I think I have a leak, how can I check?

If you have reason to suspect a leak, your meter furnishes you with an excellent leak detection tool. To test for a leak, turn off all faucets and other water outlets, and keep watch on the hand of the one-cubic-foot or ten-gallon scale on your meter for ten or fifteen minutes. If the hand continues to move, you will know there is a leak; and you can measure the size of the leak by timing the hand to see how long it takes to waste a given quantity. A second method is to write down the reading on the face of the meter after turning off all faucets and other water outlets, making sure no water is used for an hour. Revisit the meter at the end of that hour and write down the second reading. If the readings do not match you know that you have a leak. If a hidden leak is indicated, call your plumber immediately; you’ll save money by having the waste stopped at once. And if the leak is wasting any considerable quantity, you can call SFWP to shut the water off free of charge at the meter while you are waiting for repairs.

Am I responsible for a leak?

If a leak occurs after the meter, it is impossible for SFWP to determine how much water was actually lost due to a leak. Since SFWP maintains distribution lines up to and including the meter, any water lost due to a leak on the customer side will be the customer’s responsibility.

Does SFWP Fix Leaks?

South Feather Water and Power maintains the distribution system, mainlines, service connections, meters and backflows devices. This means that any leaks after the meter or backflow device, are the responsibility of the property owner. If you see a leak in the road, or before the meter please call SFWP at (530) 533-4578 to report the leak.

Common leak sources

The most common cause of water waste is a leaky faucet. Though it can be seen, the amount of water that can be wasted by such a leak is seldom appreciated. Toilet leaks, too, are common, and they are a little more difficult to detect, for the escape of water from tank to bowl is often so slow that the movement of water is indiscernible. A quick check can be made by dumping some laundry bluing into the tank after it has filled and becomes quiet, and watching for its appearance in the bowl. Even if no leak is detected, the test should be repeated, as such leaks are often intermittent. Outside the house, too, leaks often remain undetected because the water they waste soaks into the ground. Outside fixtures or underground pipes are often guilty of such undetectable leaks, as are garden hoses and similar equipment when left attached.