If you have a water meter fitted outside your property, you can carry out a simple test to find out if your property has a leak.

If you can't access your meter, or don't have one, please call us on 0845 9200 800 (Textphone: 0845 7200 899). Our lines are open 24 hours a day.

How to carry out a leak test

If you have a water meter fitted outside your home, please follow the steps below to check for a leak:

1. Locate your external meter - it is usually fitted to the outside stop valve located either in your garden, driveway or footpath.
2. Stop using water in the property - remember to turn off all water-using appliances, such as your washing machine and dishwasher.
3. Turn off the inside stop valve - this can usually be found under the kitchen sink. Watch our short video on how to find and use your outside stop valve
4. Take a meter reading, including the digits in the red dials. If the dial is still recording water use, please double check that everything is switched off and there are no toilet cisterns filling up.
5. Leave the stop valve shut and read the meter half an hour later. If the reading has changed, you may have a leak. Please call us on 0845 9200 888 (Textphone: 0845 7200 899) and we will arrange for a technician to visit your property. Our lines are open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays and closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

Help with finding and reading your meter

• Watch our short video on how to find and read your water meter

For further assistance with reading your meter, you can call us on 0845 9200 888 (Textphone: 0845 7200 899).

Our lines are open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays and closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

Leakage Code of Practice

This Code of Practice has been approved by Ofwat (governed by the Water Services Regulation Authority). It explains what you should do when you have a leak on your water supply and gives some useful advice about what we can do to help you.

• Read our leakage Code of Practice (0.25Mb)