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Why Is My Bill High?

There are several reasons your bill might be higher than expected.

Usage. Did your usage change? Did you have company visit, which added the number of people taking showers? Did you do yardwork that required extra water? Did you run extra laundry or dishwasher loads? You can check your daily usage by logging into your account at the top of the KC Water home page. You also can track your daily and monthly water usage.

Wastewater volume charge. KC Water adjusts wastewater charges for residential accounts during the months of May through December. The adjusted charges are based on the assumption that residential customers use more water during the summer months (e.g., lawn irrigation, washing cars, etc.), much of which does not enter the sewer system. Because wastewater bills are based on water consumption, KC Water uses water consumption from the winter months (appearing on your January through April bills) to calculate the bills that are generated during the summer months (appearing on your May through December bills). See “Seasonal Wastewater Charge Calculation” under “Customer Support” on this website for more information.

Behind in payment. Did you pay your last water bill in full? Is there a balance that’s been carried over from a previous month? If you need help paying your bill, please visit  Financial Assistance Resources.

Days of service. The billing period is printed at the top right-hand corner of the bill. The days of service can vary from 25 to 31 days of service, which may affect the total bill from month to month.

Rates. Rates are approved by the City Council annually and take effect May 1 of each year. To read more about rates, please click on the Rate Book icon on the left side of the page or go to www.kcwater.us/customer-support/rate-book. or view the Rates FAQ here.

Leaks. A leak can be inside or outside your home. Some are easy to see. Others can be difficult to detect. Both can lead to substantial increases in your monthly bill.

KC Water is responsible for repairing leaks on water meters and public water mains. Internal leaks – the service line between the connection to the public water main and the structure, all pipes between the service connection and the structure, irrigation systems, sprinklers, toilets, tubs, showers, sinks, appliances that use water, and indoor plumbing – are the homeowner’s responsibility.

Leak Detection

KC Water is responsible for repairing leaks on water meters and public water mains. Internal leaks – the service line between the connection to the public water main and the structure, all pipes between the service connection and the structure, irrigation systems, sprinklers, toilets, tubs, showers, sinks, appliances that use water, and indoor plumbing – are the homeowner’s responsibility.

Common Indoor Leaks

  • The toilet is the most common source of a leak inside a home. One way to find out if you have a toilet leak is to place a dye tablet in the toilet tank. If color appears in the bowl after 10-15 minutes, you have a leak. (Flush immediately to avoid staining the toilet.) Usually, replacing the flapper valve in the tank will do the trick. A leaking toilet can waste 4,000 gallons of water per day. You can request dye tablets by calling KC Water Customer Service at 816-513-1313 (Option 1) during regular business hours.
  • Leaky faucets can be fixed by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replacing them if necessary.
  • A shower head leaking 10 drips per minute can waste more than 500 gallons of water per year. That’s the amount of water it takes to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher. Most leaking shower heads can be replaced by ensuring a tight seal and checking and replacing the washer if necessary.

Common Outdoor Leaks

  • An irrigation system with a leak about the thickness of a dime can waste as much as 6,300 gallons of water per month. Be sure to check your system before use each spring to make sure it wasn’t damaged by frost or freezing.
  • Check you garden hose for leaks at the spigot. If it leaks while in use, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer.
  • Exterior spigot. A hose left dripping in the grass or garden can waste thousands of gallons of water over the summer. Close the faucet tightly after each use.

The Environmental Protection Agency has more leak information online, including a short informational video, at www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week.