Spotting a Leak Early Can Save Water and Money
Water leaks are one of the most common issues faced by households and communities across the North East. Whether it is a dripping tap in your kitchen, a damp patch on your wall, or water bubbling up from the pavement outside your home, leaks can cause significant waste, property damage, and unexpectedly high water bills if left unaddressed. The good news is that most leaks can be identified early and resolved quickly, provided you know what to look for and who to contact.
At Northumbrian Water, we are committed to reducing water waste across our network and helping our customers tackle leaks in their homes. Every year, we fix thousands of leaks on our own pipes, and we invest heavily in technology to detect and repair them faster than ever before. But we also rely on our customers and communities to be our eyes and ears on the ground. If you spot a leak, reporting it promptly can make a huge difference.
Is the Leak Your Responsibility or Ours?
Understanding who is responsible for a leak is the first step towards getting it fixed. As a general rule:
- Northumbrian Water is responsible for the water main in the street and the communication pipe that runs from the main to the boundary of your property (usually marked by an external stop tap or meter).
- The homeowner or occupier is responsible for the supply pipe that runs from the property boundary to your home, as well as all internal plumbing, taps, toilets, and appliances.
If you are unsure where the leak is or who is responsible, do not worry β contact us and we will help you work it out. In many cases, we can send an engineer to investigate at no charge.
How to Check for Leaks in Your Home
There are several simple checks you can carry out to determine whether you have a leak on your property:
- Check your water meter: Turn off all taps and water-using appliances in your home, then take a meter reading. Wait 30 minutes without using any water, and take another reading. If the numbers have changed, you likely have a leak somewhere on your supply pipe or internal plumbing.
- Inspect your toilet: Place a sheet of dry toilet paper at the back of the toilet bowl. If it becomes wet without flushing, the cistern is leaking into the bowl β a common issue that can waste hundreds of litres a day.
- Look for damp patches: Check walls, ceilings, and floors for unexplained damp spots, discolouration, or mould growth. These can indicate a hidden leak in your plumbing system.
- Listen for running water: In a quiet house, listen carefully for the sound of running water when no taps are open. This can sometimes reveal a leak in a pipe behind a wall or under a floor.
- Monitor your garden: Look for patches of unusually green or lush grass, or areas where the ground is consistently soft or waterlogged. These could indicate a leak on your underground supply pipe.
What to Do If You Find a Leak on Your Property
If you discover a leak on your internal plumbing or supply pipe, take the following steps:
- Turn off your internal stop tap: This is usually located under your kitchen sink or in a downstairs cloakroom. Turning it off will stop the flow of water into your home and prevent further damage.
- Contain the water: Place towels, buckets, or containers under the leak to minimise damage to floors and furnishings.
- Call a plumber: For internal leaks, you will need a qualified plumber to carry out repairs. We recommend using a WaterSafe-approved plumber for peace of mind.
- Contact us for supply pipe leaks: If the leak is on the underground pipe between your property boundary and your home, get in touch with us. We may be able to offer advice, and in some cases, we can help with repairs or provide financial assistance towards the cost.
Reporting a Leak on the Public Network
If you spot water leaking from a pipe in the road, on the pavement, or in a public area, please report it to us as soon as possible. You can do this by:
- Calling our 24-hour helpline
- Using the report a leak form on our website
- Contacting us via social media
When reporting a leak, it helps to provide as much detail as possible, including the exact location, the severity of the leak, and any impact on the road or surrounding area. Our teams aim to respond to all reports as quickly as possible, prioritising those that pose the greatest risk to public safety or water supply.
Our Commitment to Reducing Leakage
Northumbrian Water is one of the leading water companies in England for leakage performance. We use a combination of acoustic sensors, satellite technology, smart metering data, and dedicated leakage detection teams to find and fix leaks across our network. Our target is to continually reduce the amount of water lost through leakage, and we publish our performance data transparently each year.
By working together β fixing leaks in your home and reporting those you spot in public β we can reduce waste, protect water supplies, and keep bills fair for everyone. If you have any concerns about leaks or water use, our friendly team is always here to help.