If you have received an abnormally high water bill or if you keep hearing running water but cannot put your finger on it? You may have a water leak. There are a few simple steps you can take to check for a water leak. 

• Step 1 – Make sure all your faucets are off, including those outside.
• Step 2 – Find your water meter.  It is usually in the laundry room or utility closet (check near the hot water tank if you are having problems locating it).
• Step 3 – With all known sources of water off, monitor to see if any water has been used. To do this, write the number down on the meter, and check again in 15-30 minutes. If the number has changed, you most likely have a leak. 
• Step 4 – Start to look for your leak; the most common sites for leaks are toilets and faucets. 

 If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Public Works Department. 

The most common source of leaks is the toilet. To check toilets for leaks by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If after 15 minutes the dye shows up in the bowl, the toilet has a leak. Leaky toilets can usually be repaired inexpensively by replacing the flapper.

• Toilets can account for almost 30% of all indoor water use, more than any other fixture or appliance.1
• Older toilets (installed prior to 1994) use 3.5 to 7 gallons (13-27 liters) of water per flush and as much as 20 gallons (76 liters) per person per day.1,2 3. Replacing an old toilet with a new model can save the typical household 7,900 to 21,700 gallons (29,902 - 82,135 liters) of water per year, cutting both your water and wastewater bills.
• An average of 20% of all toilets leak.