Wauwatosa, WI Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Bill-adjustment reporting window
- 15 days from receipt of the bill
- Adjustment covers
- Leaks on outlet side of customer's meter
- Adjustment condition
- No customer negligence in detecting/fixing leak
- Service pipe repair duty
- Owner/consumer, at their own expense
- Non-repair consequence
- Water shutoff until repairs completed
- No-notice shutoff
- Allowed if leak is a public/utility hazard
Summary
A Wauwatosa water customer who reports and repairs a leak on the customer's side of the meter within fifteen days of the bill can get the water superintendent to adjust that quarter's bill under Municipal Code Section 13.04.180. Separately, Section 13.04.480 makes the owner responsible for repairing a leaky service pipe or facing a water shutoff.
The water superintendent may adjust a customer's quarterly water bill where a leak in the water system has existed on the outlet side of the customer's water meter if satisfactory evidence that such leak has been repaired is presented to the water superintendent within fifteen days of receipt of the bill for water service for the quarter in which such leak was repaired and the water superintendent is of the opinion that there has been no negligence on the part of the customer in detecting such leak and in taking corrective action. ... The service pipe from but not including the curb stop and the stop box to the point of use shall be maintained and kept in repair at the expense of the owner or the consumer. If an owner or consumer fails to repair a leaky or broken service pipe from but not including the curb stop and the stop box to the house within such time as may appear reasonable to the water superintendent of the utility after notification has been served on the owner or consumer by the water superintendent, the water will be shut off and will not be turned on again until the repairs have been completed.
Full Breakdown
04 of the water and sewage title. 180, Bills--Adjustment, lets the water superintendent adjust a customer's quarterly bill where a leak existed on the outlet side of the customer's meter, but only if the customer presents satisfactory evidence the leak has been repaired within fifteen days of receiving the bill for the quarter in which the leak was fixed, and only if the superintendent finds no negligence by the customer in detecting the leak or acting on it. 020, rather than at the metered read.
480, Service Pipe--Maintenance: the owner or consumer must maintain and keep in repair, at their own expense, the service pipe running from the property side of the curb stop and stop box to the point of use. 480 lets the utility shut the water off without any notice at all. In an emergency, or if the owner or consumer cannot be found, the superintendent can go ahead and make the repair directly, still at the owner's or consumer's expense. 500 separately makes the consumer responsible for protecting the stop box from dirt and obstruction and relieves the utility of liability if it cannot find the stop box to shut off water during a leak on the consumer's premises.
Violations & Fines
Missing the fifteen-day reporting window in Section 13.04.180 forfeits the bill adjustment for that leak; the customer pays the full metered bill. Failing to repair a leaky or broken service pipe after notice under Section 13.04.480 results in the water being shut off, with no restoration until repairs are complete, and the utility may cut service without any notice at all if the leak poses a hazard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a bill credit for a water leak in Wauwatosa?
Who is responsible for fixing a leaking water service pipe?
What happens if I don't fix a leak after the water utility notifies me?
How is a leak-adjustment credit calculated?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wauwatosa
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