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Old 05-07-15, 06:35 AM   #11
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In winter some utilities will estimate water use. Once summer rolls around they will read the meter and "settle up".

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Old 05-07-15, 09:58 AM   #12
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Right now, we pay our bill semi-annually.
That may have been due to the fact we have always paid an 'even share' estimated bill.

Our old meters have not been read, since the 1950s..
Since no one living here remembers anyone coming around to read them..
(Don't know for sure, since people moving here in 1956 are getting really old now).

I can only assume they will start billing us monthly, to pay for the new infrastructure.
The bill will likely increase as the infrastructure grows in size and complexity.

One good thing can come out of this.. If they decide measure the water used on the west side of town, and find out it's a lot less than the water being sent to the west side, they can look for the leaks!

There's a home up the hill from me that has a leak in the copper between the house and the street cut-off.. Makes their lawn very green in one spot, but most of the water just flows out into the street.. It's been leaking for about 20 years now!

When we had the same problem, it was coming into our basement..
So, we had to have the copper repaired.. Cost us about $800!
They dug an 18 ft hole in the front yard..
One of the rocks that came out was so large, they took it away in a very large dump-truck. Round Granite, around 5 feet across..
They didn't want to put it back in the hole, since it would crush the pipe!
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Old 05-09-15, 11:32 AM   #13
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We are starting to water a few plants now..
It's been 1 month on the meter and it's showing 534 cubic feet used..
3994 gallons is almost 130 gallons a day..
I can't believe we are using that much! About 5.4 gallons per hour, 24-7 !!
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Old 05-09-15, 06:30 PM   #14
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Do you use low flow shower heads and faucet aerators? Those are the easiest things to switch IMO. Laundry is also a huge user of water. You should check before and after a load. Also, there are dual flush conversions for toilets available for pretty cheap these days ($20) that can really help out, or use the brick trick, or flush less often.

I wish I had a meter so I could see my water usage.
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Old 05-09-15, 08:26 PM   #15
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We already use low flow on the shower and aerators.
I'll have to check the total washing machine usage. Easy job now ..
We need a new dryer, so maybe it's time for a new washer too.
Yeah, I will use the brick trick. Thanks, I had forgotten that one.
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Old 07-09-15, 11:50 AM   #16
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We got the new LG dryer today. Seems like it might be a power hog..
It's been 3 months (91 days) since the water meter was installed.
2,158 cf = 16,143 gallons.. 5381 per month or 177.4 gallons per day!

That seems unbelievably high.. That's up 47.4 gal per day from May 9th.
The lawn and flowers etc.?.

Did the brick trick on the toilet tank. Cut about 25% off the storage..
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Old 07-09-15, 01:12 PM   #17
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That barely seems possible... 177 gallons per day for two people. But, if you're watering the lawn, you have a 5 gpm sprinkler for an hour every other day or so. Thats 300 gallons each hour.
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Old 07-09-15, 02:21 PM   #18
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Yeah, that's about 7.4 gallons an hour.. Sure seems high.

But, the fedgov seems to think it's average..

Per capita water use. Water questions and answers; USGS Water Science School

"Estimates vary, but each person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day.

Are you surprised that the largest use of household water is to flush the toilet, and after that, to take showers and baths?"
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Old 07-09-15, 02:58 PM   #19
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Is your grass really green just after the meter?
It sounds like maybe you have some leaking water somewhere.
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Old 07-09-15, 04:47 PM   #20
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The meter is on the basement floor, where the city water comes into the house.
If there was a leak, I would noticed it. Plus, the second mode of the display is GPM..
The GPM doesn't even come on, unless some water is being used..

The fedgov says "largest use of household water is to flush the toilet"..

I think toilet and lawn are where all that water is going.

Wish I had a decoder, I could see how much my neighbors are using!
I'll have to check that out again..

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