How to Detect Leaks

Online
Customers can view water use online. Our system allows you to see your water use on our hourly, daily, weekly and monthly bar graph format. Reviewing your water use will help you be sure your water use shows "zero" when you were not using water. If you see unexpected use you may have a leak. All you will need is your account number and street address number. Click on My Water Use to begin.

Manually
To test for leaks in your plumbing system, stop all indoor and outdoor water use activity. Check and record the numbers and the position of the sweep hand on your water meter. Wait an hour or two hours, then recheck your water meter. If the sweep hand has moved, or the numbers have changed, water is leaking somewhere in your plumbing system.
Click here to see how to read your meter manually.

Slow Leaks

Slow leaks are too slow to move the dial. Turn off the water at the meter and wait an hour or two. When you slowly turn the water back on, if water rushed to fill the pipes, you may have a leak.

Slow leaks may be hard to see on the online meter reading system. In order for a leak to register on the online reading every hour it must be using at least 1 cubic foot (7.48 gallons) each hour. If a leak is smaller than 1 cubic foot per hour it will only show up on the graph once the meter measures 1 cubic foot of use. For example, if your leak is 4 gallons per hour, it may show usage every other hour on your graph. 

Irrigation System Leaks
Leaks in your irrigation system won't always show on your meter due to their separate shut-off valves. To find leaks, walk your irrigation lines. Check for unusual wet spots, leaky or broken sprinkler heads, and use your meter to measure total irrigation use.

Got a Leak?

Customers are responsible for the maintenance of the water pipes on their side of the water meter. If you have a leak you will need to contact a plumber or fix it yourself. Padre Dam does not have anyone to fix leaks for customers.

If you have had a leak that has caused your water bill to increase and you would like to appeal the charges please complete the leak appeal form. After completing this form send it to Padre Dam for review. Leaks must be fixed before appealing a bill. If you have had a situation other than a leak that has caused your water bill to increase and you would like to appeal the charges please complete the general appeal form.

Leak Appeal Form
General Appeal Form