Published: January 30, 2026 | Category: Burst Pipe & Leaks | Reading time: 10 minutes
Opening a water bill and finding it far higher than usual is a bad surprise. Rates do rise over time, but a sudden spike almost always means water is going somewhere you cannot see. The good news is that you can find out a lot yourself in an afternoon.
Start With the Gallons, Not the Dollars
Look at the usage on the bill, not just the amount. Compare gallons (or the units your bill uses) to the same month last year and to the last few months. If usage is flat and the bill is up, rates or fees changed. If usage jumped, water is being used or wasted. A jump of a third or more with no clear reason deserves attention, and a bill that doubles almost certainly means a real leak or fault.
Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources bills most of the county, though a few areas, such as the City of Buford, have their own water systems. Your bill shows your provider and the usage history. Utilities usually have an online account page with usage detail, and some can flag high use. Ask yours.
Run the Meter Test First
It takes half an hour and tells you whether the leak is real.
- Turn off every fixture and appliance, including the ice maker, irrigation, and any humidifier.
- Find the meter in the box near the street and lift the lid carefully.
- Note the reading, or watch the leak indicator, a small triangle or dial.
- Wait half an hour without using any water.
- Check again. If the reading moved or the indicator is spinning, water is leaking on your side of the meter.
Then close the main shutoff at the house and check the meter again. If it stops, the leak is inside the house or irrigation system. If it keeps moving, the leak is on the line between the meter and the house. If the meter does not move but the bill is high, the cause may be use you have not noticed, or the meter itself. You can ask the utility to test the meter.
The Usual Suspects
Running toilets
Often the number one cause, and the quietest. A toilet can run for days with little sound. Put a few drops of food coloring in each tank, do not flush, and wait half an hour. Color in the bowl means a leaking flapper. See our running toilet guide.
Dripping faucets and showerheads
A faucet dripping once a second wastes roughly 3,000 gallons a year, and a leaking showerhead adds up too. See the faucet repair guide for what causes drips and when to fix versus replace.
Irrigation
If you have a sprinkler system, it can use more water than the rest of the house put together. Look for broken heads, geysers, soggy spots, valves that stick open, and a controller set to run extra cycles. Turn the system off and rerun the meter test to rule it in or out. Georgia limits outdoor watering hours across the state, so check the current rules for when you may water.
Water heater
A relief valve that drips continuously or a slow tank leak can add up. Look at the discharge pipe and at the floor or pan around the tank. See water heater leaking: what to do.
Hidden leaks
Pipes in walls, under slabs, and in crawl spaces can leak for weeks. Signs include warm spots on the floor, damp patches, a musty smell, the sound of running water, and low pressure. Leak detection finds them without tearing out walls. See also what causes a slab leak.
The line between meter and house
This buried pipe belongs to the homeowner. A leak here can run a long time without showing. Clues are a soggy or unusually green patch in the yard, a sunken spot, low pressure, or a meter that moves with the house shut off. See water line repair.
Water softener
If you have a softener that regenerates too often or never stops, it can waste a lot of water. Listen for constant cycling and check its settings.
Real changes in use
More people in the house, guests, a new appliance, filling a pool or hot tub, or new landscaping that needs watering all push usage up without any leak.
A Checklist for This Weekend
- Test every toilet with food coloring.
- Look under every sink, behind the toilets, and around the water heater for damp.
- Check hose bibs and outdoor spigots for drips.
- Run the meter test, with irrigation off.
- Close the main and check the meter again.
- Walk the yard looking for soggy or sunken ground.
- Listen for running water at night when the house is quiet.
When to Call a Plumber
If you have checked the obvious sources and the meter still moves, it is time to call. Hidden leaks behind walls, under slabs, or underground need equipment to locate. Call (770) 285-5619 and we will connect you with a local plumber who handles leak detection. Before you agree, ask how the leak will be located, ask for the price before any work starts, and ask whether you will get a written report. The report is useful for the utility and for insurance.
Can the Utility Adjust the Bill?
Some utilities offer a one time adjustment when a leak was found and fixed promptly. Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources has its own rules, so call and ask whether a leak adjustment exists and what documentation they need. Keep the plumber's invoice and any detection report. An adjustment is not automatic, and you generally have to ask.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my water bill suddenly increase?
The most common cause is a running toilet, which can waste up to 200 gallons a day almost silently. Other frequent causes are a hidden supply line leak, an irrigation fault, a water softener that will not stop cycling, or a leak on the line between the meter and the house.
How do I check for a hidden water leak?
Turn off every fixture and appliance, then check your water meter. Note the reading or watch the leak indicator, wait half an hour without using water, and check again. Movement means water is escaping on your side of the meter.
How much water does a running toilet waste?
Up to 200 gallons a day, which is thousands of gallons over a billing cycle. Test it by adding food coloring to the tank without flushing and waiting half an hour. Color in the bowl means the flapper is leaking.
Can a leak be underground and invisible?
Yes. The buried line between the meter and the house can leak for a long time before anything shows. Clues are a soggy or unusually green strip in the yard, a drop in pressure across the house, and a meter that keeps moving with everything off.
Will the water company tell me about unusually high usage?
Some utilities flag unusual use and offer online usage tools, but not all do. Ask Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources or your provider what alerts and usage detail they offer.
Can I get an adjustment on my bill if I had a leak?
Some utilities offer one if the leak was repaired promptly. Policies vary and it is not automatic, so call and ask what they need, such as the plumber's invoice or detection report.