Finding and Fixing Leaks

1. Locate your shut-off valve to the inside of your home (usually in the front yard near a spigot).

2. Turn the valve off and note the time. For best results, leave it off overnight.

3. Check Valve Function

a. If the valve won't turn or spins freely, it needs repair or replacement by a plumber.

b. After shutting off, turn on a faucet inside your home. If water still flows, the valve isn't working properly and will need repair by a plumber.

4. Verify water usage on portal.acwd.org 

a. The next day, log in to the portal and check your usage for the time the valve was off (data refreshes every 6-8 hours).

b. If there is usage during the shut-off: Leak is likely outside. If you have a separate irrigation shut off valve, try the same isolation test to determine an irrigation leak. 

c. If there is no usage during shut-off: Leak is likely inside your home.

5. Need more help? Contact a certified leak detection service or plumber. 

Toilet Leaks

Toilets are the #1 cause of indoor leaks and can silently waste hundreds of gallons per day! 

Test: Add food coloring or dye tablets* into the tank. DON'T FLUSH. Wait 20 minutes. If color appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak.

Fixes: 

• Toilet Flapper: Old or worn-out flappers can cause leaks. A simple rule, if the flapper is 5+ years old, it's time for a replacement. 
• Overflowing Fill Valve: Water level should stop about a 1/2 inch below the overflow pipe. Adjust the float screw if needed. 

*Request free dye tablets via email, pick them up at our headquarters (43885 S. Grimmer Blvd., Fremont) or receive free dye tablets and a flapper by ordering a free Fix-A-Leak Kit.

Other Indoor Leaks:

• Faucets, showerheads, tub spout diverter, under sinks
• Appliances: clothes washer, water heater, dishwasher, refrigerator ice maker, water softener or reverse osmosis systems 
• Hot water line: a warm or hot spot on your floor, combined with an increase in your natural gas bill, could indicate a broken hot water pipe

Sprinkler/Irrigation System

Nationally, outdoor water use accounts for 30 percent of household use. A broken or missing sprinkler head can waste as much as 25,000 gallons of water a month during irrigation season!

Look for:

• Extra green grass or moss
• Dry patches = broken or misaligned sprinkler heads
• Wet/muddy spots = old/cracked parts
• Leaks while the system is running = geysers or puddling from lateral line leaks
• Leaking irrigation valves 
• Leaking hose bibbs 

Fix:

• Dig around to inspect
• Clean or replace old valves and seals 

Manually run your sprinklers and check for leaks and adjustments twice a year - once after winter, and once in mid-summer.

Irrigation Resources:

• ACWD's Outdoor Water Saving Tips 
• ACWD's Rebate Programs for Your Garden
• Bay Area Gardening
• EPA's Sprinkler Spruce-Up
• Videos:
  • Irrigation Systems
  • How to Check Your Sprinklers for Leaks & Inefficiencies, Santa Barbara Saves Water
  • How to Check Your Drip System for Leaks, Santa Barbara Saves Water

Other Places to Look:

• Galvanized Service Line
• Pool fill valve: Stuck open = constant water fill
• Leaking hose bibbs, hoses being left on