Harwich Water Department - Frequently Asked Questions

Finding Leaks

If your water usage is higher than you or the Department believe it should be, please check the following steps:

Step #1 Read the water meter the last thing in the evening, after all usage of water for the night. Again, before using any water in the morning, re-read the water meter. If there is any difference in the reading, a water leak is indicated.

Step #2 Check all toilets for leaks by putting household blueing, found in the laundry section of supermarket, in the back of the toilet storage tank. This should be done the last thing at night. If any blueing appears in the bowl in the morning, it could only get there by the toilet leaking by. Check the rubber stop in the back of the storage tank for cracks and replace.

Step #3 If toilet does not have any leaks, by following directions in step number two, check all faucets for leaks.

Step #4 If you have any outbuildings connected to the household plumbing system or a garden serviced by an underground faucet, shut them off. Now, follow instructions under step #1 and see if water meter reading is the same in the morning as it was the previous evening. If there is no change in the reading with the outside buildings shut off, then it indicates that you have a leak in the underground system to the garden or outbuildings.

By following the above steps, you can pinpoint areas where leaks can occur and locate them with little difficulty.