Read the meter before you guess
Compare your bill with the last few months, then go read the meter. Turn everything off, read the dial, and read it again two hours later. The EPA's rule of thumb is simple. Any change on the dial means a probable leak.
If the meter stays still, look at usage and irrigation next. If it moves, a hidden leak is likely, and our team can trace it. Dispatch is open 24/7 if you want to talk it through, just use the emergency line.
Pico Rivera water and housing: what it means for you
Two different utilities send water bills to Pico Rivera homes. The city's page for finding your water service provider says the City Water Division covers the city-served area, with its office on Passons Blvd and a line at (562) 801-4316. Addresses outside that area belong to Pico Water District on S. Church St, at 562-692-3756. An address lookup map on the page shows City in green and Pico Water District in red.
Confirm who sends your bill before you call anyone, since meter readings, billing disputes and any adjustment policy are theirs to explain. Once you know, ask them for your usage history, because the EPA treats a family of four passing 12,000 gallons in a month, in cooler weather, as a likely serious leak. If your numbers are near or above that, move straight to the meter test.
Likely causes and how to check each
Work down the list from the cheapest check to the most involved.
| Cause | How to check | What it can waste |
|---|---|---|
| Running toilet | Dye test with food coloring, wait 10 minutes | Leaks add up quickly and flappers should be replaced at least every five years |
| Dripping faucet | Listen and look under sinks | One drip every second adds up to over 3,000 gallons yearly |
| Leaking showerhead | Check the connection and the shutoff | 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons a year |
| Irrigation leak | Run zones and watch for wet spots | A tiny 1/32 inch hole costs roughly 6,300 gallons monthly |
| Hidden leak in a wall or slab | Meter test with everything off | The typical household leak loses over 9,300 gallons yearly |
| More people, more laundry, a new pool fill | Compare dates with the bill | Real use, not a leak |
All waste figures come from the EPA Fix a Leak Week page.
Meter moved and the toilets passed?
That points to a hidden leak. Tell us what you found and we will plan the detection visit.
A weekend plan to find the cause
You can do this in order and stop when you find it.
- 1
Pull the last three bills
Note usage per billing period, not just the amount. A sudden step up points to a new leak or a new habit. A slow climb may be a worsening drip. Write down the billing dates too, because a longer cycle can make a bill look bigger than it is.
- 2
Do the two-hour meter test
Make sure everything is off, including irrigation and the ice maker. Record the register before and after.
- 3
Dye test every toilet
Add a few drops of food coloring to each tank and wait 10 minutes. Color in the bowl means the flapper is leaking. Our Toilet Repair team can replace it.
- 4
Walk the yard
Run each irrigation zone and look for soggy ground, geysers or lawn patches that stay wet. Valve boxes and sprinkler heads are the usual weak spots, and a stuck valve can keep a zone running long after the timer says it stopped.
- 5
Close the main and watch the dial
If the dial keeps turning with the main closed, the leak is between the meter and the house. Book Leak Detection to find the spot.
When the meter says it is not a leak
If the meter is still and the toilets pass, the bill may reflect actual use. Guests, a new pool or a hot spell with more irrigation all raise it. Compare the billing dates to see whether the cycle was longer than usual, and ask whether the reading was actual or estimated.
If the numbers still do not add up, ask your utility to confirm the reading and check the meter. Comparing bills with a friend in Norwalk or Montebello will not tell you much, since towns around Pico Rivera have their own water systems and rates. Reach out to us at (562) 488-9614 if you want a technician to confirm your plumbing is tight.
Standards and sources behind this page
The meter test and leak figures come from EPA WaterSense Fix a Leak Week guidance, and provider information from the City of Pico Rivera.
Questions we hear most
There is no magic number. A sudden step up with no change in routine is the sign. The EPA flags a family of four using over 12,000 gallons in a cooler month as a household that may have serious leaks.
Usually. Per the EPA, repairing the easy leaks can trim about 10 percent from a bill.
Yes. A flapper that does not seal lets water trickle into the bowl without a sound. The dye test finds it in 10 minutes.
It is a common one, because sprinklers run while nobody is watching and a small leak at a valve box can go unseen for weeks.
It depends on your address. The City Water Division handles one area and Pico Water District handles the rest. Type your address into the lookup map on the city's service provider page, or ask the Water Division on (562) 801-4316 to confirm.
Ask them about their policy for leak adjustments. Keep your repair invoice and the dates of the work.
Yes, our line is staffed around the clock. If water is escaping, close the main valve first and then phone us at (562) 488-9614.
Find out where the water is going
Pico Rivera Express traces hidden leaks and fixes the cause. You get a clear price before work starts.