Leak Detection

About Leaks
As your water purveyor, we work hard to eliminate leaks in the water distribution system. Many leaks, however, occur inside the home, beyond our control. These leaks are the responsibility of you, the homeowner. Finding and repairing them saves, not only water, but money.

Leaks waste tremendous amounts of water. A toilet that "keeps running" or a dripping faucet can easily waste thousands of gallons of water a month. If your home is connected to a sewer system, you pay for this water as it enters and as it leaves your house. If you have a private septic system, leaks could possibly overload its capacity.

We recommend that each homeowner familiarize themselves with their home water system and the material contained in this brochure. Locate your water meter and your master water supply shut-off valve. Make sure everyone in your family knows how to turn off the water supply in the event of an emergency. Audit your entire household and correct any leaks. Additionally, we encourage you to evaluate your water usage and make changes where you identify waste. Contact your water purveyor for ways to reduce water usage in your home and landscape.

Meet Your Meter
Your water meter is the best detective in the home. It can tell whether you have leaks. All you have to do is learn its language.

Your water meter is typically located near the street under a metal, plastic, or concrete lid. Find it. This meter is your indicator of water usage. Meters record water in cubic feet and record water usage just as your car's odometer records mileage. One cubic foot of water equals 7.5 gallons. Meters are never reset. To find how much water you have used in any given period, just subtract the number on your last bill from the current meter reading.

Many meters are also equipped with a small "leak detector arrow that spins to record smaller volumes of water typical of leaks.

Locate Your Master Valve
The master water supply shut-off valve controls water flow into the home. It is important that everyone in the household knows where it is located. If there is an emergency, you will need to know in a hurry. You cannot afford to waste precious time searching while the basement floods or the carpets are drenched. Here are some likely locations:

Checking For Leaks
A simple procedure can detect leaks that may exist anywhere in your home.

    1. Locate your water meter.
    2. Turn off all water - inside and outside. Leave your master valve open.
    3. Read your meter and write down the figure. Your meter may have a small triangle for detecting leaks. Note if this is moving.
    4. Wait 15 to 20 minutes and read your meter again.
    5. If the figure has changed, there is a leak somewhere. Your next step is to find it. Is the leak inside your home or in the service line?
    6. Turn the water off at your master valve.
    7. Repeat steps 3 and 4.
    8. If the figure changes again, the leak is in the service line. If the figure does not change, the leak is past the master valve and probably inside your home.

If the leak is in your service line, you can attempt to fix it yourself or contact a plumber. If the leak is inside your home, continue to check for leaks in your toilets, faucets and appliances.

To detect leaks in irrigation systems, you must first know where that system ties into your home's water system. Newer systems usually are connected between the meter box and the master valve. A leak would be detected in step 8. Older systems may be connected in the home or beyond the master valve. Leaks would be detected in step 5.

Fixing Faucets
You do not need to be a detective to find leaky faucets and it is not necessary to be a magician to fix them. The most common cause of leaks is a worn washer.

Here is how to fix a washer on simple faucets:

    1. Shut off the water at the nearest shut-off valve or at the master valve.
    2. Loosen the cap nut by turning counter clockwise. Turn the faucet handle in the direction of opening until it comes off.
    3. Lift out the faucet assembly.
    4. Unscrew the brass setscrew which holds the washer in place.
    5. Remove the old washer. Flush or wipe the cup clean.
    6. Select the proper size replacement washer and insert it. Then replace the setscrew.
    7. Replace the assembly. Turn the faucet handle as far as possible to close it. Then loosen handle slightly.
    8. Replace cap nut. Close the faucet. Turn on the water.

Check your local hardware store. They have excellent brochures explaining how to fix different types of faucets.

Toilet Leaks
Toilets are notorious for their silent leaks. A toilet that overflows just one gallon every five minutes will waste 288 gallons per day or 8,640 gallons per month.