Why Is My Sewer Bill So High? Common Causes and What to Do

If you have opened your water bill lately and done a double-take, you are not alone. A sudden spike in your sewer or water bill is one of the most common concerns we hear from homeowners in the College Station and Brazos Valley area. The good news is that the cause is almost always fixable.

In this post, we will walk you through the most common reasons your sewer bill might be higher than expected, how to tell if something is wrong, and when it is time to call a plumber.

How Is Your Sewer Bill Calculated?

Before diving into causes, it helps to understand how sewer charges work. In most municipalities, including College Station, your sewer bill is calculated based on your water usage, not on a separate meter. That means if more water is flowing into your home than usual, your sewer charge goes up right along with it.

This matters because any leak or unusual water usage inside your home directly impacts your sewer bill, even if the leak never reaches a drain.

The Most Common Reasons for a High Sewer Bill

1. A Running or Leaking Toilet

This is the number one culprit behind unexpectedly high water and sewer bills. A toilet that runs constantly, even silently, can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day. That adds up to thousands of gallons per month, and your bill will reflect every drop.

How to tell if your toilet is leaking:

• Add a few drops of food coloring to the tank and wait 15 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the bowl, you have a leak.
• Listen for a faint hissing or trickling sound coming from the tank.
• Notice the toilet refilling on its own when no one has flushed it.

The most common culprit is a worn flapper valve. It is a relatively inexpensive fix, but one that can cause a surprisingly large bill if left unchecked.

2. A Hidden Water Leak

Leaks do not always make themselves obvious. A dripping pipe inside a wall, under a slab, or beneath the house can go unnoticed for months while silently driving up your bill.

Signs you might have a hidden leak:

• Your water meter is spinning even when all fixtures are turned off
• You notice wet spots, soft flooring, or unexplained mold on walls or ceilings
• You hear water running when nothing is in use
• Your water pressure seems lower than normal

How to check your water meter for a leak:

1. Turn off every water fixture in your home.
2. Go to your water meter and check whether the dial or digital display is still moving.
3. If it is moving, water is flowing somewhere, and that is likely a leak.

At Barker’s, we offer professional leak detection services to pinpoint hidden leaks before they cause serious water damage.

3. A Dripping Faucet

A faucet that drips once per second wastes roughly 3,000 gallons of water per year. It might not sound like much, but across multiple fixtures or over several months, a dripping faucet can have a noticeable impact on your bill.

Check all faucets in your home, including kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, utility rooms, and outdoor spigots, for any signs of dripping especially when fully turned off.

4. Increased Household Water Usage

Sometimes the answer is simpler than a leak. Common seasonal or lifestyle changes that raise water usage include:

• Filling a swimming pool or hot tub for the summer
• Watering the lawn more frequently during hot Texas months
• House guests staying for an extended period
• A new appliance like a dishwasher or washing machine with higher water consumption
• Kids home from school during summer break

If any of these apply, your higher bill may simply reflect actual usage and not a problem with your plumbing.

5. A Leaking Water Heater

Water heaters that are aging or failing can develop slow leaks around the tank, pressure relief valve, or supply connections. These leaks may be small enough to go unnoticed visually but significant enough to register on your water meter over time.

If your water heater is more than 10 years old or you notice moisture or rust around the unit, it is worth having it inspected by a licensed plumber.

6. An Irrigation System or Outdoor Leak

Outdoor irrigation systems are a common source of wasted water. Homeowners often do not notice because the leak happens underground or while they are away. A broken sprinkler head, a cracked irrigation line, or a malfunctioning timer can run up your bill significantly, especially during the summer months.

Walk your yard after a watering cycle and look for:

• Unusually soggy or muddy areas
• Sprinkler heads that are not popping up correctly
• Water running into the street or pooling where it should not

7. A Slab Leak

A slab leak is a leak in the water lines that run beneath your home’s concrete foundation. It is one of the more serious causes of a high water bill. These leaks can be difficult to detect but often show warning signs including:

• Warm spots on the floor, which can indicate a hot water line leak
• The sound of running water when all fixtures are off
• Cracks in your walls or flooring
• Unexplained increases in your water bill month after month

Slab leaks require professional diagnosis and repair. If left unaddressed, they can cause significant structural damage. Barker’s offers expert slab leak detection and repair for College Station homeowners.

Is 3,000 Gallons of Water a Month a Lot?

For a typical household of four people, the EPA estimates average water use at around 100 gallons per person per day, which works out to roughly 12,000 gallons per month for a family of four.

A single-person household might reasonably use 2,000 to 3,000 gallons per month. If you are a family seeing 3,000 gallons, you may actually be quite water-efficient. However, if your usage has jumped significantly from prior months without an obvious explanation, that change is what should concern you, not the absolute number.

What to Do When Your Sewer Bill Is Unexpectedly High

1. Compare bills. Look at your usage history from prior months and the same month last year. A spike is more telling than the total number alone.
2. Check for obvious leaks. Inspect toilets, faucets, your water heater, and visible pipes under sinks.
3. Test your water meter. Turn everything off and watch for movement on the meter dial.
4. Rule out usage changes. Think through any recent changes such as guests, new appliances, lawn watering, or pool filling.
5. Call your utility provider. Explain the spike. Some providers will work with you on credits if a leak was the verified cause.
6. Call a licensed plumber. If you cannot identify the source, a professional can use specialized tools to locate hidden leaks quickly and accurately.

When to Call Barker’s

If you have done the basic checks and still cannot explain your high water or sewer bill, it is time to bring in a professional. At Barker’s Cooling, Heating & Plumbing, our licensed plumbers serve College Station, Bryan, and the surrounding Brazos Valley with:

• Leak detection including hidden, underground, and slab leaks
• Faucet and fixture repair
• Toilet repair and replacement
• Water heater inspection and repair
• Sewer line inspection and service

Do not let a mystery leak drain your wallet month after month. Give us a call at (979) 398-5194 or request service online. We are here to help you get to the bottom of it fast.