Could you recall an experience when you have taken care to full completion, something that was lingering on your mind for a long time? How did you feel? Lighter? Energetic?

I had one recent such experience. It was with regards my water bill, continuously increasing month after month. Water bill is something I am newly involved since the time we moved into our house. Earlier it was part of the apartment rent, a consistent amount through the lease term.

The first bill from May was super high, about $133. When I called in my water service, they told first one is usually high and it includes initiation fee, but would be lower from next one.

Next ones came to be reasonable, ranging from 65-75. Since Sept, it kept shooting up, $81-95-101-119. Checking with one of my neighbors, and just going through my details… wondered perhaps our June-July-Aug bills were lower because we were partly out and my son wasn’t home most of his summer vacation…With we both being back home, perhaps jump to 80’s. And then with Mom joining us, it was some more up. Yet it is not constant, but steadily building up. If water bill is going up with each additional member being home, when all three of us were not home for 5 full days, shouldn’t the bill have lowered? In stead of lowering, it increased for Dec. And January’s rose by additional $18, which didn’t feel normal to me. I was even kind of worried, does it keep on increasing month after month? I particularly didn’t see any abnormal use.

I did call again my water utility company. I did tell them about my situation and that my water bill has been bumping up month after month. I then asked what could be the possible reasons for this increase. Representative Andrea said that she is not seeing anything wrong with the meter, and asked if I see any water leaks or faucets dripping. I said I didn’t see anything of that nature. She said that is the only possibility she could think of.

That evening I went around home both inside and outside, and checked for any leaks or dripping. I couldn’t find any.

That night I woke up in the middle of the night to go to bathroom. After using the toilette, flushing, and washing my hands, I stood there for few mins and to my surprise I noticed a very thin streak of water running continuously. I watched for few more mins, and I saw it continuing.

Andreas’ words came to my memory…watch for any leaks, drips…Perhaps, this is what is causing the water bill to go up, as it is continuously running. I removed the lid of the water tank and didn’t see anything much abnormal. Tank was filled up. And there is no marked sound of this thin streak of water running…

The next morning, I called Thomas, a handy man who had helped me few times earlier doing some minor fixes to our house. He did even take care to fix our toilette two times when I couldn’t flush. He had to replace the chain one time, and correct it the other time.

I did tell him the problem I am facing, and that water bill is shooting up every month. He asked me how much my last one is, and I told $119. “It is way too high for you, “he exclaimed. Also, I did share with him that I noticed a very thin streak of water flowing in the toilette and if it is the cause of raising bill…

He said he would stop by and check that evening. He came in, checked and said he adjusted something and see how it does. Yet he kind of expressed that what he did might actually may not make a difference. He said the water flow was very thin and he had to really stay and watch for 5 mins to even notice any. And most likely that shouldn’t have caused water bill that high.

I kept watching my toilette, and I thought whatever he did, fixed the leak. But second day I noticed again thin streak of water flowing, actually felt it is slightly thicker than what I noticed earlier.

I called back Thomas and told about it. I also asked instead of waiting for the next bill to see how it is impacting, is there a way we could check our water meter and see how it is working? I will make sure that all faucets are off, no washers running at house and see how the meter is.

If the water meter is still running, then we have to figure out where the water leak is…

Thomas said he can come by and check the next day. He called me after checking and said, “Hey your water meter is running pretty fast. I see your neighbors is not moving at all, but yours is. Also, I am not quite sure which is your meter. But with your water bill going high, the running meter I noticed mostly could be yours.”

I said I will look into my bills and keep them ready to be able to make sure which is our meter.

I asked Thomas, “Is they a way to cut off water to the toilette and then see how the meter is doing?

Thomas paused with a smile and said, “That is Brilliant idea!” Let’s do it. I won’t be in down the next few days. I will come back on Saturday and we can do that, turning off water supply to toilette and see how meter is running.

Waiting until Saturday, I felt was too long for me. I went around the house to see where our water meter is, so I could check myself. I couldn’t determine where it is. I asked few of my neighbors and they didn’t know either! I also kept asking how much their usual water bill is, and most of them had between $65-80. And said mine is too high, especially for both of us (my son and me) and we both not being home during weekdays.

Sat afternoon, I went for walk in the community. I stopped by each person I came across asking if they knew where our water meters are located. I would have asked at least half a dozen this afternoon. Finally, I saw a couple just arriving in their driveway. I stopped for a bit, in an attempt to give them some time before I bombard them with my questions about water meter, water bill…. As soon as I asked, “do you know where our water meters are located?” “Yes, I do!”, he answered with gusto and approached to show me. He did lift up the round cast iron plate on which “Central Arkansas Water” is inscribed. He showed me the water meter. Regards bills, he said, “mine usually comes around $65, no matter which season. I use lot of water for my washing clothes, showers. Almost always it stays in the same range. For you and your son, $119 is way too high. You should be getting around $65, like mine. You know during non-winter months, sprinklers turn on, but water due to sprinklers is covered by Home Owner’s association, and not in our monthly water bill…He was the nicest gentle man who happily showed and shared beyond the information, what I was checking with my other neighbors.

I came back to our house, and attempt to lift the cast iron plate, but I couldn’t. I wondered how that gentleman did with so much ease. Not too further, Thomas called and said he is on way to our home and will be arriving in few mins. I noted down our meter number, and even amounts I paid each month

Thomas arrived, he lifted up that cast iron plate, and he showed and compared our meter reading to our neighbor’s…Ours being patio homes, both my neighbor’s and my water meters are located under the same lid…I made sure which is ours by comparing to the meter number on my bill.

Thomas went and stopped the water to my toilette, and we checked the meter again. We saw that meter slowed down and then almost stopped when water supply to the toilette was stopped.

We figured out that some leak in the toilette is causing water drain.

Thomas said he doesn’t know of a fix right now, but will think through, check out some youtubes and will come back and fix. In two days, he called me and said he knows how to fix and will do. He replaced a part in the toilette tank and fixed the problem. We came out and checked the water meter both with water on and off for toilette. The meter was almost stalled in either case.

Yeah, Thomas fixed it!!

I felt a gush of relief!! I paid huge bills, but at least wouldn’t from now on wards!!

In addition, I learnt where our water meter is, which many of my neighbors didn’t know!! Now I know how to identify if we have any problems like this in future.

As I was walking, suddenly I felt I am walking much taller, and my body felt much lighter. I was surprised to realize how taking care of things like this, whether small or big, can make us feel so lighter both on mind and body!!

This made me to run through my list and see. Getting back to a long-procrastinated blogging definitely bought me much positive energies. I am feeling back by usually happiness and enthusiasm. I am slowly getting into groove with my exercise and healthy eating. I am getting to enjoy my walks in beautiful weather, and walked over seven hours last week, and about 10 miles this week. I am getting back to cook regularly, and loving my stir-fried veges!!

Oh, I listened to quite a few audio books I borrowed from library during my walk and drive time!! Some of them are:

Joseph Murphy’s, “To Develop Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem” …and in turn read to his “Cosmic Energizer,” as well

“Listening: The Forgotten Skill”

Linda Gabriel’s, “Weight Loss Forever”

“The Simple Diet”

Am excited about so many wonderful changes in my life, and many new insights flowing to me from these books, and the conversations I am getting to engage with!!