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Checking for leaks

How to check for leaks

Leaks can lead to a significant amount of water being lost if they are not fixed promptly. If you suspect a leak and have a water meter in your property you can check for leaks.

Carry out the following steps

Open the meter chamber, remove polystyrene and bail out any surface water that may have collected in the chamber.
Check that the meter serial number is the same number as the one shown on you bill.
Turn off the water supply at the external stop-tap.
Turn your cold water tap on, if the water stops this means it is your meter. If it doesn't stop the supply of water, contact us on 08457 91 91 55 (Mon to Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-1pm).
Turn the external stop tap back on and turn off the internal stop tap.
Go back to the meter outside. You will see black and read numbers on the meter dial. If either of these numbers are moving you may have a leak on your supply pipe. Contact us on 08457 145 145 (24-hour helpline) If there is no movement, there is no problem with the external supply.
Return to the internal stop tap and turn back on. Go back to the meter and see if the numbers move, if they do, this would indicate a problem with the internal supply and you should contact a private plumber to help investigate and repair.

If you need help or assistance on checking for leaks please call us on 08457 145 145.

Please also refer to the information contained in our leaflet 'Where is your water going' which gives more detailed information about checking for leaks.

Customer leaflet to help identify where your water might be going

17 September 2009
Where is your water going? (pdf, 0.70MB)
Information leaflet which helps identify high water usage and leakage

Please note: In some cases, particularly with older properties and/or where there has been a change in use of the property such as a conversion of a house to flats, there may be a joint or shared supply. So rather than indicating a leak, the meter could be recording water being drawn off the mains by a neighbour. If you feel this is the case, please call us on 08457 145 145 and we'll be happy to investigate.

For more information regarding your water supply pipe responsibilities visit Anglian Water Direct.

If you discover a leak, please arrange for it to be repaired as soon as possible.

Anglian Water can help by providing a list of locally based approved plumbers who will be able to carry out such work.

You may then be able to claim an allowance for any additional water recorded on your meter resulting from the leak. For more details call us on 08457 91 91 55 or use our online form.

The facts about leakage allowances

Will I be given an allowance for the water charges incurred by the leak?

Yes, we will consider an ex gratia once only claim for an allowance to cover the cost of water lost through the leak during the last 12 months and also sewerage charges due in respect of any lost water.

No, if:

the leak was caused by your negligence or by the negligence of someone authorised to act for you.
if you have been granted an allowance at this property before.

How will the allowance be calculated?

By determining your average consumption and deducting this from the consumption recorded during the period of the leak up to a maximum period of 12 months.

What if my water supply or sewerage is provided by a different company?

If your water is supplied by another company and they give you an allowance for water leakage, we shall also make an allowance against sewerage charges.
If we supply only your water and another company provides sewerage services, we shall tell them when and why we agree to make any allowance against your water charges. They must then give you an allowance against their sewerage charges.

Do I have to pay any water bill that arrives while I’m waiting for an allowance?

Yes,

if you have a payment arrangement please continue as normal.
if you pay on receipt of a bill, please pay an amount based on bills for same time period of previous year or ring for advice.
new customers should ring for advice based on occupancy level at the property.

Overpayments will be refunded if applicable.

Did you know that Anglian Water offers a free one-off repair or replacement service for domestic customer supply pipes? See details of our Watertight promise scheme. Alternatively you can protect your home against unforseen problems by taking out emergency insurance through Anglian Water Direct.