Question

Does anyone know why the water bills are so high?  

Answer 1

Ours went up ridiculously! 2 people in the house, we don’t do laundry/run dishwasher daily or running toilets. Village had no reasonable explanation as to why.  

Comments

That can’t smell good.  

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@deliquesce, my water bill for the January reading is very similar for November's and December's. Yours really jumped. I would try to find out what happened. We have three adults in our house.  

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@deliquesce I called to, no explanation

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@ivonneivor265 it’s just crazy! I grew up here in Niles (1969) left after high school to work & raise kids. I came back for my Dad but can’t see this as being my final destination. Too much has changed, taxes & cost of living for the services provided in this area has left me quite soured. Niles used to be a great place, I don’t recognize it anymore.  

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@deliquesce it is very sad. I see more and more people moving out. Most of those who are moving out are the residents that have been here many years.  

Answer 2

Shouldn't be. The price hasn't changed so your usage is probably up. Dripping faucet? Running toilet?  

Comments

None of those

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One thing you can try is take a meter reading at night before you go to bed, and another when you wake up. If they are not the same number you know you have a leak somewhere.  

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@nat the leak is INSIDE the tank but you don't know it cuz water is in there already. i hope that makes sense

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Put some food coloring in the toilet reservoir and see if it ends up in the bowl without flushing.  

Answer 3

I had this same problem a few months back it was $70. 00 more than usual. i went to village to pay my bills. i asked why it was so high. Frank was awesome clerk he told me I had to have a leak somewhere. He gave me FREE blue tablets to put into my toilets tanks to see which one was leaking. i found the culprit change a $5 part. issue solved. YOU MUST A LEAK

Comments

How does putting blue tablets into toilet tanks show where the leak is?  

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@statocyst85 Yes you put into your tanks NOT bowls. DONT flush it. if there is a leak inside your tank then your bowl water WILL turn blue if not then your good to go. i. Blue color will seep thru water leak into bowl. does that make sense?  

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@samba Makes sense, I'll try it.  

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@statocyst85 ok cool FREE at village good luck. rememeber dont flush you will see blue or still clear within 5 minutes. If you do flush then obviuously water will turn blue.  

Answer 4

Nope. neighbors went way up too.  

Comments

@nat oh they did? Hmmmm

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@samba yes, I attached our bill/usage on my post.  

Answer 5

The meters can under charge but they don't overcharge. There should be a small red triangle on the dial of the meter. If it's spinning, even just slightly, there is water being used or wasted by something in your house.  

Answer 6

The bill should have rate and usage info

Answer 7

Do you now have the new automatic reader? Everyone will have the upgrade which I think may be reason. Or if you haven’t done the upgrade they will charge you until you call to schedule it

Comments

Just had the upgrade done. guy said they are changing from Chicago water to Evanston.  

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@nat that could be why it went up!  

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@hinrichs I have no idea . i am sorry this is happening to you. thats ALOT of money. Ours is usually $250. 00 every 3 months 4 of us 5 bathrooms lots of laundry and I cook EVERYDAY. i hope you rectify the issue and get your bill DOWN.  

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@hinrichs I just called village there is no such charge

Answer 8

My. last bill went up over 30. 00. we dont have the automatic reader but we read the meter and pay our bill at the milage.  

Answer 9

And all the construction along howard was supposed to be for better water rates

Answer 10

We had to pay $466. 00 additional to our normal bill on our last water bill! The village said we did not give them meter readings for the last 9 months resulting in not paying the correct amount due. They sent a man to read our meter and install a device that will automatically read the meter. We no longer have to provide meter readings. I still wonder if they were right. Why didn't they advise us sooner about the meter readings?  

Answer 11

I believe its the new global warming fee and maybe few other new programs