Water Leaks

It pays to fix leaks

Water leaks can waste 10 to 15 gallons an hour causing your water bill to go up by $30 or more every month.

To protect this precious resource and assist residents, the City of Westminster provides tips, free technical assistance and a process to adjust your bill once the leak is repaired.

Step 1: Determine if you have a leak

Did you receive a Leak Alert postcard? The city periodically sends these postcards to residents that use water for 24 hours straight. Using water 24 hours straight indicates that there may be a leak, but it can be caused by other water uses like a fish aquarium. Did you receive a postcard and don't have anything that would use water 24 hours straight? You probably have a leak.

If your bill was higher than you expected and you think you may have a leak, you can check to see if you have continuous water use by contacting our Utility Billing team at ub@cityofwestminster.us or by phone at 303-658-2405.

Step 2: Find and Fix the Leak

Leaks can be anywhere, but in our experience, the most common source of unknown leaks are toilets and sprinkler systems. Both are sneaky because they can leak without any clear signs. Check out the tips below to find and fix common household leaks. Or use this printable leak detection checklist.

Toilets

Most leaks found in the winter are due to toilet flappers. Here are the steps to test if your toilet is leaking:

First you’ll need a dye tablet or food coloring.
Place the dye tablet or a couple drops of food coloring into the water of the back tank of your toilet.
Wait at least 10 minutes, without flushing the toilet.
Check the bowl of the toilet for any color.

If you find color in the bowl, you have a leak! You can watch the video below (courtesy of the Regional Water Providers Consortium) to see how you can fix that leak and other problems the toilet may have.

Some toilets do not have flappers, but instead have flush valves. Just like a flapper, the rubber or silicone sealing may not be properly closing around the opening that leads to the toilet bowl. This ring can be cleaned or replaced to create a complete seal. For more information on your specific toilet, you can visit the toilet brand’s website.

Sprinkler Systems

During the summer months many people use their sprinkler system, and leaks are bound to happen. It is important to check your sprinkler system for any issues at least once a month. The video below gives good directions on how to check if your sprinkler system has a leak. Also remember to take a look at your backflow preventer and valve boxes to see if there is any excess water there as well.

Faucets

Faucet leaks may seem minor, but the water they waste can really add up. Take a look at the videos below from Lowe’s that teach you how to fix several different types of leaky faucets.

Showerheads and Bath Tubs

If water is dripping from the showerhead when it is turned off, there is an easy fix. Watch the short video from Lowe’s below to learn how to stop the leak.

Bathtub faucets take a little more work, but with the right tools, you too can stop that drip. Below is a video from a double handled tub.

Step 3: Phone an Expert

The City of Westminster and Resource Central have partnered to provide FREE troubleshooting support if you can't find that pesky leak.

These appointments will be short phone calls with a water expert to go over your water usage history and guide you through some questions that might help identify a leak. At the end of these calls you will be armed with clear knowledge of how to fix the leak yourself, or directed to further support on leak identification.

Schedule an appointment online or by phone at 303-999-3820.

Step 4: Apply for a Leak Credit

We get it. Leaks happen and the cost can add up. The city has a process in place to credit some of the costs incurred on your monthly water bill as a result of a leak.

Some things to keep in mind:

Water usage must be 150% above your three year average
Leak credit request must be submitted within two months after the leak occurred
Leak credit will apply to a maximum of two bills
Leak credit will reduce Tier 3 charges to the Tier 2 rate
Leak must be fixed

Contact the Utility Billing team with receipts of the leak repair to begin the leak credit process by email at ub@cityofwestminster.us.