A spigot ticket is a water bill charge for water that leaves your property through an outdoor faucet or hose connection
When you use water from an outdoor spigot — the faucet on the side of your house or building — your water meter records that use. Your water utility then bills you for it. A spigot ticket is straightforward the line item on your water bill that charges you for that outdoor water use. It appears on the same bill as your indoor water charges, but it is tracked separately so you and the utility can see exactly how much water left your property through exterior connections.
The reason utilities track this separately is practical: outdoor water use — watering lawns, washing cars, filling pools — often leaks or goes unnoticed. By isolating the spigot charge, you can spot unusual patterns. If your spigot ticket suddenly doubles, you might have a leak in an outdoor line or a hose left running. That visibility helps you catch problems before they become expensive.
Key Takeaways
- A spigot ticket is a separate charge on your water bill for water used through outdoor faucets and hose connections.
- Your water meter measures all water leaving your property, including outdoor use, and the utility bills you for the volume consumed.
- Tracking spigot use separately makes it easier to spot leaks or unusually high outdoor water consumption.
- You can reduce spigot charges by fixing leaks, using timers on hoses, and watering during cooler parts of the day when less water evaporates.
- Some utilities offer separate meters for outdoor water so it does not count toward indoor usage limits or tiered pricing.
How your water meter measures spigot use
Your water meter sits where the main water line enters your property — usually in a basement, crawl space, or meter box outside. Every drop of water that flows through that meter gets counted and recorded. The meter does not distinguish between water you drink, water that fills your toilet, or water that flows through a garden hose. It measures total volume.
Your utility reads that meter monthly or quarterly and charges you based on the total gallons or cubic feet consumed. The spigot ticket appears on your bill because the utility has a way to estimate or measure how much of that total came from outdoor connections. Some utilities do this by installing a separate outdoor meter. Others estimate based on your usage patterns — for example, if your winter water use is much lower than summer use, the difference is often attributed to outdoor watering.
Why utilities separate outdoor water charges
Outdoor water use is unpredictable and often wasteful. A hose left running for an hour can use hundreds of gallons. A leaking outdoor line can waste thousands of gallons per month without you noticing. By breaking out the spigot charge, utilities help you see the problem clearly.
Some utilities also use spigot charges for rate structure reasons. If your area has tiered pricing — where you pay more per gallon once you exceed a certain threshold — outdoor water sometimes does not count toward that threshold. This encourages people to water lawns and gardens without worrying that they will push their household into a higher rate bracket. Other utilities charge a flat fee for outdoor water access regardless of how much you use, similar to a service charge.
Common reasons your spigot ticket changes month to month
Outdoor water use varies dramatically by season. In summer, when you water lawns and gardens, your spigot charge will be high. In winter, when plants go dormant and you do not wash cars or fill pools, it may drop to nearly zero or disappear entirely. This is normal and expected.
A sudden spike in your spigot ticket during a season when you normally use little outdoor water can signal a leak. Check outdoor faucets for drips, inspect hose connections for cracks, and look for wet spots in your yard or along your foundation. Even a small drip from a spigot can waste 20 gallons per day. A leaking underground line can waste far more.
If you recently started a new outdoor project — filling a pool, installing a fountain, watering new landscaping — your spigot charge will reflect that. Once the project is complete or the plants are established, the charge should drop again.
Ways to lower your spigot ticket
Fix leaks first. Walk around your property and look for dripping outdoor faucets, cracked hose connections, or wet areas in your yard. A single dripping spigot wastes more water than you might think. Tightening a connection or replacing a worn washer often costs nothing and saves hundreds of gallons per month.
Use timers and soaker hoses for watering. A timer on your hose lets you water for a set time and then shuts off automatically, preventing the waste that happens when you forget you turned it on. Soaker hoses deliver water slowly to plant roots instead of spraying it into the air where it evaporates. Both methods use less water than a standard hose and nozzle.
Water during early morning or late evening when temperatures are cooler and less water evaporates. Watering at midday in summer means much of the water never reaches the plants — it evaporates into the air. Watering between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. is more efficient and usually results in a lower spigot charge.
Separate outdoor meters and how they work
Some utilities offer the option to install a separate meter just for outdoor water. This meter measures only water that flows through outdoor spigots and hoses. Indoor water flows through your main meter as usual. The advantage is that outdoor water is billed separately and often at a different rate — sometimes lower, sometimes without tiered pricing applied.
A separate outdoor meter costs money to install, usually between $300 and $800 depending on your utility and the distance from your main meter to your outdoor connections. Whether it makes financial sense depends on how much outdoor water you use. If you water a large lawn, fill a pool, or wash vehicles frequently, the savings on your monthly bill may pay back the installation cost within a year or two. If you use outdoor water rarely, a separate meter probably will not save you money.
Contact your water utility to ask whether separate outdoor meters are available in your area and what the installation cost would be. They can also tell you whether outdoor water is charged at a different rate, which helps you decide whether installing a separate meter is worth it.
Reading your spigot ticket and understanding the charges
Your water bill lists the spigot charge as a separate line item, usually labeled "outdoor water," "spigot charge," "irrigation meter," or something similar. The label varies by utility. The charge shows the volume of water used (in gallons or cubic feet) and the price per unit.
Compare your spigot charges across months and seasons. A pattern will emerge: high in summer, low in winter, and roughly the same amount each month within a season. If a month breaks that pattern — if your spigot charge is much higher than it was the same month last year — that is a sign to investigate for leaks or unusual use.
If you do not understand what the spigot charge represents on your bill, call your water utility's customer service line. They can explain how they calculate it, whether you have a separate outdoor meter, and what the current rate is. Most utilities also offer online portals where you can see your usage history and compare months side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off my spigot to avoid the charge?
If you have a separate outdoor meter, you can sometimes request that it be shut off during winter months when you do not use outdoor water, which stops the charge. However, if outdoor water is measured through your main meter, turning off a spigot does not reduce your bill — it only prevents you from using outdoor water. Contact your utility to ask whether seasonal shutoff is an option.
What if I think my spigot charge is wrong?
Request a meter reading from your utility. They can verify that the meter is working correctly and that the charge matches the recorded volume. If you believe there is an error, ask for a manual inspection. Some utilities will adjust a bill if they find a meter malfunction, though this is rare.
Does a spigot ticket appear on every water bill?
Not always. If you do not use outdoor water during a billing period, some utilities do not charge a spigot fee. Others charge a minimum fee or a flat service charge regardless of use. Check your bill to see how your utility handles this, or call their customer service to ask.
Will installing a rain barrel reduce my spigot charge?
A rain barrel collects water from your roof and lets you use it for watering without running your meter. This does reduce your spigot charge because less water flows through your meter. However, most utilities do not offer a discount for rainwater use — you straightforward use less metered water, so your bill is lower. Check your local regulations, as some areas restrict rainwater collection.
Is the spigot charge the same as a sewer charge?
No. A spigot charge is for the water you use outdoors. A sewer charge is what you pay to have wastewater treated and removed. Outdoor water typically does not go into the sewer — it soaks into the ground or runs off into storm drains. Some utilities credit your sewer bill if you have a separate outdoor meter, since that water does not enter the sewer system.