Arlingtonian703 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Arlingtonian703 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Arlingtonian703 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP, Fairfax County, and I am wondering if we have a hidden water leak. Just paid $336 for 24,000 gallons of water use, which seems incredibly high. Lots of showers, dishes, laundry, but we don't water our yard.

We pay separately for trash (American, included in HOA fee). A few years we moved from Fairfax City, where the city handled trash collection, and I would move back in a heartbeat if interest rates were lower. Not a fan of the county.

Is that 24,000 gallons in a month? Because yeah, that's a lot of water.

Even if that's in a quarter that's a lot! Our average for a family of 4 in Fairfax county is 9k gallons of use a quarter! I would definitely look for leaks.

We hit 31,000 in a quarter before getting a smart(er) sprinkler controller. But then we've had 24,000 and 25,000 quarters as our two highest after that. But that's including watering the yard. So if they're not doing that's awfully high for a quarter and absurd for a month.

WOw, I had no idea watering the yard used that much water--no wonder there are environmental controls. We have a 1/4 acre in Nova and I never water my yard--maybe a drip hose in the vegetable garden on really dry times that happen a handful of times a summer. It rains so much here, watering seems superfluous.

Well 15,000 and 18,000 have been our lowest quarters so we were never in the 9,000 gallon range. I wonder why - toddler at home so lots of laundry?

I don't know. Our 9k average usage is with two teens that shower a lot (thankfully!) but they are pretty quick about it. They also each do their own laundry so we seem to always have laundry going. We do have a water efficient front loading washer, a water efficient dishwasher and low flow toilets ---but nothing out of the norm on the water saving front--these are fairly standard now. Our bills say we're about average for usage--slightly on the lower end of the range. Maybe you have a running toilet or a small leak somewhere? Or just less water efficient appliances?

Arlingtonian703 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP, Fairfax County, and I am wondering if we have a hidden water leak. Just paid $336 for 24,000 gallons of water use, which seems incredibly high. Lots of showers, dishes, laundry, but we don't water our yard.

We pay separately for trash (American, included in HOA fee). A few years we moved from Fairfax City, where the city handled trash collection, and I would move back in a heartbeat if interest rates were lower. Not a fan of the county.

Is that 24,000 gallons in a month? Because yeah, that's a lot of water.

A running toilet will do that

Anonymous wrote:

Arlingtonian703 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Arlingtonian703 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP, Fairfax County, and I am wondering if we have a hidden water leak. Just paid $336 for 24,000 gallons of water use, which seems incredibly high. Lots of showers, dishes, laundry, but we don't water our yard.

We pay separately for trash (American, included in HOA fee). A few years we moved from Fairfax City, where the city handled trash collection, and I would move back in a heartbeat if interest rates were lower. Not a fan of the county.

Is that 24,000 gallons in a month? Because yeah, that's a lot of water.

Even if that's in a quarter that's a lot! Our average for a family of 4 in Fairfax county is 9k gallons of use a quarter! I would definitely look for leaks.

We hit 31,000 in a quarter before getting a smart(er) sprinkler controller. But then we've had 24,000 and 25,000 quarters as our two highest after that. But that's including watering the yard. So if they're not doing that's awfully high for a quarter and absurd for a month.

WOw, I had no idea watering the yard used that much water--no wonder there are environmental controls. We have a 1/4 acre in Nova and I never water my yard--maybe a drip hose in the vegetable garden on really dry times that happen a handful of times a summer. It rains so much here, watering seems superfluous.

Well 15,000 and 18,000 have been our lowest quarters so we were never in the 9,000 gallon range. I wonder why - toddler at home so lots of laundry?

Arlingtonian703 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Arlingtonian703 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP, Fairfax County, and I am wondering if we have a hidden water leak. Just paid $336 for 24,000 gallons of water use, which seems incredibly high. Lots of showers, dishes, laundry, but we don't water our yard.

We pay separately for trash (American, included in HOA fee). A few years we moved from Fairfax City, where the city handled trash collection, and I would move back in a heartbeat if interest rates were lower. Not a fan of the county.

Is that 24,000 gallons in a month? Because yeah, that's a lot of water.

Even if that's in a quarter that's a lot! Our average for a family of 4 in Fairfax county is 9k gallons of use a quarter! I would definitely look for leaks.

We hit 31,000 in a quarter before getting a smart(er) sprinkler controller. But then we've had 24,000 and 25,000 quarters as our two highest after that. But that's including watering the yard. So if they're not doing that's awfully high for a quarter and absurd for a month.

WOw, I had no idea watering the yard used that much water--no wonder there are environmental controls. We have a 1/4 acre in Nova and I never water my yard--maybe a drip hose in the vegetable garden on really dry times that happen a handful of times a summer. It rains so much here, watering seems superfluous.

