re: Water bill is high

could be a leak between the water meter and your house. Turn off the water at the shutoff valve where the water line enters your house (not the shut off valve by the water meter). then check the meter to see if it is running. If so, you have a leak below ground. you can start digging on the house side of the meter or where the pipe exits the ground to enter your house. Chances are its a plastic elbow at the end nearest the house, which is prone to crack with the subsidence of your yard.