Stunned Utah Resident Billed for 1.4 Million Gallons of Water

The city and a plumber couldn't find any pipe or lawn sprinkler leaks and say they found Baur's meter working properly.

For the period in dispute, the water meter was spinning continuously at 72 percent of capacity, said George Benford, Ogden's public services director.

"I've never heard of anybody using that much water," Benford said. "I can't imagine it. It's odd. That's the level you would use when you get to a manufacturing facility."

Bo Hoskins, an Ogden plumber, said, "It's pretty crazy."

The city called Rick Baur to let him know the bill was coming "so he wouldn't have a heart attack," said his wife, Monica. "I thought it was a joke, but they made us pay it."

Although the couple paid the $9,700, they aren't out of the woods yet. The city says they owe $1,700 for water usage in August.