Your account

Check for leaks

What is a leak?

Leaks can be any of the following:

Dripping taps
Leaking/running toilet cistern
Burst pipe under the house or underground in the garden
Faulty appliances including; solar panels, hot water systems and evaporative coolers
New installed, faulty or incorrectly programmed dripper systems

All of the leaks above will have an effect on your water bill. Even small leaks can result in the loss of thousands of litres of water.

Did you know? Leaking toilets can waste up to 73,000 litres per year. Therefore if you suspect a leak you should address it immediately.

How to check for leaks?

Conduct a leak test:

Ensure there is no water being used within the house including the garden. This means not flushing the toilets, operating taps, appliances or automatic watering systems.

Examine the water meter for two minutes and note whether there is any movement of the right hand side dials or 'clockfaces'.

If the dials have changed position, this indicates that there may be a leak in your household system.

Most leaks are indentifiable by looking at the meter for a short period of time. However to determine the extent of any leak read your water meter, then making sure not to use any water in the house or garden, wait for two minutes and take another meter reading.

Who is repsonsible?

Any leak on the propety side of the meter; internal (inside the house) or external (in the garden) is the property owner's responsibility to repair.

Even if you are a tenant it is important to encourage your landlord/agent to repair the leak as soon as possible, because you are responsible for your water usage charges.

Suspect you have a leak, what to do now?

Turn off the stop tap on your meter and keep it turned off where possible. Contact a licensed plumber immediately. Remember, you are responsible for all of the costs associated to the leak including the water usage costs.

If you would like more information on Yarra Valley Water's plumbing referral service please call 13 2762.

If you would like to apply for a Leak Allowance complete the form here