Detecting Water Leaks

Detecting Water Leaks

Water is our most precious resource. Doing everything in our power to prevent water waste helps to conserve this vital resource while saving money. Two main sources of water waste are leaks and the over-watering of lawns and gardens.

For many properties, the first suspicion of a leak occurs when high water consumption is noticed on the water bill. If the water consumption for the period is over $200, CRD Water Services will attempt to notify the Customer, on a “best effort” basis, of the abnormal water consumption but accepts no responsibility for failure to notify the Customer.

Always check your water bill for abnormal consumption. The property owner or tenant has no more than thirty (30) days from the billing date to appeal charges on the water bill.

Leaking Toilets

High volume water leaks often come from toilets. They are hard to detect and are usually caused by worn or misaligned parts. A toilet that continues to run after flushing could be wasting 20-40 litres per hour - that's 175,000 to 350,000 litres (175 to 350 cubic metres) per year, enough water to fill a swimming pool. Leaks can cost you up to several hundred dollars per year!

1. Checking for a Toilet Leak

Step 1 - Carefully remove the toilet tank lid. Place a dye tablet or some food colouring in the tank. To get a dye tablet, call CRD Water Services at 250.474.9684.

Step 2 - After 15 minutes, check the water in your toilet bowl. If the water is coloured, you've got a leak. Toilet repairs may require the assistance of a plumber.

2. Leaking Pipes

A leaking service line or pipe in your home can add up to a significant amount of water waste. A small hole in a pipe (1.5mm) has known to waste a substantial amount of water in a two-month period. Continual leaking from this size hole could cost you from several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars depending on the diameter of the pipe. Which is why we encourage customers to locate and repair the water leak immediately.

Irrigation System Leaks

Whether you use an in-ground sprinkler system or a single oscillating head, check it carefully for leaks. The average garden hose delivers 27 litres of water a minute, so a split in the hose or a poor coupling could be wasting large amounts of water. Make sure the outdoor faucet is turned off after each use, even small drips add up to big waste.

A leak in your in-ground sprinkler system is less noticeable than one in a hose. If you think your in-ground sprinkler system may have a leak, check for wet patches in your lawn that do not dry. Contact your irrigation contractor for a system check-up.

Note: Shutting off a sprinkler system is not considered an acceptable solution. The leak should be repaired.

How to Check for a Leak

The best way to check for overall leaks is to use your water meter.

Follow these simple steps to determine if you have a leak:

Step 1 - Shut off all your water-using appliances and fixtures on the property. These include:

• all water taps inside and outside the house,
• showers,
• sinks,
• washing machines, and
• any appliances that use water, e.g. fridge.

Step 2 - Remove the lid from your water meter box. It is usually concrete or metal - about 10 x 15 inches. Take care not to damage the wires!

 

Step 3 - The water meter will either have a black triangle above the digital readout or a red dial below the numerical readout.

 If the black triangle or red dial is moving even slightly, then you have a leak.

Even a small leak in a service line can add up to a significant amount of water loss. .

 

Step 4 - If you have a leak, you will need to play detective to find the source.

The most likely culprits are toilets, faucets, showerheads, service lines and sprinkler systems.

 

Step 5 - You must contact our office within the next couple of days and advise us of the leak as you have no more than 30 days from your last bill's invoice date to detect, repair and submit a leak application to the office. Qualifications for a leak adjustment depends on the nature of the leak and the promptness it took to repair the leak.

 

Note: The Capital Regional District assumes no liability for damage or injury resulting from removal of meter lids; customers do so at their own risk.