water meter jump up to be erroneousness

[Amy Lu]

We have three water bills from the Water Department, Malden, MA. It shows water usage as follows:

1. The water usage from 10/15/2015-11/15/2015 (32 days) 16446 c.f., $3468.70

2. The water usage from 11/15/2015-12/15/2015 (29 days) 22574 c.f., $5016.01

3. The water usage from 12/15/15-1/15/16 (30 days) 18,100 c.f., around $4000.00

It costs us about $12500 for the three month's water bill.

We attended the meeting of Public Works Commission at 2/9/2016. We told the commission members that the water meter had problems. But they insisted on that there were water leaks in the building because the water meter is back to normal right now. They only gave us $4000 for credit and told us to ask all tenants to provide the rest of balance.We suspect a faulty water meter. Based on the number 22574 cubic feet used in 29 days, it is the 5822 gallons of water usage per day. The flow rate is 242.58 gallon per hour.

However, based on the water flow rate in a 1.24 inch pipe with velocity 0.3 feet per second, the flow rate is 83.92 gal/h

However, we do not believe the water readings because it is scientifically incorrect.  http://www.tlv.com/global/US/calculator/water-flow-rate-through-piping.html ).

From the science and engineering point of view, the flow rate of 242.58 gallon per hour is impossible. Therefore, we believe that the 10-year water meter has some problems.

We suspect that there are some malfunctions with the water meter. However, the water department does not agree with our opinions.

It also makes us very upset that the water bills take almost two months to reach us. The water reading on 11/15/2015 reached us at 1/6/2016. It does not give us a chance to fix the problem quickly if there is a leak. After we received the water bill on 1/6/2016, We immediately close main line water  and waiting a plumber to check for water leakage. When  plumber come in and reopen the main line of water , he could not find any leak. Then the engineer from the water department came to check on 1/8/2016. She also could not find any leak. It is very clear that the water meter is malfunctioning during the three month period.

[Colleen F.]

  I would put your information in writing including all documentation and send it via registered mail to the water company demanding a refund of the months that are not possible to have flow at that rate. Maybe some people who have had success in contesting water bills can chime in. I would also include how this compare to previous water bills and the two people who found no leaks including their representative.

Is it possible to get your own meter to document the difference maybe  placing a meter on the same line as theirs? you would have data to combat them in the future.  Also did the water company representative replace the meter when they came out?  If they did and your water is back to normal use that as ammunition too.