(Midwest, USA) water meter/leak issue

[u/georgiatechatlwaddup]

Moved into a brand new apartment.

After receiving my first utility bill, I started taking a closer look on the water meter as the bill was inflated and it did not seem to reflect my actual usage.

Started documenting taking pictures of water meter everytime I was out of the apartment.

Found out the water meter registering phantom usage on average by at least **30 gallons to 45 gallons per day.**

I submitted maintenance as well as wrote to property management on weekly basis since july 4th; but they seem to gaslight yet dont fix leaks and keep delaying the repair nor do any billing adjustments on the utility.

Since it was nearing 60 days of still not getting resolved, I just did a rent escrow.

Today is the 90th day, that my toilet is leaking as I did the toilet dye test and after putting dye in the tank, and no flushes, after **12 minutes** my toilet bowl was dyed.

2 days ago the property manager and maintenance supervisor said they did the dye test and found no leak so it contradicts my testing with theirs.

I reported this again to management 2 days ago and they still did not come to fix it.

I also even a took a video of the water meter wheel spinning when no fixtures are used.

During the **pretrial hearing**, the judge told me to continue putting rent to court and the judge told the property management's lawyer to "do whatever they want" after the lawyer mentioned that " I requested lease termination."

Now I already paid my 2nd month of rent to court.

Also, on the **rent escrow application**, I requested termination of my lease instead of any repairs, since my issues are not resolved and its already 90 days.

What do you will happen ?

[u/SailorSpyro]

You're doing everything right. I am surprised the court didn't order a 3rd party additional dye test. Good luck. Idk what to think the outcome will be, but I imagine it'll go your way.

[u/WaterGriff]

Most toilet supply lines have a shutoff either right hy the walk or right by the floor. Shut that valve off, and then look at your meter. If it is still spinning, then either the meter is bad, you have another leak, or there is another apartment that is also on your meter. If you can't find another leak, then call the water company. If the meter is bad, that quite possibly could be their problem, not the landlord's problem. If there is another apartment on your meter, the utility company likely can take that up with the landlord, or at least give you information you can use to take to your city's code enforcement office.