Toilet Leaks

The most common indoor water leak is a running toilet. Fully running toilets can consume 2 gallons of water per minute. If a toilet were to run at this rate for a full month, 115 units (86,000 gallons) of water could go straight down the drain. And could add over $1,000 to your water bill!

When you look in a toilet bowl, the surface water should be still, not moving. If the water is rippling, even slightly, water is flowing and will show up on your bill. If you see this, start by checking the following items:

1. Checking the flapper to ensure it has not degraded and needs to be replaced. Replacing a toilet flapper is a simple fix that most home owners can perform on their own. 
2. Running your finger under the lower surface of the flapper valve to make sure there are no ceramic chips or other particles preventing the valve from seating properly.
3. Making sure the chain is not caught under the flapper valve preventing it from seating properly.
4. Making sure the chain is long enough that it’s not pulling the flapper up, preventing a complete seal.
5. Checking the water level in the toilet tank:  Remove the lid and locate the vertical tube in the center of the tank. The water level should be at least ½-inch below the top of this tube. If it’s running over the top, it is going into the sewer and onto your bill.

Below is a video that identifies the parts of a toilet flush valve assembly and how to check the above issues.

Other Water-Using Appliances

If you have a water softener, reverse osmosis system, or other water-using device, be sure to have them serviced regularly, including your water heater. There is usually an (800) phone number on the appliance. 

Understand Your Usage

The first step to identifying if there is an issue with your irrigation system is to understand the volume of water that it is using. Take a meter read before and after the system runs to calculate the volume of water that is being used, instead of relying on the duration (number of minutes) or frequency (number of days per week) your system is running. Visit our Understanding Your Water Meter page to learn more about your meter. If you have any questions about how to read your meter, call (805) 781-7215 and a Water Resource Technician can assist you.

Conduct a Visual Inspection

Turn on each station one at a time, walk around and check each area to be sure there are no “geysers” where a sprinkler head has been damaged or broken off. If you have a drip system, look for missing emitters and breaks or cuts in the line where excessive water is flowing out.

Review Your Irrigation Timer

Take the time to become familiar with how your irrigation timer works. Some models can have up to 9 separate start times, so be sure the start times, run times, and days per week are what you intended. The City recommends installing a 9-volt battery in your timer to prevent it from resetting itself in the event of a power outage.

Underground Service Line Leak

The service line is the pipe that runs between your water meter and the building. If no water is being used in the building, irrigation is not running, and the meter is actively running, there could be a leak along the service line. To check if you have a service line leak, shut off water to the building at the shut-off valve and check the meter. If the meter is turning and the building shut-off valve is fully off, it is highly indicative of a service line leak. Remember that confirming a service line leak does not mean you don’t have other indoor leaks as well. It can be difficult to check and use the meter for indoor issues with an active service line leak. If you have any questions, call (805) 781-7215 to speak with a Water Resource Technician. 

Customer Shutoff Vale

A customer shut-off valve controls water on the property side of the water meter. The valve  can be operated by the home owner, tenant, or plumber to turn off water for repairs and emergencies. It is typically installed inside the water meter box on the side of the meter that is closer to the building, referred to as the "property side" of the meter. This valve will shut off ALL water to the property and is your quickest option to stop all leaks, however it does not isolate the leak between the service line, irrigation, or inside.

This valve should not require any special tools to turn on or off and is required of all properties, per City of San Luis Obispo Municipal Code §13.07. It is the responsibility of the owner to install and maintain the customer valve.

 City Shutoff Valve

As shown in the image, the valve on the street side of the meter is owned by the City of San Luis Obispo.  This valve is under no circumstance to be operated by the home owner, tenant, or plumber/contractor (13.04.140 B).  If you need this valve turned off for any reason please call (805) 781-7215 to schedule a time for City staff to turn this valve off. 

The building shut-off valve is typically located outside next to a hose bibb, or inside your garage. It shuts off all water inside the building. The piping is usually either copper or PVC and comes out of the ground then enters the building through the wall.  It can look like a straight handle that you turn ninety (90) degrees, or it can look like a round handle or wheel that will have to be turned several times to fully turn off the water. 

It is important to turn valves on and off slowly to avoid excess pressure to build, called "water hammer". Water hammer can be damaging to water pipes, especially after a leak.  When turning the water on after a leak or major plumbing repair, it is recommended to turn on a sink or faucet when slowly turning the water back on to reduce a damaging pressure shock to the system.

The building shutoff valve is a great way to isolate active leaks. If you detect an active leak on your meter, turn off water at the main building shutoff.

• If you see water registering on the meter after turning the building shutoff valve off, you have identified that the leak is before the building and is likely in the service line (the pipe that runs from the meter to the building) or in your irrigation system. Address all leaks as soon as possible to reduce water loss and further property damage.
• If your water meter stops registering flow after turning this valve off, then you have isolated that the leak is inside the building (i.e. plumbing, water heater, water softener system, etc).

Every month staff identify accounts with significant or unusual jumps in water consumption to potentially save you time, money, and reduce water waste occurring from leaks. Water Resource Technicians are available for phone consultations to assist customers through how to read their meter and how to check for the most common leaks.

In September 2019, City Water Distribution staff pilot tested acoustic correlation equipment by Echologics on an existing cast iron water main on Bebee Street. Acoustic sensors attached to water valves were used to measure the speed at which sound waves travel along the pipe. These sensors effectively listen to water flowing through the pipe to identify when and where water is leaking. The correlator can identify leaks that have not come to the surface yet, and pinpoint leak location within about two feet. Overall, regularly using this tool will allow the City’s Water Distribution team to:

• More accurately locate small leaks, resulting in less damage to surrounding infrastructure

• Optimize capital spending

• Minimize water main breaks, water loss, and damage from leaks

• Better manage aging water infrastructure

• Reduce road repair work

• Enhance proactive maintenance of the water distribution system