A Florida city is helping residents spot potential water leaks before they lead to bigger bills, sending alerts to more than 2,000 properties where it detected continuous water use.
Here's what to know
Utility customers in Cape Coral can receive telephone or email alerts through a system launched jointly by the city's Customer Billing Services and IT teams, according to Gulf Coast News.
The city outlined leak detection as the purpose of the new process in its announcement, issued as a news release.
Continuous water consumption at a property triggers the notifications. While that may point to a problem worth investigating, an alert does not confirm a leak.
More background
Residents may avoid a higher water bill by addressing a potential leak early. The city's announcement, however, did not include a dollar estimate for potential savings.
The property count reflects notifications generated, not confirmed leaks or completed repairs.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Customers trying to determine what is causing the continuous consumption can also get troubleshooting support from Cape Coral.
A Customer Billing Services representative can help determine what might be behind the persistent water use recorded by the meter. However, receiving an alert does not automatically result in a visit.
Where can I learn more?
Cape Coral's alerts could help residents spot water-use problems before a surprise bill arrives. These stories cover unusually high bills, disputed leak warnings, and sprinkler use.
• A Florida homeowner's water bill soared as the utility reported 1,400 gallons used in 10 hours.
• A Florida renter discovered a $30,198 water bill tied to 1 million gallons after a shutoff.
• First-time homeowners received a major leak warning despite their water meter reading 0.0.
• A first-time homeowner received a 105,000-gallon water bill before learning about seven sprinkler zones.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
