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Santa Fe, NM Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
City Code § 25-2.6(A)
Minor leak deadline
15 days from city notification
Severe leak deadline
Immediate repair required
Noncompliance consequence
Water service discontinuance under Rule No. 9
Repair proof
Must be submitted to water division
Financial help
Zero-interest leak repair loans under § 25-2.12

Summary

Santa Fe property owners and managers must fix a minor water-line leak within 15 days of notice from the water division, and repair a severe leak immediately, under City Code Section 25-2.6(A). Failing to comply can lead to water service being cut off under Rule No. 9 of the water conservation chapter.

A.Minor water system leaks, as determined by the city, from private water lines shall be repaired by the owner or property manager within fifteen (15) days of initial notification by the water division or utility billing section. A severe leak, as determined by the city, shall be repaired immediately. Failure to do so may result in discontinuance of service as set forth in Rule No. 9, Exhibit A of Chapter XXV SFCC 1987*. Proof of repair shall be provided to the water division or utility billing section upon completion of the repair.

Full Breakdown

6(A), part of the city's Comprehensive Water Conservation Requirements Ordinance, splits leak-repair duty into two tiers based on the city's own determination of severity. A minor water system leak on a private line gives the owner or property manager 15 days from the water division's or utility billing section's initial notification to complete the repair. A severe leak carries no grace period at all: the code requires immediate repair. Either way, proof of the completed repair must be submitted back to the water division or utility billing section, and the section cross-references Rule No.

9 of Exhibit A to Chapter XXV, which authorizes the city to discontinue water service to a customer who fails to repair a leak as required. 12, which offers residential customers a zero-interest, city-funded loan program specifically to pay for water leak repairs when the cost of fixing a leaking toilet, service line, or fixture would otherwise be prohibitive. Because this is a conservation-ordinance duty rather than a plumbing-code violation, enforcement runs through the water division and utility billing section rather than the building inspector, with discontinuance of water service, not a criminal citation, as the primary consequence for noncompliance.

Violations & Fines

Failing to repair a minor private-line leak within 15 days of the water division's notice, or failing to fix a severe leak immediately, violates Section 25-2.6(A) and can lead to discontinuance of water service under Rule No. 9 of Exhibit A to Chapter XXV. The city requires proof of repair before treating the matter as resolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to fix a water leak after Santa Fe notifies me?
15 days for a leak the city classifies as minor, measured from the water division's or utility billing section's initial notification. Section 25-2.6(A) requires a severe leak, as determined by the city, to be repaired immediately with no grace period.
What happens if I don't fix a reported water leak in Santa Fe?
The city can discontinue your water service under Rule No. 9 of Exhibit A to Chapter XXV, referenced directly in Section 25-2.6(A). You must also submit proof of repair to the water division or utility billing section once the work is done.
Does Santa Fe help pay for water leak repairs?
Yes. Section 25-2.12 established a zero-interest domestic water leak repair loan program for residential customers, limited to one loan per customer and repaid through the city, though the loan does not remove the repair deadlines set in Section 25-2.6(A).

Sources & Official References

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