A: The culprit could be an unknown leak, or overuse of water and solid waste services.
Paying bills is task that has unanimous agreement—it’s not fun. If your bill is higher than normal use the guide below to help you figure out what is going on and how to address it.
Eek, leaks!
Leaks are sneaky. Even a small leak can seriously affect your water bill. To avoid being surprised by a leak, make it a habit to search for and fix leaks that may be affecting your water consumption. Check your toilet, indoor and outdoor faucets, and water meter.
Think of ways you can decrease your water usage.
Showering/bathing, washing dishes, doing laundry, and watering your lawn may be contributing to your high bill. Shorten your showering time, do full loads of dishes and laundry, and water wisely to cut down on your water consumption.
Find your Goldilocks container.
The cost for garbage and food and yard waste service is based on the size of your container, so you want to channel Goldilocks and make sure it is just right. If you consistently have extra room in your container, consider downsizing to a smaller one to save money. If you consistently have extra solid waste (the container’s lid does not properly shut) consider getting a larger container. Having an overflowing container will also result in extra fees so finding the perfect size container will help you avoid higher bills. You can estimate the monthly cost of your garbage and yard waste pick-up here.
Recycle!
Recycling services are free so think about how you can recycle more often. However, please only recycle appropriate items!
There you have it. If you have further questions regarding a higher-than-normal bill, give our Contact Center a call at (206) 684-3000. Utility Account Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM.