Leak Assistance

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SCMU Leak Detection Tips

Water Efficiency

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Santa Cruz Municipal Utilities

Water Leaks are Costly

Leak Detection Tips

Most household water leaks are due to toilets or irrigation systems. You can detect these leaks before they impact your water bill using these steps:

Test Your Toilets Regularly: 1. Put dye in toilet tank (Remove the tank lid and put in several drops of food coloring.) 2. Wait 30 minutes (Do not flush. This allows time for dye to travel from the tank to the bowl.) 3. Check bowl for dye (If the dye has seeped into the toilet bowl you have a toilet leak and likely need a new flapper valve.)

Did you know? Toilets can leak/run without you hearing it! Toilets can leak as much as 300 gallons per hour!

Irrigation: If the leak is not your toilet(s), it may be on your irrigation system. 1. Turn off the shut off valve to completely cut water to the irrigation system. (Just turning off a cycling mechanism will not stop a leak.) 2. After a day or two with no water pressurizing the irrigation system, check your water use in WaterSmart to see if the leak stopped. If it stopped, you have an irrigation leak.

Did you know? Irrigation systems can leak even when the system is not cycling/on!

Sign up for Leak Alerts

Have you signed up for the WaterSmart customer portal? Customers can now log on to view their water use and set up leak alerts. Alerts can help you detect your leaks ASAP! Visit santacruz.watersmart.com to register or log in.

Contact: (831)420-5230 or WTCA@santacruzca.gov

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