Anonymous wrote:

Arlingtonian703 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP, Fairfax County, and I am wondering if we have a hidden water leak. Just paid $336 for 24,000 gallons of water use, which seems incredibly high. Lots of showers, dishes, laundry, but we don't water our yard.

We pay separately for trash (American, included in HOA fee). A few years we moved from Fairfax City, where the city handled trash collection, and I would move back in a heartbeat if interest rates were lower. Not a fan of the county.

Is that 24,000 gallons in a month? Because yeah, that's a lot of water.

Even if that's in a quarter that's a lot! Our average for a family of 4 in Fairfax county is 9k gallons of use a quarter! I would definitely look for leaks.

We hit 31,000 in a quarter before getting a smart(er) sprinkler controller. But then we've had 24,000 and 25,000 quarters as our two highest after that. But that's including watering the yard. So if they're not doing that's awfully high for a quarter and absurd for a month.

Anonymous wrote:

Arlingtonian703 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP, Fairfax County, and I am wondering if we have a hidden water leak. Just paid $336 for 24,000 gallons of water use, which seems incredibly high. Lots of showers, dishes, laundry, but we don't water our yard.

We pay separately for trash (American, included in HOA fee). A few years we moved from Fairfax City, where the city handled trash collection, and I would move back in a heartbeat if interest rates were lower. Not a fan of the county.

Is that 24,000 gallons in a month? Because yeah, that's a lot of water.

Even if that's in a quarter that's a lot! Our average for a family of 4 in Fairfax county is 9k gallons of use a quarter! I would definitely look for leaks.

Agreed. Put food dye in the toilet tanks. If nothing shows up then pick a time where there is no use and look at your mains meter.

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria City, usually runs between 45-55 a month for 3K-4K gallons. Family of 3, lots of laundry and a kid who takes really long showers. Sewer is usually about $10 more than the water bill each month, both combined are usually under $125.

Monthly or quarterly?

Arlingtonian703 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP, Fairfax County, and I am wondering if we have a hidden water leak. Just paid $336 for 24,000 gallons of water use, which seems incredibly high. Lots of showers, dishes, laundry, but we don't water our yard.

We pay separately for trash (American, included in HOA fee). A few years we moved from Fairfax City, where the city handled trash collection, and I would move back in a heartbeat if interest rates were lower. Not a fan of the county.

Is that 24,000 gallons in a month? Because yeah, that's a lot of water.

Even if that's in a quarter that's a lot! Our average for a family of 4 in Fairfax county is 9k gallons of use a quarter! I would definitely look for leaks.

Here's our utility bills for Fairfax, family of 4

Water: 150/quarter
Electricity: (includes heat pump for heat/ac and everything else, we don't have natural gas): 150-180/mo
Trash/recycling: 157/quarter
Internet (Verizon FIOS): 90/mo

Family of 5, young kids. $250/quarter Fairfax Water.

Alexandria City, usually runs between 45-55 a month for 3K-4K gallons. Family of 3, lots of laundry and a kid who takes really long showers. Sewer is usually about $10 more than the water bill each month, both combined are usually under $125.

Anonymous wrote:NP, Fairfax County, and I am wondering if we have a hidden water leak. Just paid $336 for 24,000 gallons of water use, which seems incredibly high. Lots of showers, dishes, laundry, but we don't water our yard.

We pay separately for trash (American, included in HOA fee). A few years we moved from Fairfax City, where the city handled trash collection, and I would move back in a heartbeat if interest rates were lower. Not a fan of the county.

Is that 24,000 gallons in a month? Because yeah, that's a lot of water.

NP, Fairfax County, and I am wondering if we have a hidden water leak. Just paid $336 for 24,000 gallons of water use, which seems incredibly high. Lots of showers, dishes, laundry, but we don't water our yard.

We pay separately for trash (American, included in HOA fee). A few years we moved from Fairfax City, where the city handled trash collection, and I would move back in a heartbeat if interest rates were lower. Not a fan of the county.

OK, here's the billing info for Fairfax vs Arlington

https://www.fairfaxwater.org/rates
https://www.fairfaxwater.org/sewer-charges
https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Water-Utilities/Customer-Service/Rates

Looks like Fairfax charges a $14.95 service charge + $3.65 per thousand gallons (/TG) or $4.00 /TG for peak use (June-November)

Arlington charges $13.96 service charge + $3.98/TG up to 9,000 gallons then $6.38/TG above that

For sewer Fairfax charges $8.09/TG, Arlington charges $9.61 /TG

$120 a quarter for my family of 5 in FFX. I have a baby and there is a ton of laundry!