- High or abnormal usage indicates that you may have a water leak. Increased consumption may be due to leaking faucets, either inside or outside the home, a leaking hot water heater, a broken service line, the service line connection clamp at the meter being broken or loose, or pipes leaking underneath the house
- Customers should check their outside faucets periodically. During the winter months, especially after a hard freeze, it is advisable to check for leaks.
- Customers should also check to make sure that toilets are flushing properly. A worn rubber seal inside the water holding tank on the back of the toilet causes increased water usage. One way to check for a worn rubber seal is to drop 5-6 tablespoons of food coloring in the water holding tank after you have flushed the commode. Wait approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Look inside the commode bowl to see if the water inside the bowl has become discolored.
- Requests may be made for an adjustment to a bill for a water/sewer leak provided an individual can demonstrate proof that the leak has been repaired. Adjustments are made using the policy that a customer will pay a six (6) month average plus half of the loss. Customers are allowed two (2) adjustments in a twelve (12) month period.
See Leak or Usage Detection for more information.
Reporting a Leak
Union County Public Works will repair leaks if they are on the County’s side of the meter or if the leak is at the meter box before the customer’s service line connection. Whenever you call to report a water leak, you will be asked the following questions:
- Your name, telephone number, and account number (if available).
- Address or location of the leak.
- Is the water gushing or is it a slow leak?
- Is the leak on the side of the meter facing your property?
- Have you or your neighbors previously reported the leak?
Gushing water leaks require immediate attention. If the leak is on the county portion of the line, then our department will respond as soon as possible. Slow leaks on our line, will be assigned a work order and will be repaired as soon as possible, dependent upon weather conditions. No work will begin, except for emergencies, until all utilities have located their service lines in the affected area. All utilities require a minimum 48 hours. If you observe a leak, please call (704) 296-4210 or (704) 289-1591 immediately. Public Works will quickly dispatch someone to investigate 7 days per week, 24 hours per day.