The Village of Algonquin, IL

The following are a few reasons that your bill could be higher than previous bills:

• Verify the reading on the water meter. There are currently two styles of water meters installed in the Village. Each meter reading area looks similar to the odometer in your car. The meter reading area will either have 7 or 8 digits.
  • The seven digit meter has 4 white dials, 2 black dials and a permanent 0.
  • The eight digit meter has 7 white dials a decimal point followed by 1 white dial.
• Read the meter at night before bed then again first thing in the morning. Is there a difference?
• Do you ever have to jiggle the handles on your toilets? If so, replace the tank parts, you have a leak.
• Check your toilets for a silent leak. Put a couple drops of a dark colored food coloring into the toilet tank. DO NOT FLUSH, wait 10-15 minutes, if color appears into the bowl, the tank parts need to be replaced.
• Do you have a water softener? Check the regeneration timing to make sure it is not cycling too often or if the unit is malfunctioning.
• Has there been anything different at your home? Increased number of people, entertaining, watering of landscaping, washing cars, etc.
• Check all outside spigots.
• Do you have a sprinkler system? If so, you may want to reduce the time the water is running per zone. As a comparison, 600 gallons of water flows from a 5/8" hose per hour.
• Have you checked all your water appliances?
• Remember - billings are generated in arrears. You have already used the water before you are billed for it.
• Your prior bill may have been an estimate. Estimated bills are based on your prior average consumption.
• If you are trying to establish new sod, you may be using as much as 600 gallons of water per hour with one 5/8" standard size hose.
• Billing is calculated by rounding down. Billing is generated per 1,000 gallon increments. If your full meter reading is 0012340 or 0012345.6 you would be charged based on the first four digits starting from the left. In the examples above, the 340 or 345.6 gallons would start your next billing. It is possible that you increase is due to the rounding.

Please check the preceding before calling the Water Billing at 847-854-3440.