If so turn off water at the house side of meter and see if it’s running. 

    If no after step 1, leak is in house, if yes but no after step 2, leak is between house and meter, if yes on step 3 the meter is defective. I’m going to assume that there was a transcription error somewhere and a number was written down wrong. Check the meter reading for the last 2 bills. Then go look at the meter and check current reading. (Remember this is costing you $150/day if it’s a leak.)


     Thanks Bill, this is super helpful, and for some extra context, it immediately stopped after the first month without any intervention so it doesn't seem like it could have been a leak. 

    Maybe some math logic that you applied would make sense there. 


     they probably swung by and fixed it, hoping you didn't call!

    0Reply
  • Patricia Steiner
    Real Estate Broker · Hyde Park Tampa, FL · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    3y

    Two things you can do rather quickly:

    1.  Call the Mayor's Office. Explain that you were dismissed very quickly by the Water Department to have your next month bill return to the normal amount. Offer that no leak was found and no repair made - and that you were hoping this would be quickly resolved as it was obviously a new meter issue. Suggest that this is something you can't just let go as if it happened to you, it's happened to others and you'll need to involve the local media if necessary - not a threat, just a fact.  Here's the reality:  the water person never imagined that you would call the Mayor...he thought he would be king and you would go away.  Rock his world...make the call.

    2.  Call the local news channel's consumer advocate and let that person go on camera with the water department and ask how many other owners are experiencing this same thing.  

    I would do one or both of these before engaging an attorney; these are tried and true - and can resolve an issue in minutes.  Go get your money back...best.

    1Reply
  • Bob S.
    Real Estate Consultant · Cleveland · Member since 2020 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Sean O'Brien:

    Hey everyone, 

    I've had properties for about 5 years now and have never had this happen to me before. We were charged $4,300 for ONE MONTH of water bills when historically the bill was about $100. There were no leaks, no damage or anything but the city changed the meter. 

    Is there any way to fight this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  


     Did you call the water co and ask WTH happened?? In Cleveland the water co will bill out of state owners when a watermain breaks . I had a 3 br on Melrose, well I got a 19k bill YES 19K, for 3 months. I asked how is this possible and after me yelling at the ignorant idiots over there it turns out there was a water main breck. We threatened to go to the local news, well they removed it. 

    1Reply
  • Bob S.
    Real Estate Consultant · Cleveland · Member since 2020 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Bob S.:
    Quote from @Sean O'Brien:

    Hey everyone, 

    I've had properties for about 5 years now and have never had this happen to me before. We were charged $4,300 for ONE MONTH of water bills when historically the bill was about $100. There were no leaks, no damage or anything but the city changed the meter. 

    Is there any way to fight this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  


     Did you call the water co and ask WTH happened?? In Cleveland the water co will bill out of state owners when a watermain breaks . I had a 3 br on Melrose, well I got a 19k bill YES 19K, for 3 months. I asked how is this possible and after me yelling at the ignorant idiots over there it turns out there was a water main breck. We threatened to go to the local news, well they removed it.Ok well since the city changed the meter , there is your answer. 


    0Reply
  • Jill F.
    Investor · Akron, OH · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    3y

    Akron will refund overages due to a leak for a property, I think once every 3 years if you show that you fixed the issue. Make sure that you check with all your tenants and none actually fixed a running toilet but It still seems more likely to be a issue with the meter install. I find this worrying since they just installed a bunch of new meters on my properties last month. :{ good luck

    0Reply
  • Luka Milicevic
    Real Estate Agent · Nashville, TN · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

    Do you mean that the city changed the meter and then the next bill showed that amount of usage? That sounds like it is their problem. It is certainly worth a call to them first. Then call your local news department....this would make a good story and embarrass the heck out of the City.....


     I love the advice!!! Haha

    0Reply
  • Matthew Kwan
    Lender · Seattle, WA · Member since 2022 · 482 posts · 768 votes
    3y

    I would reach out to the city water and sewage company to clarify or do an internal investigation with your tenants because you never know what could've happened? However, $4200 jump seems to be quite bizarre

     @Albert Bui @Carlos Valencia

    1Reply
  • Ana Garcia
    CPA · Miami, FL · Member since 2015 · 131 posts · 83 votes
    3y

    Start by calling them. This sounds like a mistake. Be nice and explain your concerns. It will get resolved. Good luck!

    0Reply
  • Ana Garcia
    CPA · Miami, FL · Member since 2015 · 131 posts · 83 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Sean O'Brien:
    Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

    Call them. This should be a no-brainer.....


     We appealed and they denied us somehow. I'm pretty dumbfounded about how this is shaking out rn


     Oh, go in person then.

    0Reply
  • Mary Jay
    Glendale, AZ · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 236 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Sean O'Brien:

    Hey everyone, 

    I've had properties for about 5 years now and have never had this happen to me before. We were charged $4,300 for ONE MONTH of water bills when historically the bill was about $100. There were no leaks, no damage or anything but the city changed the meter. 

    Is there any way to fight this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  

    Call them and ask for a supervisor.
    tell them it’s a mistake.
    if the supervisor refuses ask for their supervisor. Make sure you write down the names who u r talking with and what department they work at.
    record your conversation if it’s legal in your state.
    tell them you are taking them to court and 
    going to the local news.
    keep calling them and write down dates and names who u spoke with if you can’t do a voice recording 

    0Reply
  • Alex Rocha
    Rental Property Investor · Houston, TX · Member since 2020 · 9 posts · 1 vote
    3y

    @Sean O'Brien this happened to me when I first bought my home. The water bill came in at $8k. I called them up and they sent someone out to take a look. They figured out it was an issue with the meter and they sent me an updated invoice.

    0Reply
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