General Question

JLeslie's avatar

What is the unit measure on my water bill?

Asked by JLeslie (65746points) March 9th, 2013

I can’t find the information on my bill or the company’s website. Is there some sort of consistent unit always used in the US? My bill says 1835. That can’t be gallons for the month. I read online for a different water company that a full meter turn is about 7.48 gallons of water, so do I multiply 1835 by 7.48 to estimate how many gallons used? Or, is every water company different?

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13 Answers

Tropical_Willie's avatar

Water meters in my neck of the woods measure “Cubic Feet” ( cf ). That converts to the 7.48 gallons per cf. That’s what you are using. So that is 13725.8 gallons per month.
The average person uses uses between 80–100 gallons a day. 3000 gallons per month per person.
Your figure converts to 4.575 people. Is that right??
Extra use for leaky toilets and faucets, not included.

JLeslie's avatar

@Tropical_Willie But, could my utility be a different number than 7.48? Or, is that a standard?

bossob's avatar

Every water company that I’ve purchased water from bills by the cubic foot.

I’ve often wondered, but haven’t pursued, why the experts more often refer to cubic feet of water rather than gallons. For instance, volumes of watershed reservoirs, flow through a dam, river flow, and roof run-off are usually measured in cubic feet. Maybe it makes the math easier when dealing with large numbers; I dunno!

On the small scale side, I can’t visualize what 0.67 cf or 7.3 cf are. 5 gallons and 55 gallons, respectively, make more sense.

Tropical_Willie's avatar

The meters are controlled by the Utility Commissions in most states, cannot think of a reason your water company would pay extra for custom made meters that must be certified for commerce.
Cubic feet are easier to calculate. You take the area of pond/lake multiplied by average depth equals cubic feet.

JLeslie's avatar

I know what cubic feet are. Somehow I made it through calculus, statistics and finance in college.

I also age I doubt meters are made just for my water company, but was thinking maybe there are a few different standards around the country.

JLeslie's avatar

Sorry if my answer above this sounded obnoxious. I woke thinking I could have writeen that better, and I do appreciate everyones help.

@Tropical_Willie The number seems too high. It has been just me at home for three of the four weeks the bill covers and we are not watering the lawn this time of year.

bossob's avatar

My water bill comes every two months. Any chance that yours does too?

Sometimes an unusually high bill is the first indication that a homeowner has a water leak issue. An internal leak in the toilet, a seldom used dripping faucet, a concealed pipe fitting, or corrosion in an underground pipe can all jack up one’s consumption in a hurry.

I’ve also seen errors by the water company in the reading, reporting, and billing process that are corrected in the next billing cycle.

JLeslie's avatar

It isn’t unusually high. I just never look at it because my husband typically pays the bills. I tried to see if it was a bill not meter read, but possibly estimated, and I didn’t find where that would is on the bill. Maybe I should check that again. Our summer bills are much much higher because I have a large lawn. So, if it was estimated maybe that would affect the average?

Tropical_Willie's avatar

Check for leaks in toilet, sink, tub/shower and if you have a humidifier check that too. Drips add up to gallons of water.

JLeslie's avatar

No drips anywhere, no toilets running. As far as I know my bill is in line with my neighbors. It has always been the same more or less, since I moved in.

Tropical_Willie's avatar

Can you get to the meter and watch it for a while with nothing running.

JLeslie's avatar

Good idea.

peeps1968's avatar

my water bill says I use 9.o CFW @ 3.59 5/8” water ??? how many gallons is that.

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