If you think water has been used on the city side of your meter, then you take your evidence to the office that produces your bill. But if they got the usage off your meter, you either have a leak, which is generally considered your problem*, or there is an error. Depending on the meter type, it can be misreading. You can have them put another meter on the line and compare the two readings. Here’s what you don’t do. DO NOT go into the office mad. Go in with a puzzled and inquiring tone. Write down all of the questions. Always use questions. Don’t make any definitive statements. If you form everything in a question than the office is going in search of answers. If you come in with your theory, you will trigger an automatic self-defense and you will lose that one. If you don’t get satisfaction, work your way up the chain. Find out which elected official overseas the office and go see him. (Her, or it. You never know these days.)
Also, they may send a city engineer out to look at your problem. Aim at this if you can’t get anything else done. You may have a giant leak under a slab or emptying into an abandoned pipe or well.
If the prices are real, then get someone to dig you a well and use that water instead.
One more thing you can do now is turn off all the water and then see if the meter is still moving. If it is, you may be in serious physical danger until you determine where the water is going.
* If there is a problem on your side there are two possible outs that will save you money. Find out if they have a one time forgiveness policy. Two, find out if you can use the pool filling price break. Usually, it’s a tiny percentage of the real price.
“If the prices are real, then get someone to dig you a well and use that water instead.”
I know from other folks that San Jose well water isn’t that great. It has arsenic and chromium all over the place and towards Almaden and the Guadalupe River there’s no end of mercury in the ground water.
Which makes sense since “Almaden” means a place where you can find mercury.