It is the customer's responsibility to maintain all pipes, fittings and fixtures in proper order free from leakage. The water line from the meter to a residence or place of business is the property owner's responsibility.
Water Leaks
It is possible to detect leaks in your home on your own. Most water leaks can be seen or heard, though some may be difficult to detect.
Check your water bill each month. Compare your current water usage on your bill to the usage on your last bill. Is your usage in a similar range? If no, and you don't know why, check for a leak. If your usage level seems higher than you think it should be, check for a leak.
Determining if You Have a Water Leak
Here are the steps to check if you have a leak:
- Turn off all water sources being used in the house or any water features in your yard. Locate the water meter on your property.
- Remove the meter box lid and lift up the metal cover on the meter and locate the red triangle on the face of the water meter. If your meter does not have a red triangle, make note of the location of the needle on the meter.
- Check to see if the red triangle or needle has moved after one minute.
If you have all of your water off in the house/yard and the red triangle is spinning or after five minutes the needle has moved, a leak is present somewhere on the property side of the meter.
A small leak may not be noticeable right away, we recommend that you leave all water off for 20-30 minutes and then go back out to check the position of the leak indicator or with the digital meter look and see if the + sign has disappeared.
Finding the Leak
Check your house for leaking toilets (ex. a toilet flapper not tightly fitted), look under sinks/fixtures and in crawl spaces.
Replace worn washers in faucets and shower heads. Even a small drip can waste as much as 170 gallons of water each day, or 5,000 gallons per month.
Your toilet may have a silent leak. Drop a little food coloring into the tank. Wait about 10 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the bowl, you have a leak.
Check for moist spots around and under the house plumbing and around outdoor plumbing. Check your property for soft spots. Listen for a leak. In pipes with 30 PSI or higher water pressure, they may be a “Hiss” of “Whoosh” sound indicating a leak may be present.
You may also want to check your faucets and hose connections for leaks and examine any outdoor water features for drips. Inspect pipes for pinhole leaks, leaking joints, etc.
Who to Contact When You Have Determined You Have a Water Leak
If you need assistance locating or repairing a leak you have several choices depending on your particular situation. Some people can dig up the suspected area and even fix their own leak. This is your choice and could help eliminate expensive repair costs. You could also hire a professional. Leak detection companies, plumbers or even sprinkler repair businesses can fix leaks and these companies can easily be found in the phone book or online.
Leak Adjustments
Did you have a leak? The City of Phoenix will do a one-time leak adjustment.
Residences with a probable water leak may apply for an adjustment to their water bill. Satisfactory proof of repairs must be submitted. The request for adjustment must meet the following criteria:
- A description of the repairs that were done.
- A copy of the repair bill or receipts for necessary parts to complete the required repairs. Leak adjustments are intended for water leaks that cause an abnormally high monthly water bill. Adjustments will not be granted for faulty plumbing fixtures, such as running toilets or leaky faucets, improperly set irrigation systems, or water line broken as a result of construction.
- Complete the Leak Adjustment Form (click link)
The City will assume no responsibility for costs associated with the repair.