Livingston officials encouraging residents to check their homes for hidden leaks following a recent spike in water consumption across the community.
Mayor Lori Elder Burnett said the municipality noticed higher usage recently, which could also be attributed to people staying home during the weather. She said that checking for running toilets or hidden issues now could prevent surprisingly high utility bills later.
“We are asking everyone if they can take a moment to check your water meter just to see if you have a leak,” Burnett said. “That would be of benefit both on our end for usage and for their end for a potentially high water bill.”
Most residents automatically have water leak relief insurance unless they specifically opted out of the coverage. Burnett said a phone number is listed on the back of utility bills to call for assistance once a leak is repaired.
“They do expect that you fix your leak as soon as possible,” Burnett said. “Then they will request the bill and give some assistance on forgiveness of that bill.”
To properly check for issues, residents should turn off all faucets and appliances that use water. If the meter is still spinning while everything is off, it indicates a leak is present.
“That is when you want to call a plumber to come and look,” Burnett said. “Try to fix any leaks as soon as possible.”
Officials noticed the increased water consumption recently, acknowledging that usage may be naturally higher because residents are spending more time at home due to the weather. However, the town wants to ensure no one is unknowingly paying for wasted water.
“If you need us at Livingston, the phone number is 931-823-1269,” Burnett said.