Checking for a leak can require an accountholder to perform simple tests, or more complicated measures if the initial observations don’t result in a clear indication of the problem. Leaks can exist in different areas of the home, but the most common places you’ll find leaks are in your bathroom toilets. Simply removing the top covering of the tank, adding some sort of food coloring, a small amount of cherry or grape soda, or some other colored drink, and letting the toilet sit and unused without flushing for 30-45 minutes will generally do the trick. When you return, if the food coloring or other substance you’ve used to check for the leak is in your bottom bowl, that means the flapper is not sealing correctly, which is allowing more water to go through your meter when in time of flushing.
For sprinkler system leak-testing, double check your settings on the sprinkler system and make sure none of the heads are leaking. Sometimes, summertime heat could cause one of the heads to burst, causing water to leak through the head. For faucets, water softeners or water heaters, a simple visual test will often let you know one of these fixtures or devices is leaking.
These types of leaks are all the responsibility of the homeowner to repair or resolve, as the City is only responsible for leaks that exist beyond the property line of your residence.