Help with a water bill / leak

[Ryan Weddle]

So I closed on my first property (a duplex in Louisville, KY) and am in the process of getting it rent ready. I just got the first water bill that seems to indicate a pretty significant leak (or error) and I'm not sure what my next step is. The property is unoccupied and the inside water main has been off for all but 4 days of the billing period, but the bill shows 18,000 gallons of water usage in 50 days.

One of the two units was occupied by 1 or 2 people in the months prior to closing, and the bills for those periods leading up to closing were for 10k-17k per period. If it was 2 people and the billing periods were about 60 days then that seems on the high side but not crazy. 

I called Louisville Water Co. and they confirmed the start and end readings were "verified", but I don't know what that means. My first guess is that the alternative is "estimated" in cases where the meter couldn't be read for some reason.

I live out of town but just had a friend go in and confirm that the water is off inside and there's no sign of a leak. The outside faucet was also off; when turned on it just dripped a little, so I think the inside main also cut it off and it just hadn't fully drained. She said the cover to the water meter was bolted on so she can't see if the reading has increased since the reading on the bill. Louisville Water said they could send someone for another reading "in the next 10 days".

What do you think my issue is? Leak between the meter and the house? Meter reading error? 

And what should my next step be? 

Thank you!

Ryan

[David Heath]

If there was a month with 2 people using 17k gallons of water that sounds like a leak in the line between the meter and the house to me. It is hard for two people to use 17k in even two months. I would have the water meter checked by the water company to see if the reading is going up with the main in the house shut off. If it is have them shut it off at the meter. Remeber that you are not only being hit with the water bill but MDS is going to hit you as well.