Leaks & Leak Adjustments

Leaks & Helpful Tips

Think You have a Leak?
If you think you have a leak, there is a simple test you can perform:

• Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances.
• Locate your water meter and lift the cover gently to view the meter dial.
• Determine the type of meter you have, is it a digital read out or rotating numbers?
  • Digital meter there will be a circle with a + sign in the middle under the numbers (the + will show if water is flowing, it may take a few minutes for the + sign to go away once you have verified no water is being used
  • Rotating number meter with either a large dial or a small red or black triangle.
• Note the position of the large dial or triangle these are referred to as the leak indicator and will move counter clockwise when water is moving through the meter. On the digital meter the + will show if water is flowing, it may take a few minutes for the + sign to go away once you have verified no water is being used
• A small leak may not be noticeable right away, we recommend that you leave all water off for 20-30 minutes and then go back out to check the position of the leak indicator or with the digital meter look and see if the + sign has disappeared.  

Common Sources of Leaks

• Your toilet may have a silent leak.  Drop a little food coloring into the tank.  Wait about 10 minutes without flushing.  If color appears in the bowl, you have a leak.
• Check for moist spots around and under the house plumbing and around outdoor plumbing.
• Replace worn washers in faucets and shower heads.  Even a small drip can waste as much as 170 gallons of water each day, or 5,000 gallons per month.

Did you have a leak?  The City of Central Point has a leak adjustment program.  

Residences with a probably water leak may apply for an adjustment to their water bill.  The request for adjustment must meet the following criteria:

1. Application must be on a City approved Leak Adjustment Request Application form;
2. The leak must be substantiated by the Public Works Department;
3. The leak must be repaired within 15 (fifteen) days of discovery by the water user or within 15 (fifteen) days of notification from the City, whichever is sooner.

Leak adjustments are intended for water link leaks that cause an abnormally high monthly water bill.  Adjustments will not be granted for faulty plumbing fixtures such as running toilets or leaky faucets, improperly set irrigation systems, or water lines broken as a result of construction.

Satisfactory proof of repairs must be submitted with required application.  Satisfactory proof of repairs must include:

1. A description of the repairs that were done;
2. A copy of the repair bill or receipts for necessary parts to complete the required repairs.

The City will assume no responsibility for costs associated with the repair.

Water bill adjustments caused by leaks will be for one-half of the total water consumption over and above the average consumption for that residence.  The average consumption will be calculated by using the consumption for the same month's billing cycle as the previous three year's.  In the event that the three years of water consumption records are not available, the average consumption will be based on the best information available.