Water issues in Chicago - huge bill

[Ben Meisel]

Posting this for a friend who owns a 7-unit building in Chicago.  He's noticed very high water bills in the last year, including the most recent one for $6500. Finally it was determined that there is a leak in the water main coming from the street.  The fix quote is somewhere around $20k.  I don't know where the water meters are in Chicago, but apparently they can meter this leak.  Is it fully on the owner to pay for this?  It's definitely not in the building.  Do they offer some reprieve from the high water bill in cases like this?

Wondering if anyone has a solid referral for a company that can give him a second quote?  

Thanks!

[Ahmer Zaidi]

Was the water main leak determined because they couldn't find any other source?  I had a plumber tell me I had a break in my sewer main because he couldn't get his rod to take a bend in a pipe and thought it was a broken.  Hired someone else who got through the bend and clean out the pipe all the way to the main sewer.  Highly recommend getting a 2nd or 3rd opinion.

Sometimes leaks are not obvious.  I recently replaced the flush valve in 2 toilets.  Both flappers were slightly warped which I couldn't see until I removed the parts and of course tenants who don't pay water don't care that the toilet tank constantly fills itself.  Before dismantling the toilet, put some food dye in the tank wait a few minutes for the color to disperse and then visually inspect the bowl to see if any of the dye is coming thru into the bowl without flushing the toilet, if you see the color in the bowl, time to change the flapper or entire flush assembly.

Also, check all the interior and exterior faucets/spigots.