The City of Gatlinburg Utilities Department encourages its customers to take advantage of the online customer portal, which allows the monitoring of water usage at their respective properties.

The Online Customer Portal, which is powered by Sensus Analytics, presents water usage data to users in an easy-to-read dashboard, but also allows customers to dig deeper into analytical data about their water usage, including consumption habits. Customers can also be alerted to potential issues, including unusually high usage or continuous usage, which could signal water leaks, running faucets, or burst pipes at customer’s properties.

Customers will need to set parameters via the portal to establish usage notifications. The portal also allows users to set vacation alerts, by inputting the days they will be away from their property and usage parameters during the period they are away. Gatlinburg Utilities Department staffers can assist the setup of usage parameters or vacation alerts by calling 865-436-4681.

“The Customer Portal gives the Water Department an ability to better communicate to customers data about their water usage and its impact on their monthly bill,” Gatlinburg Utilities manager Dale Phelps said. “The system allows customers to detect issues such as continuous flow, which could catch leaks early, before damage occurs or their bills increase significantly.”

The Online Customer Portal is web-based and can be accessed on any mobile or desktop device, allowing customers to access their data at their convenience. This service is optional for Gatlinburg waters customers and is available at no charge.

First-time users of the Online Customer Portal will need to establish an account. To create an account, customers will need their Account Number and their exact address as it appears on their water bill. This information can be found on the customers’ most recent water bill.

Customer Support

Once customers have established their account, they will be able to access the Customer Portal on their preferred device.

For any questions, or support issues, please contact the Gatlinburg Water Department at 865-436-4681.

Have an unusually high water bill? The Customer Portal can help.

POTENTIAL CAUSES OF HIGH WATER BILLS

An unusually high water bill is most often caused by a leak or change in water use. Some common causes of high water bills include:

A leaking toilet, or a toilet that continues to run after being flushed.
A dripping faucet.
Filling or topping off a swimming pool
Watering the lawn, new grass, or trees.
Irrigation systems.
Kids home for summer vacations or school holidays.
Water-cooled air conditioners.
A broken water pipe or obvious leak; check the pipes and water heater in the basement or crawlspace
Running the water to avoid freezing water pipes during cold weather
Service line leaks between your water meter and your home.

Do-It-Yourself toilet assessment

First check for the most common leak: a deteriorated or defected flush valve at the bottom of the toilet tank. If it does not make a tight seal, water will leak into the toilet bowl. To check for this:

Take the lid off the tank behind the bowl, flush the toilet, then wait for it to fully refill.
Put a few drops of food coloring or a colored dye tablet in the tank.
Wait at least 20 minutes; longer if suspect it is a small leak.
If there is any color in the toilet bowl, there is a leak.

The second most common type of leak has to do with an improperly adjusted or broken fill valve. To check for this, take the lid off of the toilet tank, flush, and see if water is draining into the overflow tubes when the tank is full.

What can I do if my Bill is unusually high?

If you receive a bill that you feel is too high, check over the common causes listed above. This may help to pinpoint the source of the high bill. Also, sign up for the Online Customer Portal and check to see if usage is occurring at unusual times or is continuous. This could signal leaks you aren't aware of or can not find, or other issues.

Also, feel free to contact the Gatlinburg Water Department at 865-436-4681 for questions regarding your bill, or how to sign up for the Customer Portal.