Leak Responsibility and Assistance
IMPORTANT: Customers are responsible for maintaining the plumbing on their side of the water meter. This includes repairing leaks on their property and hiring a licensed plumber if needed.
If you detect a leak on your property but are unable to determine whether it is on your side of the meter and need assistance before contacting a plumber, please contact the District’s Customer Service Department immediately at (619) 670-2222 or customerservice@otaywater.gov.
If the leak is located in the street or involves the water meter, it is the District’s responsibility. Please report it to the Customer Service Department.
If a leak on your property caused a significant increase in your water bill, you may qualify for a one-time Leak Adjustment Request.
Contact Customer Service
customerservice@otaywater.gov
(619) 670-2222
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Use Your Water Meter
Your water meter is a useful tool for detecting hidden leaks. Identify your meter type using the District’s list, then follow these steps:
Step 1 – Locate Your Meter: Most water meters are located near the curb or behind the sidewalk in front of the home. Often there is a “W” stamped on the curb at the meter box location. Please use caution when removing and replacing the lid.
Step 2 – Turn Off All Water: Turn off all indoor and outdoor water use, including appliances, irrigation and hoses.
Step 3 – Check the Meter: If the flow indicator (e.g. a rotating wheel or flow icon) is active while all water is turned off, water may be passing through the meter, and a leak may be present.
Tip 1: To detect very small leaks, record the meter reading. Keep all water turned off for 2-4 hours, then check the meter again. If the reading has changed, this may indicate a leak.
Tip 2: To determine the leak location, turn off the house shut-off valve. If the flow indicator continues to move, the leak may be between the house and the meter. If it stops, the leak is likely inside the home.
Tip 3: For more information on how to read your meter with an analog or digital register, visit the How to Read Your Meter page.
Check for Irrigation System Leaks
A simple landscape walk-through inspection can help you save water outdoors. Check your system for the following:
- Broken or disconnected sprinkler heads, connection points, joints, or drip irrigation lines.
- Water spraying from the ground or areas that are unusually wet.
- Weak, uneven, or inconsistent water pressure.
- Leaking control valves, often identified by continuous flow from the lowest sprinkler head or emitter in an irrigation station.
Check for Toilet Leaks
Toilets are among the most common household water leaks. Follow these steps to check for leaks:
Step 1: Remove the tank lid and add a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet to the tank water.
Step 2: Wait 10-20 minutes without flushing the toilet.
Step 3: If colored water appears in the bowl, the toilet is leaking — often due to a worn flapper, faulty fill valve, or loose tank bolts.
Check Your Water Pressure
Frequent leaking faucets or running toilets may indicate a faulty water pressure regulator. Regulators can wear out and fail even in new homes. They may last from one year to more than 20 years, depending on the quality.
Pressure regulators reduce high service pressures, while very low pressure may require a private booster pump system.
Under Otay Water District Code of Ordinance Section 23.03 Water Pressure Regulation, devices that control water pressure in homes or businesses are part of the customer’s private plumbing system and the customer’s responsibility to install, adjust, operate, and maintain.
To detect small leaks at home, attach a pressure gauge to an exterior hose bib and note the pressure reading. Next, shut off the private service line at the customer valve inside the meter box (which is connected to the backside of the meter). If the pressure decreases after the valve is shut off, this may indicate a leak. Larger leaks will cause a rapid drop in pressure on the gauge.
Apply for a Water Audit
Apply to receive a FREE Water-Use Efficiency Survey to improve your landscape and indoor water use. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California offers surveys for residential customers and large commercial landscapes.
Participants receive a written report with:
- Survey data
- Recommendations for irrigation efficiency, repairs, equipment updates, and irrigation scheduling
- Information about available financial incentives
For additional resources, including water-wise landscaping classes and watering calculators, visit the “Conservation Programs” tab at otaywater.gov/rebates.