The Valley Water District Base Fee portion of the Base Rate does not include the water used in each two-month period. Water usage is billed based on a tier structure (see Billing Procedures). 

800 cubic feet in two-months is not necessarily a standard or expected usage for most households. How much and how often water is used varies from family to family. You need not wait until your billing statement comes to determine the amount of water you use in your home. In fact, we recommend if you are concerned with the amount of water usage appearing on your bill that you rule out the possibility of a leak and then consider ways you might be able to conserve. See How to Read My Water Meter. 

Determining if There is a Leak

• When water is not in use, look at the water meter, it should be still.
• The meter's "leak detector" will help you determine if even the smallest trickle of water is passing through the meter. On your meter the leak detector may look like a black triangle, a silver gear, or a white circle.
• Watch the meter for movement or record the meter reading and recheck after a short time.

 Investigating the Source of a Leak

• A leaky toilet or one that doesn't stop running is a very common contributor to high water usage.
• For outdoor water line breaks, Leak Detection & Locate services can be found in the yellow pages. Remember to Call Before You Dig.

If No Leak is Apparent and you are concerned about high usage, you can:

• Record your own meter readings over a period of time.
• Determine highest usage areas in your home.
• Discuss with your family ways to work together to conserve water.