Leak Identification Tips

Our water meters are read monthly. If you get a notice of abnormally high water usage, you may already have a very high bill on the way. You can monitor your water usage with a variety of devices — a search for "water usage monitoring device" will turn up several options.

Before You Start

You'll want to know the location of: your water meter (usually near the road in a round or rectangular enclosure), your irrigation shut-off valve (if applicable, typically a few feet from the meter), the water supply valve for a pool or spa, and the main water shut-off valve in your home.

Check Irrigation First

Most unexpected high bills come from a leak in the irrigation system:

1. Close the main water shut-off valve in your home (or shut off every water valve inside).
2. Look at your water meter — if it's still running, you have a leak outside your home.
3. Close the irrigation shut-off valve. If the meter stops running, the leak is confirmed in the irrigation system — call your lawn or irrigation contractor.

Still Not Found? Keep Checking

• Make sure all inside/outside faucets are fully off. Leave outside hoses unhooked when not in use.
• Check under all sink cabinets for dampness.
• Check the washer, dishwasher, and behind the refrigerator (icemaker line) for signs of leaks.
• Check toilets using the food-coloring method: add 10–20 drops of food coloring to each tank, wait 20 minutes without flushing, then check the bowl for color.
• When the ground is dry, check your yard for standing water, soft ground, or unusually green patches — a possible sign of a service-line leak.
• If you have a crawl space, check the plumbing underneath the house.
• On a concrete slab, unusually warm flooring may indicate a leak in a hot water line.

The Two-Hour Meter Test

1. Pick a two-hour period when no one will be home.
2. Turn off all inside/outside faucets and your icemaker.
3. Record (or photograph) the meter reading.
4. Wait at least two hours with no water use.
5. Check the reading again — if it changed, there's still a leak somewhere and you'll need to investigate further or contact a plumber.

Pools & Spas

Pool and spa plumbing (filters, pumps, salt cells, fill/suction lines, valves, heaters, etc.) can be complex, and leaks are often best diagnosed by a professional leak-detection company. If you've ruled out the irrigation system and the home itself, shut off the main supply to the pool system and check the meter — if it's still running, the leak is in the supply piping; if not, monitor the pool's water level over several days for signs of a leak beyond normal evaporation.

If you've tried the above and still aren't sure, call NCGUD for advice — but remember, the system on the house side of the meter is the homeowner's responsibility, and diagnosing or repairing it is not the utility district's responsibility.