The stop tap test

If you cannot account for an increase in water use, there is a quick check you can do to see if you have a leak.

  1. Check your internal stop tap is working. If the stop tap is not working or does not turn off fully, you will need to repair this yourself or ask your plumber to repair it before doing anything else.
  2. Ensure no water is being used at the premises. Observe the water meter for any movement and take a meter reading (note down the black and red digits).
  3. If the meter dials are not moving, this confirms there is no leak on your supply as no water is recording through the meter. However, if the meter dials are moving, if it's possible and safe to do so, turn off your internal stop tap.
  4. Once the internal stop tap is turned off, observe the meter again. If the meter dials are moving this indicates a possible leak between the meter and your internal stop tap. If the meter dials are now stationary, this indicates a possible leak on pipework inside the premises; in this case, you should instruct a plumber to check your internal pipework. The cost of a plumber will be at your own expense and not recoverable by us.

If your meter is located inside your property, this means that any leak affecting your readings would also be located inside the property and would also require a plumber to attend.  

Leak detection and repair

Leaks are often not visible above ground so can go undetected for long periods of time. While the leak is ongoing, you will continue to be billed for that wasted water so it is important that you know how to identify leaks and act quickly to fix them.