View Leak Detection Tips Infographic as PDF(PDF, 915KB)
Most household water leaks are due to toilets or irrigation systems. You can detect these leaks before they impact your water bill using these steps:
Test Your Toilets Regularly:
1. Put dye in toilet tank (Remove the tank lid and put in several drops of food coloring.)
2. Wait 30 minutes (Do not flush. This allows time for dye to travel from the tank to the bowl.)
3. Check bowl for dye (If the dye has seeped into the toilet bowl you have a toilet leak and likely need a new flapper valve.)
Did you know? Toilets can leak/run without you hearing it! Toilets can leak as much as 300 gallons per hour!
Irrigation:
If the leak is not your toilet(s), it may be on your irrigation system.
1. Turn off the shut off valve to completely cut water to the irrigation system. (Just turning off a cycling mechanism will not stop a leak.)
2. After a day or two with no water pressurizing the irrigation system, check your water use in WaterSmart to see if the leak stopped. If it stopped, you have an irrigation leak.
Did you know? Irrigation systems can leak even when the system is not cycling/on!
Sign up for Leak Alerts
Have you signed up for the WaterSmart customer portal? Customers can now log on to view their water use and set up leak alerts. Alerts can help you detect your leaks ASAP! Visit santacruz.watersmart.com to register or log in.
Contact (831)420-5230 or WTCA@santacruzca.gov for help signing up for WaterSmart or information about other common leak detection steps.
View Leak Detection Tips Infographic as PDF(PDF, 915KB)
Notice of Policy Change: The below policy will change effective January 1, 2026. Any applications received on or after that date will be evaluated per the new policy.
The City of Santa Cruz Municipal Utilities (SCMU) offers relief to customers who have experienced high bills due to an extraordinary water loss event, such as an underground water line leak. The application for leak forgiveness can be found on the WaterSmart Portal.
If you are applying for leak forgiveness on a dedicated irrigation account, visit Irrigation Account Leak Forgiveness.
Policy
It is the Department's policy to grant a billing adjustment, or leak forgiveness, for extraordinary an non-recurrent plumbing problems. Forgiveness may only be granted one leak forgiveness every two years, and only when the Department finds all of the following conditions to exist:
- That a request for forgiveness has been made by the account holder no later than 90 days from the date of the utility bill containing the leak or extraordinary use.
- That the applicant has provided proof of the repair as required by the leak forgiveness application, and the meter shows no sign of movement after the repair.
- That the account under review has not already been granted a leak forgiveness in the past 24 months
- That the leak forgiveness applies to no more than two consecutive service periods
Procedure
- Account holder completes this Leak Forgiveness Application signifying they have read, understood, and agreed to the policy and procedure, and submits the application to SCMU along with relevant documentation
- Upon supply of proof of repair and confirmation of no movement on the water meter, SCMU will calculate the leak volume and remove water consumption charges associated with the leak
- SCMU contacts the account holder with the adjusted balance, and reminds the account holder that the account is ineligible for further leak forgiveness for the next two years
Access the Leak Forgiveness Form on the WaterSmart portal.