My water bill is extremely high! How do I find if I have a leak?

Residents who own their own homes are responsible for alerting the office (757-875-2392) of any water leaks and for quickly repairing any leaks that are found after the water meter. We’re here to help you troubleshoot the water leak and make sure it’s fixed in a timely manner. We can also recommend plumbers to repair the leak.

Do you have a high water bill?

• Take a photo of your water meter.
  • The meter is located in a black box in the ground usually no more than 10 feet away from the home on any side. If the home has a ramp, the meter could be located underneath the ramp.
• Wait an hour without using water.
• Take another photo of the reading.
• Did the meter change? If it did, there’s a leak, and 90% of the time it’s a running toilet.

Troubleshooting a toilet leak:

• Turn off the water valve to all toilets.
• Take a photo of your water meter.
• Wait an hour without using water.
• Take another photo of the reading.
• Did the meter change?

If the meter DID NOT change, we know the problem is a running toilet:

• If there is more than one toilet, repeat this process with only one toilet being shut off at a time to determine which toilet has the leak.
• Once you find the running toilet, turn the water valve for that toilet off and leave off until it is repaired.
• Install a universal toilet repair kit (about $20 from any hardware store).
• After installation, repeat process to verify issue has been resolved and kit properly installed.

If the meter DID change, we know the problem is NOT the toilets, so continue checking the following:

• Check the water heater for leak.  
• Check for leaks in the pipes under all sinks.
• Check under the home for damp ground or pooled water.
• If you cannot determine the cause of the leak or are unable to troubleshoot, contact a plumber to make necessary repairs.
• If you’re unable to afford a plumber, contact our office so we can discuss the situation with you.