Finding leaks on your property

Knowing what to look for may help you spot the signs of a leak. Tell-tale signs include:

• patches of damp soil, paths (brickwork or concrete) or greener than usual lawn/garden beds on your property
• damp, warped or discoloured walls, floorboards or carpets inside your home may indicate a concealed leak
• drips on the side of your hot water system or evaporative air-conditioner, water pooling under the dishwasher or water damage to cupboards may also indicate a problem
• A running toilet cistern. The most common type of household leak can waste up to 260 litres of water per day. You can check your cistern by putting a few drops of food colouring inside it. If the colour shows in the toilet bowl without flushing, you’ve got a leak.

		How to find water leaks and read your meter

How to check for a leak using your water meter

You can check for a leak by simply:

1. Reading the water meter

2. Not using any water for an hour or two

3. Reading the meter again.

If the reading has changed, you may have a leak. If you believe you may have a leak contact your plumber and ask them to find and repair it. You can find a licensed plumber, who is also a member of the Master Plumbers Association, at mpasa.com.au/find-a-plumber or by calling 8292 4000. If you have concerns about continued internal plumbing leaks, aging internal pipework or other factors that may be increasing your water use, you could consider taking control with a smart meter solution.

If you have a leak in your pipe work, you may be eligible for a once-off allowance equal to 50 per cent of the water lost (capped at 600 kilolitres) if certain conditions are met. To apply, complete our leakage allowance form.

If there is a leak between the water main and the outlet riser on the meter, please report it online to using our 24/7 Faults and outages map. We will organise someone from our team to assess and repair your meter.

Alternatively, you can call us on 1300 SA WATER (1300 729 283).

It's important for everyone's safety that you do not interfere with the meter. The water meter remains the property of SA Water, and only authorised personnel are permitted to inspect, maintain, repair, or replace it as necessary.