Water Leaks

Water Leaks FAQs

• I found a leak, do I have to pay for all the water consumed?

  The Water Leak User Fee Adjustment Policy enables credits to be applied to water usage across three distinct categories:

  • Underground Leak
  • Underground Irrigation Leak
  • Above Ground Leak

  Upon discovering a leak, residents are advised to promptly inform the User Rate's team, address the leak swiftly, and subsequently submit a Leak Application Form.  

• Can my excessive consumption be caused by a malfunctioning meter?

  Water meters only record the water that has flowed through the meter. If a water meter malfunctions, it is more likely to under-register the actual water usage.

• Is the leak on my property or the City’s property?

  Leaks that are between the water meter box and your house are the homeowner's responsibility.  Leaks outside of your property lines can be considered the City's responsibility.  If you believe the water meter is leaking, please contact Public Works as the meters are city property and not to be altered. 

  The City does not repair leaks on private property. Various local plumbing companies provide this service. 

• Does a running toilet qualify for an adjustment?

  The City’s Water Leak User Fee Adjustment Policy provides an "Above Ground Leak" adjustment opportunity to those who have experienced an unintentional water leak due to failed plumbing, such as a leaky toilet or faucet. Adjustments may be considered once in a lifetime per property and per owner. The user rates account will be adjusted for up to one billing period where the leak was present, and the consumption was the highest.

  Alarming Fact: High-volume water leaks often come from toilets. They are hard to detect and are usually caused by worn or misaligned parts.  A silent toilet leak can be as small as 30 gallons per day (GPD). Larger leaks can be up to 6 gallons per minute!

• Is there a limit to how many times I can receive a leak adjustment?

  • Underground Leak adjustments are permitted on an as-needed basis
  • Underground Irrigation Leak adjustments may be considered once in a five (5) year period for the same owner and property
  • Above Ground Leak adjustments may be considered once in a lifetime per property and per owner

• I found a water leak and tightened a valve to stop the leak.  Does this qualify for an adjustment?

  A repair must be made to qualify for an above-ground leak adjustment. This means a part would need to either be restored or replaced.