You can greatly reduce your water use by simply repairing leaks in your faucets, showerheads, pipes, and toilets. A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons per day. That would be like flushing your toilet more than 50 times for no reason! Outdoor leaks are also a big culprit in driving up your water bill.

How can you tell if you have a leak inside your house?

Your water meter can help you determine whether your water-using fixtures or inside plumbing have inconspicuous leaks. It’s the best place to begin your search.

• Turn off all faucets and water-consuming appliances, including evaporative coolers and icemakers in refrigerators.

• Check the meter register for any movement of the numbers or the low-flow indicator and note the time.

• Check the meter register again after 15-30 minutes. Any movement indicates a leak.

How can you tell if you have a leak outside your house?

Turn off your house valve (all indoor and outdoor water). Check the meter register for any movement as described above. Any movement indicates a leak between the water meter and your home. If you suspect you have a leak, be sure to contact a plumber. And if you don’t, remember to check for leaks periodically.

Reading Your Water Meter.

Water meters are usually located between the sidewalk and curb under a cement cover. Remove the cover by inserting a screwdriver in the hole of the lid and then carefully lift the cover. The meter reads straight across, like the odometer on your car. Read only the white numbers. You can refer to the adjacent diagram for details about reading the water meter register.

1. Low-Flow Indicator —The low-flow indicator will spin if any water is flowing through the meter.
2. Sweep Hand — Each full revolution of the sweep hand indicates that one cubic foot of water (7.48 gallons) has passed through the meter. The markings at the outer edge of the dial indicate tenths and hundredths of one cubic foot.
3. Meter Register — The meter register is a lot like the mileage odometer on your car. The numbers keep a running total of all the water that has passed through the meter. The register shown here indicates that 345,710 cubic feet of water has passed through this meter.