Many water utilities will reduce a high bill caused by a leak on your side of the meter, but only after the leak is repaired and usually only once in a set period. Call your utility's customer service, ask about their leak adjustment policy, and send proof: the repair invoice, photos, and ideally a leak detection report showing where the leak was. Policies differ, so ask your own utility for the rules and deadline.
A leak can double or triple a water bill before anyone notices. The good news is that many utilities offer a leak adjustment, a partial credit for water lost through a leak on your side of the meter, once the leak is fixed. The catch is that every utility sets its own rules. Here’s how leak adjustments usually work in Indiana, what to have ready, and how to ask the utilities that serve Johnson County.
How leak adjustments usually work
Policies vary, but most share these features:
- The leak must be on your side of the meter: the service line, the plumbing in the house, or irrigation.
- It must be repaired before the credit is given.
- You need proof: a plumber’s invoice or receipts, the repair date, sometimes photos.
- There’s a deadline, often a set number of days after the bill or the repair.
- Limits apply: often one adjustment in a 12-month period, and a credit for only part of the extra water.
- Sewer charges may be adjusted separately if the leaked water never went down the drain.
- Some losses are excluded, such as water used on purpose (filling a pool, watering), or leaks that were ignored after the customer knew about them.
Some utilities have a written policy or a leak adjustment form; others decide case by case. Either way, you have to ask.
Step 1: Confirm and fix the leak fast
The faster the leak is found and fixed, the smaller the bill and the stronger your request.
- Meter test: turn off all water and watch the meter’s leak indicator. If it moves, water is leaking. See how to find a water leak in your house.
- Rule out the easy ones: a running toilet (dye test) or a dripping outdoor faucet. Walk through why your water bill is so high.
- If it’s hidden, under a slab, in a wall or in the buried line, get it located so the repair happens right away rather than after weeks of guessing.
Step 2: Gather your proof
- The high bill(s) and one or two normal bills for comparison
- Meter readings before and after the repair, with dates. A photo of the meter works.
- The repair invoice from the plumber, or receipts for parts if you fixed it yourself
- Photos of the leak and the repair
- A leak detection report, if you had one, showing where the leak was, what line it was on, and the date it was found
A report that shows the leak was hidden, such as a slab leak or a buried line, also helps show you couldn’t have seen it sooner.
Step 3: Contact your utility
Call customer service, say you had a leak on your side of the meter that’s now repaired, and ask:
- Do you offer a leak adjustment, and is there a form?
- What’s the deadline?
- What documents do you need?
- Does it cover sewer charges as well as water?
- How is the credit calculated?
Johnson County is served by several utilities, and their rules differ:
| Utility | Serves (examples) | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana American Water | Much of Greenwood, Franklin and New Whiteland | amwater.com/inaw customer service |
| Town of Bargersville water utility | Bargersville and parts of Greenwood, Center Grove and Franklin | Bargersville utilities |
| Town of Whiteland (Whiteland Water Works) | Whiteland | Whiteland water department |
| Town of Trafalgar utilities | Trafalgar | Trafalgar utilities |
Not sure which one you have? Check your bill, or see our town pages.
If the answer is no
- Ask what would change the decision, such as a sewer-only credit or a payment plan.
- Ask for a supervisor or a written decision.
- For utilities regulated by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, such as Indiana American Water, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor represents consumers and can explain your options (OUCC).
Avoid the next surprise bill
- Check the meter’s leak indicator once a month with everything off.
- Fix running toilets right away. They’re one of the most common causes of a high bill.
- Consider a smart water leak detector or flow monitor that alerts you to continuous flow.
- Get hidden leaks found early. A leak that runs around the clock can waste thousands of gallons a month.
Get the leak found and documented
If your bill jumped and you can’t see a leak, we find hidden leaks across Bargersville and Johnson County, including Greenwood, Franklin and Whiteland, and give you photos and readings you can send with your adjustment request.
Still can’t find it?
Our hidden water leak detection pinpoints the leak without tearing things up, so the repair starts in the right spot.
Frequently asked questions
Will my water company lower my bill if I had a leak?
Often, but not always. Many utilities offer a one-time adjustment for a leak on the customer's side of the meter once it's repaired. Some adjust only the sewer portion, some limit how often you can ask, and some decide case by case. Ask your utility for its policy.
What proof do I need for a leak adjustment?
Usually a repair invoice or receipts for parts, the date of the repair, and sometimes photos. A leak detection report with the location and type of leak, and meter readings before and after the repair, makes a request stronger.
Does Indiana American Water give leak adjustments?
Indiana American Water doesn't publish a single leak adjustment rule that applies in every case, so contact its customer service, explain the leak and the repair, and ask what it can do and what it needs from you.
Is there a deadline to request a leak adjustment?
Usually yes. Many utilities require the request within a set number of days of the bill or the repair. Call as soon as you see the high bill, fix the leak quickly, and keep every receipt.
Do leak adjustments apply to sewer charges?
Sometimes. If sewer charges are based on water use and the leaked water didn't go down the drain, for example a leak in the yard, some utilities adjust the sewer part of the bill. Ask specifically about sewer when you call.