The water used within your home or business is measured by a water meter and billed every two months. Water meters measure consumption in gallons.
All residences and commercial buildings are required to be equipped with Town supplied water meters. Meters are read in April and October each year, for billing purposes.
The meter reading submission form can be found at the bottom of this page.
Reading Your Meter
When a meter reading card is left in your door, this means that we were unable to access your meter. You can assist us by reading the meter yourself and submitting a meter reading online, by mail, e-mail, over the phone, or in person. Please make sure that your account number, name, and date are clearly marked.
The Town accepts bi-monthly readings for those that like to keep their account current and accurate between readings done by the Town.
Are You Moving?
If you are moving out of a residence a meter read is required on the last day of service. Any water usage over the allotted gallons will be calculated on your final Utility bill. If you are moving into a residence, we recommend submitting a meter read on the first day of service.
Locating Your Water Meter
A water meter is installed just above the main water shut-off valve in your home. This is usually in the basement and is located on a pipe that generally comes out of your basement floor. Locate the main water shut-off valve in your basement. It usually has a coloured, round or straight handle.
Detecting Leaks
The Town reviews water usage records when utility bills are prepared. This initiative is taken so that we may notify customers when a leak is causing an increase in charges to their utility invoice. Customers will be billed for all water that passes through the water meter. If a leak is detected and you are unable to find the cause, you may need to call a plumber.
The following are the most common sources of leaks:
- Toilets (the cause of 90% of leaks)
- Fridges (plumbed for water/ice)
- Underground sprinklers
- Bathtub/Shower/Sink faucets
- Indoor and Outdoor taps
- Dishwashers
- Washing Machines
Leaks may not always be noticeable by dripping water but may be the result of a valve that is not entirely closed. Leaks often go undetected and can occur for months or even years before becoming noticeable. To test if your toilet is leaking, follow the steps below:
Testing Your Water Meter
All complaints of excessive water usage alleged to be due to a faulty water meter will be investigated by the Town of Leader. The person(s) filing the complaint must make a deposit of $100.00 to the Town, and if upon investigation, the said water meter is found to be faulty, the deposit will be returned to the complainant. If there is no fault found in the water meter the deposit will be retained as a service charge.