Leaks can be associated with the meter that supplies water to the building or with the meter that supplies water to the irrigation system. Check the appropriate area (indoor or outdoor) for your site. 

Indoor Meter Checks

Begin by checking for any of the following signs within the building that may indicate a leak:

• Sound of water running
  
  
• Water running into a drain
  
  
• Water pooling on the ground
  
  
• Water-soaked material (drywall, carpet)

If you notice any of these signs, it may mean there is a leak associated with the building’s water meter. Check the following common areas where leaks can occur:  

• Janitor's closet or maintenance rooms
  
  
• Bathroom (toilet, sink, shower)
  
  
• Ice machines
  
  
• Fire hydrant
  
  
• Pump room
  
  
• Indoor garden center

If you still are unable to find the leak, walk the property and inspect any endpoint that consumes or possibly consumes water.  Use the following Building Leak Location Checklist as a guide. 

Building Leak Location Checklist

• Restrooms – check toilets, urinals, faucets. Verify there are no issues with the automatic flush toilets or automatic aerators
  
  
• Breakroom –check ice machines, sinks, water coolers, etc.
  
  
• Ice machine – slow leaks
  
  
• Water fountains – slow leaks
  
  
• Fire riser room – slow leaks
  
  
• Pump room – slow leaks
  
  
• Outside fire riser connections
  
  
• Janitor’s closet and mop sinks
  
  
• Indoor garden center – including hose bibs and connections

 

Mechanical equipment within the building:

Walk the mechanical rooms and utility closets and inspect the following elements:

• Cooling tower – inspect the makeup valve, float valve, and blowdown line
  
  
• Boilers and chillers – inspect makeup line
  
  
• Closed looped systems
  
  
• Reverse osmosis system

Outdoor Meter Checks

Start by walking the site to check for the following signs that may indicate a leak:

• Sound of water running
  
  
• Water running into a drain
  
  
• Muddy landscape or pooled water
  
  
• Overgrown landscape
  
  
• Wet or cracked pavement
  
  

If you notice any of these signs, it may indicate that there is a leak associated with the site’s irrigation meter.

Check the following common areas where leaks can occur:

• Irrigation lines and valves
  
  
• Irrigation backflow
  
  
• Outside retaining walls (irrigation lines and valves)
  
  
• Fire hydrant
  
  
• Garden center (constant valve open)
  
  
• Outdoor sinks

If you still are unable to find the leak, walk the property and inspect any endpoint that consumes or possibly consumes water.  Use the following Irrigation Leak Location Checklist as a guide. 

Irrigation Leak Location Checklist

Walk the exterior of the site and check for the following:

• Out of place and overgrown vegetation – could indicate an underground leak
  
  
• Lush green vegetation when compared to the surrounding areas – could indicate an underground leak
  
  
• Standing water in the parking lot or surrounding areas-could indicate an underground leak
  
  
• Damage in the parking lot – cracked, chipping pavement, large potholes
  
  
• Sinkholes or depressed areas that may indicated an underground leak
  
  
• Swimming pools – including pump and associated equipment
  
  
• Decorative water fountains or displays – include the fountain pump and float valve
  
  
• Car wash or onsite mobile car wash
  
  
• Exterior hose bibbs – slow leaks
  
  
• Fire Hydrants
  
  

Irrigation Usage:

After walking the site, complete an irrigation audit, checking for the following items:

• Verify controller run times
  
  
• Check valve boxes
  
  
• Check sprinklers
  
  
• Check backflow device
  
  
• Look for washout around sprinkler heads
  
  
• Look for floods around sprinkler heads
  
  
• Sprinkler line that sprays dirty water – could indicated a lateral line break
  
  
• Outside retaining walls – valves or irrigation lines
  
  
• Garden Center (constant valve open)
  
  
• Outdoor sinks