Property owners served by Madison Water Utility must promptly repair leaks on their side of the curb stop and report main-line leaks to the utility, which provides emergency response and may issue bill adjustments for documented hidden leaks.
Under the Madison Water Utility's service rules adopted with Public Service Commission approval, customers are responsible for the service line from the curb stop into the home, including indoor plumbing. Visible leaks, damp basement walls, or unusually high consumption should be reported to the utility's twenty-four-hour line; main-line breaks in the street are repaired by the utility. Customers may apply for a one-time leak adjustment that reduces sewer charges based on average use once the leak is fixed and documentation submitted. State plumbing rules under Wis. Stat. ch. 145 require licensed plumbers for most repairs.
Failing to repair a known leak after a notice from the utility can result in service shutoff, lien for unpaid usage, and orders to install backflow-prevention or meter upgrades; unlicensed plumbing repair carries separate state fines.
See how Madison's leak reporting duty rules stack up against other locations.
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