Oh no! My bill's through the roof! Before you assume that your meter hasn't been read, stop to take the following into consideration: The Berryville Water Department DOES NOT estimate meters unless it is an extreme emergency. Before your bill is mailed to you, it has been inspected TWICE for errors. Of course we will not catch them all, but we try! The following situations can cause an enormous amount of water usage, especially if left unrepaired:

	The most common culprit! A constantly running toilet can cause tens of thousands of gallons to pass through your meter over the course of a month. If you know your toilet is leaking, fix it immediately! The following tips can help you determine if this is your high-usage problem: 1. Place a dye tablet, food coloring, milk, half & half, or milk of magnesia into a toilet tank full of water. Wait for a few minutes and see if it seeps down into the bowl area. If it does, you will need to repair or replace the flapper valve. 2. If you have a two-piece tolet (separate tank and bowl), take some toilet paper and work it into the open area between the tank and bowl and check for water prior to and after flushing. If it is dry prior to flushing, recheck again after flushing. If it is wet, this will denote a leak during the flush cycle.
	If you are starting service at a rental, you must pay the required $75.00 meter deposit. We do not waive deposits on rentals or business accounts. Also, the entire deposit must be paid before service can be turned on. This deposist will be refunded to you once you no longer use the service and your final bill has been paid in full. If you own the home for which you need service, you may be able to avoid paying the meter deposit if you can provide a letter of good credit from another utility company. Visit our policy and procedures page for further information.
	Please make all arrangements necessary to begin service at least one day prior to the date you need service started. The Water Department does not provide same-day service. Also, please take extra care to be sure that all faucets are turned off inside the home or apartment. The Water Department will not be held responsible for flooding. Please, too, look around for a recycling bin which has been provided by the city. These are City property and are to be left behind when residences are vacated. Apartment tennants will not have a recycle bin. Visit our sanitation page for further information.