Solving the Unexpected High Bill Mystery

Filling or topping off a swimming pool can lead to an unexpectedly high water bill, but there are many less obvious culprits inside and outside your home that can drive up costs just as quickly.

• A leaky toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons of water a day, more than 5,500 gallons a month
• A tiny break in an irrigation line (about the thickness of a dime) can waste 6,300 gallons per month

Leaks and Drips Add Up 

Austin Water uses a tiered pricing system based on the volume of water you used, so don't let a running leak or drip bump you into a more costly pricing tier. A leaky toilet combined with a faulty irrigation system could put thousands of unnoticed gallons on your bill each month. The more water you use or waste, the more it is going to cost you per gallon as shown in the table:

Volumetric charges only. Does not include the monthly customer charge, tiered minimum charge or other fees. Rates effective Dec. 1, 2025. See the Rates and Fees page for the complete rate schedule.

Finding Leaks in Your Home

Common household leaks include worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and other leaking valves. Most are easy and inexpensive to fix, with hardware costs that pay for themselves quickly in water savings.

To find leaks:

• Check your water usage during a cooler month such as January or February. A family of four using more than 12,000 gallons per month likely has a significant leak.
• Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is in use. If the reading changes, you probably have a leak.
• Test for toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the tank. If color appears in the bowl after 10 minutes, the flapper is leaking. Flush immediately after to avoid staining.
• Inspect faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for moisture on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.

For more tips, see the Water Saving Tips page.