Water Saving Tips

The Village of Bensenville recommends that residents do what they can to help ensure that they are not experiencing any water leaks that can lead to costly water bills.

To ensure that your water bill stays reasonable, the Village recommends that homeowners take the following steps:

  1. Sign up for our AquaHawk Alerting leak prevention system and monitor your usage.

  2. Check your meter reading. 
    Write down your meter reading at the end of each month. The reading you take should be higher than the reading listed on your bill. If this is not the case, call us 630-594-1011. If your bill is extremely low, you should also be concerned since it could indicate a remote read issue, which will eventually be resolved and may result in high catch-up bills later. In this case, contact us to arrange for an appointment to make the necessary repairs. You should never allow your bill to estimate for more than 2-3 months. Estimating a bill is not the most reliable way to bill and often results in high catch-up bills once an actual read is obtained. Check the meter “Read Code” on your bill and call 630-594-1011 if your bills are being estimated. Read codes used are listed on your bill. 

    Please see our READING YOUR WATER METER (PDF) file for further details.
  3. Perform a leak test. 
    Take a meter reading (using the inside meter, probably found in your basement) at night before you go to bed, after everyone has used all necessary water. Then read the meter again in the morning, before anyone has used water. If everything is fine, the two numbers should match. If they do not, and the second number is much higher, there is a leak somewhere. If this test reveals a leak, contact the Utility Billing Department @ 630-594-1011 to discuss your issue. While we are unable to make repairs, in most cases we are able to help you identify the source of the leak. Rember... if your bill is high due to a leak in your house, it is not the fault or responsibility of the Village. You are responsible for all water used in your household even if the use was unintentional. 

    Remember that even a small toilet leak or drip in the basement faucet can use up to 1,000 gallons of water a day. This translates into as much as $21.20 per day. Multiply that by 30 days, and you’ve now added $636.00 to your regular water bill. Larger leaks, such as a toilet that runs constantly or an outside hose left running, can yield enormous increases. (As much as 650 gallons of water can flow through a 5/8" garden hose in just one hour!) Most problems can be fixed with an inexpensive part from the hardware store.

    Please see our CHECKING FOR LEAKS (PDF) file for further details
  4. Preserve water
    There are steps you can take to preserve water both inside and outside your home. Inside your home it can be as simple as not running the water when washing the dishes or brushing your teeth, running your washing machine and dishwasher only when full, taking showers instead of baths or installing low flow fixtures. Outside your home you can save water by watering your plants/lawn less often, watering during morning hours, using soaker hoses, mulching to retain moisture around your plants or collecting rainwater to water plants. Be sure to wash your vehicles in a car wash not your home, sweep your walkways and patios instead of spray washing. 

    Please see our WATER CONSERVATION TIPS (PDF) file for further details