High Water Bill in Columbus? Check for a Leak First
A bill that jumps for no clear reason can mean water is escaping underground. Here is how to test for it and who to contact.
A Higher Bill Is a Reason to Test, Not a Diagnosis
A larger water bill can have ordinary causes, such as more people at home or more outdoor watering. If usage hasn't changed, a hidden leak is worth ruling out. Columbus Water Works notes that leaks are often underground or under the foundation, so they can run for a while without any visible sign.
A Higher Bill Is a Reason to Test, Not a Diagnosis
A larger water bill can have ordinary causes, such as more people at home or more outdoor watering. If usage hasn't changed, a hidden leak is worth ruling out. Columbus Water Works notes that leaks are often underground or under the foundation, so they can run for a while without any visible sign.
The CWW Meter Test
Columbus Water Works describes a simple test. Read your water meter before you go to bed, then read it again the next morning before any water is used. If the second reading is higher, you may have a leak.
For a shorter check, some guides use two hours with no water used. See how to check your water meter for a leak for both methods. This test works the same way for homeowners anywhere in Columbus.
Where the Leak Could Be
If the reading rises with everything off, water is escaping somewhere past the meter. The test does not say where.
According to CWW, a leak between the meter box and the street, or in a public area, is CWW's to repair. A leak on the customer side is the owner's to find and repair. That side includes the buried line to the house and the plumbing inside it.
Who to Contact
- Public side, before or at the meter: report it to CWW
- Customer Service: 706-649-3400, or CWW's online Report a Problem form
- Customer side: have the leak located and repaired, starting with the buried line if the meter still moves when the house is shut off
Bill Adjustments and Repair Receipts
CWW says an appropriate adjustment may be made when a customer brings repair receipts. That is discretionary. No amount or formula is published, and we can't promise any credit.
Ask your repairer for a receipt that shows the items CWW lists:
- The repairer's name and contact information
- The date of the repair
- The location of the repair
- The work that was performed
When to Get the Underground Line Checked
If the meter keeps moving after you shut off the house, or a wet spot has appeared in the yard, the buried line is a likely place to look. Underground leak detection narrows down the location before any digging starts. Repairs on your side of the meter are the owner's, as covered in who is responsible from meter to house.
Helpful Resources
Learn more about underground water lines in Columbus and make informed decisions about your project.
- How to Check Your Water Meter for a LeakTwo ways to test a Columbus water meter for a leak, how to find the meter box and what to do with the result.
- Who's Responsible for the Water Line From Meter to House?How Columbus Water Works divides the public and private service lateral, and what to do when a leak is on your side of the meter.
- Signs of an Underground Water Line LeakThe yard, bill, pressure, and meter clues that point to a buried water line leak, and how to weigh them together.
High Water Bill: FAQ
Common questions about leaks and Columbus Water Works bills.
High Water Bill: FAQ
Common questions about leaks and Columbus Water Works bills.
How do I know if a high bill is from a leak?
Read the meter before bed and again before using water in the morning. If the second reading is higher, you may have a leak, according to Columbus Water Works.
Will Columbus Water Works credit my bill for a leak?
CWW says an appropriate adjustment may be made when you bring repair receipts. It is discretionary, and no amount is published, so no credit is guaranteed.
What should a repair receipt include?
The repairer's name and contact information, the date, the location and the work performed, per CWW.
When should I call CWW about a leak?
If the leak is between the meter box and the street or in a public area, call Customer Service at 706-649-3400 or use the online Report a Problem form.
The meter moves with everything off. Is the leak underground?
Possibly, but the test alone doesn't say. It could be inside the house or on the buried line, so shut off the house and retest, or have the line checked.
Do I dig the yard up to find it?
No. Leak detection can narrow down the location first, so digging, if needed, is targeted.
Bill Up and Meter Still Moving?
Tell us what the test showed and we'll help you understand your options, with no obligation to move forward.
Bill Up and Meter Still Moving?
Tell us what the test showed and we'll help you understand your options, with no obligation to move forward.
Call (770) 676-1685