Albany, OR Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)

Albany Municipal Code § 11.01.100(10) splits leak responsibility at the meter. Where there is a leak between the main and the meter, the utility makes all repairs. The service connection belongs to the utility whether it is located on public or private property, and § 11.01.100(7) reserves the utility's right to repair, replace and maintain it. When contractors or others damage or destroy a service connection, or electrolysis destroys one, the responsible person, contractor or company pays the utility the direct cost in labor and materials plus 15 percent overhead.

Leaks on the customer's side get different treatment. Where a customer service line is leaking or has a history of repair problems that produced leak adjustments, the utility will not activate service until the customer shows the problem has been eliminated. The code describes the fix as partial or total replacement of the customer's plumbing, a deposit large enough to cover estimated consumption, or both. Customers with serious leaks that cause extreme financial hardship or detrimental service to other customers can have water service terminated after 24 hours' notice, and leakage that causes severe detriment to other customers' service can bring immediate termination.

Repair earns a billing break. Section 11.01.095(3) allows the utility to adjust up to 50 percent of the estimated excess consumption due to leakage once a leak on the customer's side of the meter has been repaired and the repair is demonstrated, for no more than the last two billing periods. No adjustment is permitted when the excess consumption comes from the apparent continued waste of water through a negligent failure to repair the leak.

Section 11.01.240 gives the utility the right to enter the customer's premises at all reasonable times for any purpose connected with water service, and any inspection or recommendation on plumbing, appliances or water use is made or offered without charge. Section 11.01.230 separately makes it unlawful to allow City water to escape from its beneficial use into a storm sewer, street, road or ditch through knowing or negligent conduct.