Unusually High Bills | City of Winston-Salem, NC

By Editorial team ·May 8, 2025

Unusually High Bills | City of Winston-Salem, NC Utilities Homepage

Mystified by a High Water Bill?

As more people work and learn at home, water consumption may increase. Your water and sewer bill may also fluctuate as the seasons change. Water consumption usually increases in the spring and summer months, and your bill will reflect this increased usage.

Scroll down for helpful video tips!

Look for these clues:1. How many days of service does your bill cover? Look at the Days column of your bill. We bill residential accounts bi-monthly so your bill is usually for about 60 days of service. If your bill is for more days of service than usual, your bill could be higher.

2. Has your consumption changed? Compare the Usage column for this bill to the same period last year. At certain times of the year, people do use more water than at other times.

3. Could you have used more water during this period? Have you had guests for an extended period? Has someone in the house started taking long showers? Have you started watering your lawn and garden? Have you been washing your vehicles or used your hose for anything else? Did you accidently leave a faucet or hose running?

4. Have you noticed any leaks inside the home? Do you have a dripping faucet? Is there a wet area around your water heater that could indicate a leak in the heater tank or the plumbing to the heater tank? Any of these situations can contribute to a high bill.

5. Do you have to jiggle the handle on a toilet to stop it from running? Does the toilet start running unexpectedly and then stop? A running toilet uses more water than you think. If your toilet periodically starts and stops, the tank may be leaking into the bowl. You can test this by squeezing a couple drops of food coloring into the tank. If the water in the bowl starts changing color after a few minutes, the tank valve is leaking and should be replaced. Watch the video below!

6. A wet area in your yard could be a sign of an underground leak. See the additional leak information below and contact CityLink to request an investigation.

Meter access is restricted to staff, licensed plumbers & utility contractors. Customer access to meter boxes is not allowed - nor necessary. WaterSavvy smart meters provide real-time data with notifications for increased water use. Your meter is a hi-tech piece of equipment with a communication device that can be easily broken if you attempt to open the meter box. Those who have tried have caused damage and have been fined.

Leaks

Some leaks may be obvious, but others may be concealed. If you experience an unusually high bill and suspect it was caused by a leak or unauthorized use, contact CityLink using any method on cityofws.org/citylink to request an investigation. Our field investigators can help you determine the cause.

You must continue to pay your average monthly bill amount until our investigation is concluded. You may elect to call a plumber and/or have repairs made at any time, at your own expense. After the source of the unusually high bill is determined and repairs are made, you may be eligible for an adjustment on the three highest bills associated with the leak.

In the absence of a plumber's receipt, our field investigators must verify all repairs have been made before any monetary adjustments will be considered. Certain restrictions apply on leak adjustments and due dates can only be extended by one business day.

Please note that irrigation system leaks are not eligible for bill adjustments.

city_of_winston-salem_logo

City of Winston-SalemCity Hall101 North Main StreetWinston-Salem, NC 27101

Slideshow Left Arrow Slideshow Right Arrow

By Editorial team

You might also like

Elbow Road Bridge Replacement | Chesapeake, VA

Low Cost Pet Care | Garland, TX

Recreation Centers | City of Winston-Salem, NC