AUBURN / FIELD GUIDE / 42
Start with what changed
Compare bills, meter movement, fixtures, and occupancy before assuming where extra water is going.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Compare bills, meter movement, fixtures, and occupancy before assuming where extra water is going.
Usage can change for many reasons, and a meter check does not locate a leak.
PAGE-SPECIFIC GUIDE
Start with current and prior statements for similar months, then note occupancy, irrigation, appliance, and routine changes. A higher total can justify investigation without proving a leak. Keep account numbers out of photographs or documents shared beyond the verified recipient.
EPA WaterSense describes comparing meter readings during a period when no water is used. Follow utility instructions for the actual meter and do not enter traffic, pits, vaults, flooded spaces, or restricted areas. Record the two readings and exact times.
Listen for toilet cycling, look beneath accessible sinks, inspect appliance connections, and note outdoor faucet or irrigation conditions from safe areas. A dye test can check silent tank-to-bowl toilet leakage when the fixture is safe to operate, followed by prompt flushing.
Ask the water supplier about billing, meter, leak-alert, or public-side concerns through its current official channel. Ask a plumbing provider about the private system. Keep both responses with dates so one party's limited finding does not become a claim about the other side.
Meter movement during a no-use window suggests water is passing somewhere, but it does not identify the route. Ask what inspection sequence can narrow the system while limiting disruption. Require written approval before expanding from assessment into access or repair.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Describe a higher bill, leak alert, meter movement during a no-use period, or unexplained fixture cycling. Add billing periods, occupancy changes, irrigation or appliance use, meter readings, and visible leak checks. That gives the recipient a clearer starting point.
Before checking anything else, do not enter unsafe meter spaces or shut down systems needed for health, safety, or property protection. Usage can change for many reasons, and a meter check does not locate a leak.
Ask whether to contact the utility, investigate private plumbing, or review both routes separately. Prepare photos of accessible meter information without sharing account numbers publicly only where doing so remains safe, relevant, and authorized.
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