Some leaks are easy to spot. Dripping faucets, for instance, are hard to ignore. Yet, many leaks are hidden and can potentially waste thousands of gallons of water, driving up your water bill unexpectedly. To prevent this, follow these steps every six months. These tips are also helpful if you suspect you have a phantom water leak on your property:

Turn off all devices using water (taps, dishwasher, sprinklers, evaporative cooler, etc.) inside and outside of your home.

Find your meter. Water meters are most often located in front of your house near the sidewalk.

Remove the meter box lid. Note: Some meter box lids have a “flip lid” in the center. If so, open this instead of removing the entire lid. Be careful when lifting the box lid to prevent injury to yourself or damage to the meter or meter lid.

Verify the meter number to ensure you are checking the service for your residence. The meter number on your billing statement should match the one stamped on the meter.

Lift the meter cap lid to reveal the dial on the meter face (see diagram below). This dial monitors water use. TMWA reads your meter in thousands of gallons, which is generally indicated by the white dials. If the triangle (flow indicator) or needle moves while all water devices inside and outside the home are shut off, water is flowing through the meter and you have a leak. While some leaks, such as a dripping faucet, are easy to see, many are hidden. A leaky toilet is one of the biggest water wasters found inside the home.

If you have a leak, follow our steps on how to isolate the leak.

When you are finished looking at the meter, close the meter cap to prevent damage to the lens.

Replace the meter box lid, taking care not to damage the meter or lid.

NOTE: Most TMWA meters look like the illustration above but images of other types used in our system can be found here.

Remember, TMWA is responsible for water and distribution up to and including your water meter. From the point where your water service leaves the meter, it becomes your responsibility.

For information regarding your meter, meter number and/or meter reads, contact TMWA at 834-8080, option 2. We also recommend learning how water meters work.