Water Leaks & Outages

Protecting Your Pipes after an Outage

If there has been a water outage in your area, we recommend turning your cold water on slowly after water is restored and letting it run for a few minutes to release any air that may have built up in your lines. This will help protect your home plumbing. Learn more in our Frequently Asked Questions.

Finding and Fixing Leaks

Leaks in your home plumbing can not only waste valuable fresh water, but can also impact your water bill through increased costs. Even pin-hole sized leaks can cause a significant amount of water loss.

3 Ways to Reduce Water Loss

  • Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures. Remember to check irrigation systems and spigots too.

  • Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections. To save water without a noticeable difference in flow in your bathroom, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator.

Catching Silent Commode Leaks

Commodes are a common source of water leaks inside the home, generally due to an old or worn flapper. And they can be costly – a leaking commode can lose up to 200 gallons of water per day. Over the course of a month, that’s 6,000 gallons of water, which is more than many households us in a month! Watch the video for a step-by-step guide on how to check your commode for leaks.

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Reading Your Meter: How to Check for Water Leaks

If you’ve checked faucets, commodes and other fixtures for leaks, tightened  connections and replaced old fixtures, but your water bill is still higher than normal, you may have a leak somewhere else within your plumbing. Here’s how you can use your water meter to check for leaks:

    1. Turn off all faucets inside and outside. Make sure that your dishwasher, washing machine, toilets, etc. are not running.
    2. Record your meter reading on the water meter located outside your home (usually on a front corner of your property).
    3. While recording your reading, you can also check the dial located in the middle of your meter that resembles a pinwheel. If you see that your pinwheel dial is moving, you can assume you have a leak. NOTE: Many customers now have digital-display meters, some of which have a leak indicator. For these, watch the digital display of numbers. If they move, or if the leak indicator is lit, you likely have a leak. If the pinwheel dial or digital number display is not moving, proceed to Step 3.
    4. Wait at least one hour (more is better) using absolutely no water. (Remember not to flush any toilets during this time.)
    5. Record your meter reading again and compare the two readings. If the reading has increased, you may have a leak, and you may want to contact a licensed plumber or repair the leak yourself.
    6. If the reading is the same, you do not have a leak.
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WHUD Leak Adjustment Policy

To qualify for a leak adjustment, your water usage must be double the amount you normally use. To determine your adjusted amount, we subtract 50% of the excessive usage (the amount above the average bill). We also adjust any penalties related to the leak bill. We will adjust for a maximum of 3 months usage. You will be responsible for completing a Leak Adjustment Form and providing documentation that the leak has been repaired. This documentation may include a copy of your plumber’s invoice or a receipt from the purchase of leak repair supplies.

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