Water meter Question - Extremely high bill & No leak.

[Justin Case]

The water bill was extremely high for December use. Over double than average. Over 16,000 gallons above avg. (billed every two months). For 8 months the bill has been consistent.

These set of tenants are very honest and always help me and I trust them. A few were traveling for the holidays so they were not home full time. Nothing was left running while they were gone.

I tested the meter tonight with no water running for 3 hours and the meter did not move.

I turned the main street water line off a month ago for the first time since owning this property and I am wondering if this made the meter jump up to be erroneousness when it was turned back on? I mentioned this theory to the water dept and they said the reading has to be from actual water use and if the meter was at fault (broken) it would just not move at all and since it moved its not broke.

Does anyone have knowledge about if water meters can erroneously jump?

Also, the meter reading from today compared to the bill date three weeks ago is dead on to where their consistent use is as I expected.

What are your thoughts?

Tenants are lying about 16000 gallons of extra use? I highly doubt this since even my sec 8 tenants are not near this figure.

I appreciate any thoughts.. I am stumped.