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Louisburg, KS Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Water billing
no credit for leaked water past the meter
Sewer adjustment
requires proof of failure and repair
Appeal window
30 days after the bill
Adjustment cap
one-time only, within 60 days of appeal
Appeal body
Louisburg Governing Body
Citation
Louisburg City Code §§ 15-216, 15-330(d)

Summary

In the City of Louisburg, no billing credit is given for water lost through a leak once it passes the meter under Louisburg City Code § 15-216, though a customer may appeal to the Governing Body. Sewer bills get a narrower fix: § 15-330(d) lets a customer request a one-time adjustment by proving mechanical failure and repair within 30 days of the bill.

No allowances shall be made for water used or lost through leaks, carelessness, neglect, or otherwise after the same has passed through the meter, except every customer shall have the right to appeal to the Governing Body of the City. ... Customers requesting billing adjustments stemming from a water leak incident will be required to provide proof of mechanical failure and subsequent repair for the appurtenant billing period. Penalties may be assessed for falsifying records provided to the City that are used in calculation of a billing statement. All customers wishing to appeal their sewer bill based on unintended water consumption, resulting from mechanical failure of water distribution, shall contact the City within (30) days after receipt of the bill, stating the basis for the appeal. The City will not consider a sewer adjustment occurring more than 60 days from the date of appeal. Customers will be allowed a one-time sewer adjustment.

Full Breakdown

Louisburg's water and sewer articles treat a leak as the customer's financial responsibility, not a City write-off. Section 15-216, titled "Leaks prohibited; penalty," states that no allowance is made for water used or lost through leaks, carelessness, neglect or otherwise once it has passed through the meter; the only relief the section grants is the right to appeal the charge to the Governing Body of the City, the elected body that hears water and sewer billing disputes. The sewer side of the utility, governed separately under § 15-330(d)'s sewer-adjustment clause, is more specific: a customer asking for a billing adjustment tied to a water leak incident must provide proof of mechanical failure and the subsequent repair for the billing period in question.

That customer must contact the City within 30 days of receiving the bill to state the basis for the appeal, and the City will not consider an adjustment request made more than 60 days after that appeal. Each customer gets only one such sewer adjustment; later leaks do not qualify again under subsection (a)'s winter-average method. The code also warns that falsifying the repair records submitted to support an adjustment can draw penalties, underscoring that the proof requirement is enforced, not a formality. Together, the two sections mean a leaking pipe still shows up in full on the water bill, and only a documented, timely appeal wins any relief on the sewer side.

Violations & Fines

Section 15-216 does not print its own fine despite the "penalty" in its title; a customer who disputes a leak charge is limited to appealing to the Governing Body. On the sewer side, § 15-330(d) warns that penalties may be assessed for falsifying the mechanical-failure or repair records submitted to support a billing adjustment, and a missed 30-day appeal window forfeits the one-time adjustment entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

If my pipe leaks and I use extra water, does Louisburg forgive the charge?
No. Section 15-216 states that no allowance is made for water used or lost through leaks once it passes through the meter, so a leaking pipe still shows up on your water bill in full. Your only recourse under that section is to appeal the charge to the Governing Body of the City.
Can I get a break on my sewer bill because of a leak?
Possibly, on the sewer side only. Section 15-330(d) lets you request a one-time sewer billing adjustment if you provide proof of the mechanical failure and the repair, but you must contact the City within 30 days of receiving the bill to state your basis for the appeal.
How long do I have to request a leak-related billing adjustment?
You have 30 days from receiving the bill to contact the City and state the basis for your appeal under § 15-330(d). The City will not consider an adjustment request made more than 60 days after that appeal, and each customer is limited to one such sewer adjustment.

Sources & Official References

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