Become your home's detective to solve a high water-use mystery.
It's spring and you get your water bill in the mail — it's a big one, maybe higher than you've ever had before. You look around your home and think that nothing's changed. You don't hear running water or spot a large puddle.
What gives?
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Large amounts of water can sink into the ground without any evidence left behind — especially if you live over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone or near a green space. Most sprinkler systems can use up to 3,000-plus gallons every time you run them — is yours set properly? And there are multiple home fixtures that can drain water straight to the sewer without a trace.
Let's Get Started
Shake down the usual water-wasting suspects:
Irrigation
Sprinklers & Hoses
Toilets
Water Softener
Swimming Pool
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Irrigation
If it is summer and your bill is high, the most likely culprit is the irrigation system. If the meter is turning continuously, turn off the water at your backflow device. If the meter stops when the backflow valve is shut off, have a licensed irrigator look for a stuck valve or broken main line. However, the absence of meter movement does not absolve the irrigation system of potential problems.
Watch the system in operation, looking for broken heads, missing nozzles and breaks in piping. Write down your meter read before and after operating your irrigation system, then convert the difference to gallons by multiplying the difference by 748. That gives you how many gallons you used.
Check the irrigation controller. There could be an unintended schedule(s) running more minutes and run times than you think. When in doubt, unplug the controller and use it manually until you get expert help.
Overlapping irrigation programs are a frequent issue with residential systems. It's important to note that start times apply to the entire program, not individual zones.
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Hand Watering, Soaker Hoses and Sprinklers
While irrigation systems are the biggest outdoor water users, other less techy methods of watering can still run up your bill:
While hand watering is the most efficient way to water, it can still use a lot of water if you are not careful. A typical 5/8-inch garden hose with a faucet open halfway can run 300 gallons in 30 minutes.
Oscillating hose-end sprinklers and soaker hoses can easily use 8,000 gallons in a day which thirsty lawns will readily absorb.
Set a timer so you don't forget to turn them off. Otherwise you may remember too late, many dollars poorer.
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Toilets
After flushing, toilet tanks automatically refill with water for the next flush. But this simple operation eventually malfunctions in ALL toilets due to calcium build-up and wear and tear. Don't assume there is no problem if you don't see or hear anything.
Check it by adding food coloring or a dye tablet to the water in the tank but don't flush the toilet. If the dye tint appears in the bowl, your toilet is leaking. Call SAWS at 210-704-7283 (SAVE) to request free dye tablets.
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Water Softener
Most people never think to check their water softeners when searching for leaks. Water softeners periodically "recharge" by draining and filling up from the bottom. If the recharge cycle gets stuck, it can continually drain and fill and you will never see the lost water — especially if it is in the garage, a common location for this appliance. If you discover it is continuously recharging, schedule a repair immediately to prevent further water loss.
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Swimming Pool Auto-fill
If you have a swimming pool, your auto-fill device can malfunction and continuously fill the pool. You may not notice the problem, as the drain line removes excess water. An auto-fill device can also hide leaks by keeping the pool full. Turn off the auto-fill and try a simple bucket test to see if your pool is losing water.
Water Flow Sensor Rebate
Water flow sensor devices record your water use and identify potential leaks in your system. Track your use and get peace of mind with help from our rebate program.
