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Why Is My Chicago Water Utility Bill Skyrocketing All of the Sudden?

Chicago Water Utility Bill Skyrocketing

As a resident of the Windy City, you may have noticed a sudden spike in your water utility bill. It’s understandable if you are confused and wondering what could be the reason behind such a rise. While you may be using the same amount of water as usual, the bill will continue increasing unless you address the underlying issue. In this article, we will outline some of the reasons why your Chicago water utility bill could be skyrocketing all of a sudden.

Water Rates Increase

One of the obvious reasons why your water utility bill may have dramatically increased is due to water rates increase in Chicago. In 2021, the City of Chicago adopted a new water rate hike, with the aim of increasing water and sewer rates by an average of 6.2%. As a result, households that consume well over 7,500 gallons of water per billing cycle will notice an average increase of $4.34 in their water bill. However, this doesn’t explain why your bill is getting higher so quickly.

Leaking or Dripping Faucets

If you have leaking or dripping faucets in your home, you will definitely see a significant increase in your water utility bill. Leaking faucets may seem insignificant at first, but when left unattended for long periods, they can quickly become a source of water wastage. Not only do you lose gallons of water, but the leakage also increases your bill.

Running Toilets

Running toilets are another major cause of higher than usual water bills. In many cases, a running toilet can waste up to two full gallons of water per minute, leading to thousands of gallons every day. This can lead to a considerable increase in your water bill, despite having the same water consumption habits. It is advisable to have running toilets fixed as soon as possible to avoid further wastage.

Change in Water Usage Habits

Another possible reason why your water bill has suddenly increased is due to a change in water consumption habits. Perhaps you have added new household members, are doing more laundry or dishes, taking showers more often or watering the garden. A few small changes in your usage habits can quickly add up and lead to an increase in your water bill.

a hidden leak in a ceiling.

Hidden leaks may be happening behind walls or underground where it’s difficult to access, but you may notice a sudden change in your water bill.

Hidden Leaks

Apart from the apparent leaks and drips that you can easily notice, broken pipes and hidden leaks can cause an unexpected surge in your water utility bill. Hidden leaks may be happening behind walls or underground where it’s difficult to access, but you may notice a sudden change in your water bill. Therefore, if you’ve investigated other potential causes such as running toilets and dripping faucets, and haven’t found a solution, it’s recommended to contact a professional plumber to identify and repair any hidden water leaks.

Water Softener or Water Filtration System Malfunctions

If you have a water softener or water filtration system installed in your home, a malfunction in the system can also lead to an abrupt increase in your water bills. For instance, if the system runs continuously or isn’t programmed with the correct settings, it can cause a considerable spike in your water usage and your water utility bill.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, a sudden increase in your water utility bill can be frustrating and stressful. However, understanding the underlying causes and addressing them promptly can go a long way in decreasing your water consumption and your bill. It is essential to take action as soon as you suspect any of the above causes in order to save your hard-earned cash. Nonetheless, if you’ve investigated all of the potential causes and are unable to determine what’s causing the sudden increase in your bills, do not hesitate to get in touch with your water utility company and get a professional assessment, so issues can be identified and resolved as soon as possible.

How to Lower Your Water Bill in Chicago

How to Lower Your Water Bill in Chicago

Water costs for residents of Chicago used to be very affordable as the city had one of the lowest water rates amongst America’s major cities. That was until previous administrations – Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration specifically – thought it necessary to raise water rates and fund improvements to the city’s waterworks.

But even though rates increased substantially, the cost per gallon of water in Chicago still compares very favorably with what residents of other cities pay. Most of the city’s residents have not had trouble paying their water bills, at least not until recently. A lot has happened since the appearance of COVID-19 that has impacted Chicago negatively.

Soaring unemployment rates mean that formerly affordable things to citizens are now out of reach. Many Chicagoans struggle to keep up with their water bill payments, and water is not something you can expect people to forgo. Access to sufficient potable water is a human right. There is a violation of that right if people cannot afford water.

The issues causing the current water affordability problem in Chicago are as follows:

  • The city’s aging water infrastructure requires steady funding for repairs, replacements, and upgrades. The bulk of this money comes from the pockets of the city’s resident.
  • The fact that most people’s income is not growing at the same rate as water costs are rising. The effect is lower-income families now face significant struggles paying their water bills; many have backlogs running into thousands of dollars.
  • The pandemic worsened an already bad situation. Before this, incomes were insufficient, but now several people don’t even have an income anymore. That is due to the lockdowns and social distancing rules that have forced many businesses to shut down.

What is the city doing about the issue?

How the city is tackling the issue

The city is taking steps to handle the problem through a “Water for All” ordinance. The regulation will let some city residents pay a discounted water bill or give others free water. That is just one of the steps the city is taking. Here are some of the details of the City Council’s effort to make water more accessible for Chicagoans.

Moratorium on shut-offs

The city has temporarily suspended water shut-offs due to non-payment of water bills. This program was initiated last year when Mayor Lori Lightfoot took office. The community now has a team to restart water service to homeowners whose water was shut-off before shut-offs were suspended.

The Utility Billing Relief Program (UBR)

This program will subsidize water bill payments by as much as 75% for some homeowners and make water free for some other residents. There are about 168,000 homeowners with past due payments that may qualify for the UBR program. But to qualify, applicants have to earn 200% less than the federal poverty level. Homeowners who participate will be required to pay their monthly bills for one year, while the old charge is set aside. If they complete the one-year payments, the backlogs will be waived. This program is for homeowners who own single-family homes and duplexes.

Senior citizen sewer exemption

For elderly homeowners not eligible for the UBR program, they can apply for the city’s Senior Citizen Sewer Exemption program. Since the sewer bill is 100% the cost of what people pay for water bills, this program can help homeowners reduce their water bills by 50%.

Relieving tenants of their water bill burdens

The city is also looking into protecting renters from landlords who pass the water bill to their tenants. As Bigham & Associates LLC explains, the logic behind this move is that water bills are sent to buildings and not to renters.

Others

Financial help is also expected from the state and federal government, particularly for the city’s water systems. These will help the city improve its waterworks without charging the consumers for it.

The city of Chicago is taking steps to make sure water does not stop flowing in the homes of Chicagoans. But you can also take steps to reduce your water usage and make it easier to pay your water bills. Simple things you can do that don’t involve spending money include:

  • Taking shorter showers; every minute in the shower uses 5-10 gallons of water.
  • Not using the toilet for dumping tissue and other things. Every time you flush the toilet, you use 5-7 gallons.
  • Take a bath instead of a shower. Baths use less water than the shortest shower.
  • Turn off the water while shaving or brushing your teeth.
  • Only use the automatic dishwasher when you have a full load; your dishwasher uses 30-45 gallons of water per cycle.
  • Fill a plastic bottle with sand, pebble, and stone. Put it inside the tank. This step will save you more than 5 gallons of water daily without affecting the toilet’s efficiency.

You should also consider replacing some of the bathroom fixtures to a more eco-friendly ones, which help with water saving.