Public Works cannot assist with locating or repairing water leaks on the property owner's side of the meter and we encourage you to hire a plumber to help you find the cause of any potential leaks. If you are without water and suspect the problem is at the meter, please call the Public Works Emergency line at 360-795-3203 x9.
TIPS TO CHECK FOR A WATER LEAK:
Turn off all water inside and outside your home. Notate the reading on your meter dial. Wait a few minutes, up to 1 hour, If the meter reading has changed at all, you probably have a leak.
> Identify toilet leaks by placing a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 15 minutes, you have a leak.
> Check your toilet flapper periodically to make sure it is functioning properly.
> For a leaky garden hose, replace the nylon or rubber washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot.
> Repair broken or missing sprinkler heads, a main cause of wasteful water runoff.
> Contact a licensed plumber to inspect your home for leaks and broken pipes to determine the exact location of the leak and to repair it as soon as possible.
> Any issues located between the water meter and the building being furnished by the water, are the responsibility of the home or property owner to both find and repair the leak. Our Public Works Department is not authorized to perform repairs or find leaks on your property. We apologize for any inconvenience.
> Check how much water you use with this online tool.
WATER LEAK ADJUSTMENTS:
Please read the information below, prior to submitting a water leak adjustment form which can be found at the bottom of this section.
Utility customers are allowed an adjustment to their water utility bill due to undetected leaks. If the applicant states that there was a faulty pipe and/or fixture on the customer’s premises which caused a large consumption of water, the existence of a faulty pipe and/or fixture shall be verified by inspection by public works employees, and/or by documentary and/or photographic proof supplied by the customer.
If it is established by inspection or documentation that such faulty pipe and/or fixture has been repaired, a reduction of the bill for a single billing cycle to an amount that is the average of the same three months of the prior year’s billings shall be made, the amount not to exceed $300.00 in any case.
The reduction provided for in this section shall not be allowed if such excess water consumption is due to a customer’s neglect or continued failure to repair the faulty pipe and/or fixture. Please note that sewer rates now include a volume charged based on your winter-average water consumption, so it is important to have any leaks repaired in a timely manner.
Such a reduction in billing shall be permitted only two times in any calendar decade for any property (two reductions per decade per metered account, regardless of the customer responsible for the account). Each calendar decade shall begin January 1st of the year ending in zero and end December 31st of the year ending in nine (for example, January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2019; January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2029; and so on), with the date of each reduction based upon the date the application is received by the town.
RESOURCES:
> Application & Forms: Utility Forms
TIPS TO PREVENT FROZEN WATER LINES:
The best way to prevent water pipes from freezing is to take steps before temperatures drop below freezing.
> Locate your home’s water shut-off valve and make sure it works, before it's ever needed in an emergency.
> Be sure to disconnect all garden hoses and shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets.
> Seal leaks around pipes that allow cold air to seep inside and protect outside faucets and hose bibs with insulation, and don't forget to also insulate pipes near outer walls, in crawl spaces, basements, garages and/or attics.
> Drain and shut off the water systems when vacationing, with the exception of indoor sprinkler systems.
Please remember that you are responsible for protecting and repairing water pipes on your property should any breaks occur. If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call a plumber. NEVER try to thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame.
During freezing conditions:
Allow a trickle of water to drip at night from an indoor faucet, preferably one located along an exterior wall and/or farthest from where your water service connects with the main water line. Open cupboard doors under sinks in kitchens and bathrooms to allow more heat to reach water pipes.
