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City of Sherwood, Oregon
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Detect a Water leak

 


How to Find Your Leak
Undetected leaks can be costly. If you think you may have a water leak, your water meter is your best detective to help you find it:


  • Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances, such as the dish and clothes washers.

  • Locate your water meter and lift the cover to see the meter dial.

  • Note the position of the sweep hand, or use a marker on the lens cover.

  • Wait 20-30 minutes and check the sweep hand location again. If the sweep hand has moved, you possibly could have a leak somewhere in your system.

  • Most meters have a red "telltale" indicator. If you see it moving when all water is off, you possibly could have a leak.


 


Looking For Leaks


  • Your toilet may have a silent leak. Drop a little food coloring into the tank. Wait about 10 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the bowl, you have a leak. Take a look at our Even You Can Fix A Leaky Toilet Brochure (PDF).

  • Check for moist spots around and under the house plumbing and around outdoor plumbing.

  • Replace worn washers in faucets and showerheads. Even a small drip can waste as much as 170 gallons of water each day, or 5,000 gallons per month. Take a look at our Even You Can Fix A Leaky Faucet Brochure (PDF).

  • Ask City of Sherwood for a leak kit. This kit contains a drip gauge (to measure water wasted from a leaky faucet), dye tablets (to check for a leaky toilet), a City of Sherwood “Billing Adjustment Policy” (explains procedures and adjustments customers may receive after repairing a leak), a City of Sherwood “Billing Adjustment Request Form” (used to apply for a water loss adjustment), and Meter Reading and Water Conservation Tips. Email City of Sherwood at utilitybilling@ci.sherwood.or.us or call (503) 925-2315 to receive this kit.