A water-use increase after an irrigation change

What to establish first

Compare the billing period with the date of the irrigation change. Write down any new landscaping, maintenance visit or controller adjustment you know about. Record what was changed without altering unfamiliar equipment to test it.

If irrigation has a separate meter or private source, tell the person reviewing the concern. If the connection is unknown, say that too. A household bill cannot explain unmetered water use, and one meter observation may not cover every system on the property.

Agree the inspection scope

FPUA’s customer FAQ identifies irrigation operation and broken irrigation components among possible reasons for elevated consumption. That supports asking about watering changes; it does not mean irrigation caused this particular bill.

Local checks and the next decision

Ask whether the proposed inspection covers the household supply, the irrigation system or just one unexplained wet area. If different work is needed, establish that before booking. A controller review, buried irrigation leak search and indoor plumbing check are different requests.

EPA recommends checking water use and fixtures as part of home maintenance. Use any safe observations to narrow the conversation. Avoid forcing valves, adjusting pumps or entering a wet equipment area to gather more information.

Compare use after the actual change

Record the date of any correction and what was changed. Ask the utility to clarify which reading period could reflect it. A bill spanning before and after a repair can blur the result, so keep the dates with the figures.

If usage remains unexplained, ask what the previous visit covered and what it did not. A checked irrigation schedule does not prove every underground pipe is sound; an indoor fixture check does not settle an outdoor supply concern.