A water leak can increase your water bill if your property has a water meter, because water lost through the leak is usually measured along with the water you use. If you do not have a meter, your bill is usually based on a fixed charge, so a leak may not change what you pay, although it still wastes water and can cause damage.
Either way, a leak is worth repairing once you know it is there. The sooner it is fixed, the less water is wasted.
Metered and Unmetered Bills
With a meter, you generally pay for the water that passes through it. A leak after the meter, such as on your supply pipe or inside the property, may be recorded as usage. A slow drip may only add a little, but a steady leak running day and night can add up over a billing period.
Without a meter, charges are usually fixed and not linked to how much water you use. A leak may still need repairing because of the risk of damage to the building and its contents.
Signs a Leak May Be Affecting Your Bill
A bill that is higher than usual, without a change in how you use water, can be a sign of a leak. Other signs may include:
- A toilet that keeps running or trickling into the pan
- A tap that drips even when turned off firmly
- A damp patch or soft ground over the route of a supply pipe
- A water meter that keeps moving when nothing is being used
A higher bill does not always mean there is a leak. It could be due to a change in use, an estimated reading or a billing issue. It is worth checking your meter readings and contacting your water supplier if something looks wrong.
Leakage Allowances
Some water companies offer a leakage allowance on metered bills where a leak on the customer’s supply pipe has been repaired. Conditions vary between suppliers and may depend on where the leak was, how quickly it was repaired and whether you have had an allowance before. Your water supplier can tell you what applies to your account.
If you are not sure whether you have a meter, your water bill should show whether you are charged by meter or on a fixed basis.
Keeping a record of when the leak was found, what was repaired and any invoices may help if you ask your supplier about an allowance.
Getting the Leak Repaired
If a running toilet is to blame, our toilet repair page explains how common faults are fixed. For leaks from pipes, fittings or supply pipes, our page on repairing water leaks explains how the repair is approached.
If you think a leak is pushing up your water bill, a plumber can check the likely cause and explain what is needed to repair it.