My water/sewer bill is high. What can I do?

There are many reasons why your water consumption could increase. Were you watering your lawn this summer or do you have additional people living in your home? Do you have a toilet leaking?

We would first recommend doing a dye test on your toilet(s). You can call the Billing Office at 301-600-2354 to request free dye packets be sent to you or you can use blue or green food coloring to test your toilet(s).  Do not use red food coloring as it can stain.  Simply drop the dye tablets (or if they were crushed during mailing, just pour the powder out) or put a few drops of the food coloring into the tank of your toilet(s) and wait 15 minutes. DO NOT FLUSH!  If any of the color shows up in the toilet bowl, the toilet is leaking. If you do not see any color in the bowl, check the tank of the toilet to verify the coloring is still in the tank. If it isn't, this is another indication the toilet is leaking. You can have a leaking toilet and not hear it.  Leaking toilets do not flood your home because they drain into the sewer lines. If ignored, your usage and bill can increase significantly in the following months. DUSWM does not offer account adjustments for leaks found inside the home.


If you do not have an inside leak, you may have an underground service line leak. Call our office at 301-600-2354 if you would like to schedule a service line leak check. There is a $50 fee for this test. Water leaks on the house side of the meter vault are the responsibility of the homeowner. We offer a one-time adjustment following the service line leak repair. Please contact our office for more information about this adjustment.


For more information about leaks, please refer to “Locating & Correcting Water Leaks in Your Home”.

Show All Answers

1. What are the business hours for the Water/Sewer Billing Office?
2. How does Frederick County bill water and sewer charges?
3. What are Ready to Serve Fees?
4. My water and sewer bill includes a Bay Restoration Fee. What is this?
5. When will I receive my water/sewer bill?
6. What payment options do you offer?
7. Can I receive my bill electronically instead of receiving a paper copy?
8. Do you accept water/sewer payments after business hours?
9. Do you accept water/sewer payments online?
10. Do you accept water/sewer payments by phone?
11. Where can I mail my water/sewer bill payment?
12. Can I set up automatic payments from my bank account?
13. Can I get additional notifications concerning my account status?
14. When is my payment due?
15. How long do I have to pay my water/sewer bill before I am disconnected for non-payment?
16. What should I do if my water service has been disconnected?
17. Where do I mail correspondence regarding water/sewer accounts?
18. I cannot find my water/sewer bill. How can I check my account balance?
19. I am moving. Can I change the mailing address for my water/sewer bill?
20. My water/sewer bill is high. What can I do?
21. Is there a fee for dishonored checks, credit chargebacks or unsatisfied electronic debits?
22. I can’t afford to pay my bill by the due date. Who should I contact?
23. I am renting out my property. Can I get the bill put in the tenant’s name?
24. Why does my landlord get copies of my bill and late notices?
25. My current tenants are moving out. Can I get a meter read before the new tenants move in?
26. I am selling my property. How can I get my name taken off the water/sewer account?
27. I am buying a property that is on Frederick County water and/or sewer. How do I get service established in my name?
28. Can I get a credit on my bill for watering my lawn or filling my swimming pool?