Sonoma, CA Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)

251 governs consumer-side leaks in the city's water system. Once the city gives written notice to the customer of record that leakage exists on the service side of the meter, on private property, the customer must take reasonable steps to eliminate it; failure to do so lets the city terminate water service to the property. 060(A)(2), presumes that 72 hours after a customer discovers a leak, or receives city notice of one, is a reasonable time to correct it or at least stop the flow, and failing to do so within that window is itself classified as a prohibited nonessential water use.

For leaks severe enough to threaten property damage or deterioration, or that involve continuous, unrestricted flow such as a burst pipe, the city may terminate service at the meter immediately and without any advance notice. If the affected service supplies water for fire protection, the fire chief must be notified immediately of the interruption, and the city must restore service as soon as reasonably possible after the repair is made. The council's stated rationale, written directly into the section, is that water is a valuable commodity and that leak waste must be prevented at all times regardless of whether the customer is willing or able to pay for the water lost.

253, separately makes any person responsible for accidental or malicious damage to the water system liable for the city's materials and labor costs, including the value of water released, billed at city-set rates.