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$800 Bill Has San Clemente Resident Wondering Where Extra 80,000 Gallons Of Water Went

SAN CLEMENTE (CBS)  — In his 90 years, Rod McChesney has never seen anything like it.

The World War II fighter pilot said his water bill was nearly $800.

"One-third of my monthly income is for my water bill -- that's not normal," McChesney said.

Water Bill
(credit: CBS)

According to his calculations, McChesney would have to use 80,000 gallons more than his average usage over the span of a month to rack up that total.

"Being on a fixed income and not a wealthy man, I am very aware of what water costs," McChesney said.

The San Clemente resident said the water company tested his meter and found nothing wrong.

He said he's owned his home for 49 years. Everyday, he said he collects extra shower water in this bucket and uses it in his garden.

McChesney also has low-flow toilets, shut-off valves and promptly fixed the only leak he was aware he had.

"There's no way 83,000 gallons could come out of that in one month," he said about the leak.

The disgruntled resident said his average bill runs approximately $50-$60.

Rod McChesney
(credit: CBS)

So, where is the water going?

McChesney surmises that even if someone were stealing the water from his front yard they'd have to fill up a 250-gallon water tank 335 times to take off with the 83,000 gallons of water on his bill.

"Somebody's made a mistake somewhere and I don't think it's me," McChesney said.

McChesney informed KCAL9 News Tuesday that after this story ran his water company contacted the San Clemente resident and reversed his bill.

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