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If the idea of a leak in your home or business fills you with apprehension, there is good reason. A leak might be the biggest source of water use in your home or business. Finding and fixing leaks will help you save water and money.
Follow the steps in this self-assessment guide to help you find and fix the cause of a leak or high water usage at your home.
The first step in your leak journey is going to be determining if you even have one.
We attempt to notify customers when their water usage may indicate the possibility of a potential water leak.
If you have a smart water meter that records 48 hours of continuous water use of 10 gallons per hour or more, we may email or call to bring this to your attention using the contact information associated with the account. Most homes and small businesses will have times in a 48-hour period where the meter records zero usage. Continuous use may indicate a leak in household plumbing or fixture, a faulty sprinkler system or a hose left running.
If you have a legacy meter and a meter reader notes a higher than typical usage for your home or business, they may leave a notice on your door.
Does higher water usage or continuous water consumption mean you definitely have a leak? Not necessarily. Ask yourself the following questions to see if there is a potential explanation:
If you reflected on your recent water use and can’t find a reasonable explanation for the higher usage, it is time to do some more thorough investigating around your house to isolate where the leak may be located.
A meter test is a simple way to see if water is flowing in your house when there are no known sources of water on.
Check out Regional Water Provier's Consortium video on using the water meter to check for household leaks.
If your meter test revealed that you do have a leak or other unknown use of water, you now need to isolate where the water is coming from so you can stop the flow of water.
If you notice a persistent puddle in your yard or around a sprinkler head you may have a leak in your underground sprinkler system. Follow these steps to check your sprinkler system for leaks:
There are a few visual signs you have a water service line leak - maybe a puddle that never dries, a darker spot on dry concrete, or a patch of extra lush grash. But they can also be hard to identify because the pipe between the water meter and your house is underground. Follow these steps to find out if you have a leak in your water service line:
Still struggling to find the leak? It may be time to call in a professional. Many plumbers can perform leak detection as well as repairs. Alternatively, you can contact a local detection service. |
Many household leaks are easy to fix with a few tools and education. If you plan to DIY, here are some "how-to" guides:
If you have an older leaky toilet, it is most likely your home's largest water use. Consider buying a new, performance-tested WaterSense-labled toilet to save water with every flush. Learn more about our residential toilet rebates.
Need a pro? Most plumbers or contractors will give you a free estimate. Don’t necessarily hire the first person you find. Take the time to get more than one bid for repairs.
We understand that fixing failing plumbing can be a challenge. We may be able to help you with the unexpected expense of a catastrophic leak.
EWEB offers zero-interest loans for service line replacements and grants for income eligible leak repair assistance. Funds are limited, and applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more about Loans & Grants for water service line replacement.
Once your leak is repaired, you may qualify for a bill adjustment to your water and/or wastewater charges. Customers who resolve leaks in a timely manner are allowed one (1) leak adjustment on water charges every 3 years. Consider whether the bill increase resulting from you leak is worth using your available adjustment.
It’s important to understand how your water usage affects wastewater charges. From May to November wastewater charges are based on the average of your previous winter water usage (December – April). If you have a leak occur in May-November when wastewater charges are based on winter averages, it will not impact your waste water charges, thus you would not qualify for an adjustment.
Contact the City of Eugene Utility Administration at 541-682-4900 or cepwautilityadmin@ci.eugene.or.us.