Oops! Garden hose was left turned on for 2 days. What now?

[cajuncowgirl318]

My mom went on vacation and asked me to stop by her house every few days to check her mail and water her flowers, etc. Apparently when I left her house Friday night I didn't get the garden hose turned off. (Which doesn't make sense to me anyway, because I distinctly remember turning it back off before I left her house Friday, but whatever.) When I went back to mom's on Monday evening I found the garden hose running and a huge puddle of standing water in her back yard. How much is her water bill going to be now? I am afraid it is going to be through the roof and my mom is going to wring my neck! I am afraid to even tell my mom what happened. Is there anything I can do? Would it help if I called the water dept. and explained it to them and see if they could make an adjustment? Or asked them to send the difference in the bill directly to me? Help!

 

[BobKat]

The water department isn't going to forgive the bill, so forget that idea. The bills are automated, so they're not going to be able to send the difference in billing to you either. Don't embarrass yourself by asking them to do this.

Just tell your mom what happened and offer to pay the excess on your mom's water bill. It's possible that some neighbor kid turned the water back on as a prank. That's a good solid excuse. Go with that one.

 

[Mo W]

That's never happened to me so I'm not sure how much it would be. I'd call the water department and see if they'll work with you.