Short answer: To check for a hidden leak, turn off all water inside and outside and look at your meter. The City of Smyrna's utility FAQ says a turning wheel, or a digital reading above 0.0 gallons per minute, means a leak on the customer side. The EPA also suggests comparing readings two hours apart and testing toilets with food coloring. Have a licensed plumber fix the leak, keep the invoice, then ask Utility Billing about the City's leak adjustment form, which is meant for high bills caused by service line breaks on the customer side of the meter.
The meter test
The City of Smyrna's utility FAQ gives a simple test: turn off all water inside and outside the house, then look at the meter. A turning silver wheel, or a digital reading above 0.0 gallons per minute, means water is leaking on the customer side.
The EPA's WaterSense program describes a second version: write down the meter reading, avoid using water for two hours, then check again. If the reading has changed at all, you probably have a leak. Our leak detection page explains what a plumber does next.
Toilets: the most common silent leak
The EPA says to add a drop of food coloring to the toilet tank and wait 10 minutes without flushing. If any color shows up in the bowl, the toilet is leaking. Flush right away afterward so the tank does not stain. The EPA lists worn toilet flappers among the most common sources of household leaks.
Other sources to check
- Dripping faucets, including worn washers and gaskets
- Showerheads and shower valves
- Outdoor irrigation systems and garden hose connections
- Other leaking valves under sinks and at appliances
The City's water and sewer page says it offers leak test tablets for leaking toilets and high-efficiency faucet aerators. Ask Public Works for details. See also our toilet and faucet repair page.
A real person answers 24 hours a day and tells you what to do first, before anyone comes out.
Leaks between the meter and the house
If the meter keeps moving after you close the main valve at the house, the leak is likely in the service line between the meter and the house. Signs include a soggy strip of yard, a wet spot or unusually green grass along the line's path, or low water pressure. The City of Smyrna repairs leaks up to the meter and inside the meter box on the street side, but the service line from the meter to your house is the homeowner's, according to the City's utility FAQ. See water line repair.
Asking about a leak adjustment
The City has a Leak Adjustment Form. Its page says the policy is meant to "assist customers with high water bills resulting from service line breaks on the customer side of their meters," and tells customers to download the policy and complete the form. The page does not state who is eligible, what documents are needed, deadlines or how much of a bill can be adjusted, so read the full policy and ask Utility Billing at 678-631-5338 before you pay for repairs.
Whatever the rules turn out to be, these steps help:
- Take a photo of the meter showing the movement before the repair.
- Keep the plumber's invoice and note the date of the repair.
- Ask Billing what documents it needs and how quickly it needs them.
Your steps, in order
- Run the meter test and note the result with a photo.
- Check toilets with food coloring and look for dripping fixtures.
- Close the main valve at the house and see whether the meter still moves.
- Call a licensed plumber to find and fix the leak.
- Keep the invoice and photos, then contact Utility Billing about the leak adjustment form.
If your bill comes from the Cobb County Water System instead of the City, ask that utility what it offers. Our who fixes what guide lists both utilities' numbers.
Sources
Written and reviewed by Alex, a Smyrna local with an MBA who researches and edits every page on this site, citing official and published sources. Published November 3, 2026.
Plumbing work is performed by independent, licensed Georgia plumbers. General information, not legal or insurance advice.