ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) -- Jack Bischoff was surprised when he recently found out his water meter was buried in the back of his yard.
He found that out after getting an even bigger surprise on his water bill about his water usage.
“For the past two years, starting in 2011, they show I’ve doubled my water usage,” said Bischoff. “Then, in the past quarter, they’re telling me I’m using 10 times as much water.”
That’s a jump from about 7,000 gallons a quarter to 63,000 gallons. His bill also jumped, from $155 to $300.
Bischoff says there’s no way he used that much water. When he complained, Missouri-American Water sent out a meter reader.
The reader found no leaks, and no problems with the meter, So Bbischoff ran his own tests.
He ran his water in his sink, and used online water usage calculators. He says every test supports his claim.
“It always comes out right around what my average usage has been,” he said.
News 5 talked to Missouri-American about Bischoff’s bill. They say since no problems were found, and since his water usage now appears to be back to normal, he’s just going to have to pay the bill.
“It’s not about the money,” he said. “What’s got me riled is the way I’m being treated.”
Bischoff says he’s not done, and he still hopes to prove he did not use that much water.
