Water meters are read each month and amounts due vary monthly depending on usage. One way to check for leaks yourself is checking your toilets. Toilets can leak without making any noise and can run a lot of water through without you even noticing it. Put some blue or green food coloring in the tank of each of your toilets and wait 30-45 minutes. If the coloring has come down into the bowl, you have a leak and need to have a plumber repair the tank at once to avoid higher usage.
Another way to check for leaks is to read your meter prior to going to bed at night. Then do not use any water during the night and read your meter when you get up in the morning. The meter reading should be the same. If it has changed, you have something running water and need a plumber to check it out.
Usage during the summer usually goes up as well, due to lawn and garden watering, washing cars and other miscellaneous activities performed throughout the season. Usage will also go up if you have any extra persons in your household for a period of time.
