Leak Allowance
Have you received a water bill that seems abnormally high? If you suspect your excessive water use may be the cause of a leaking pipe or plumbing fixture, you may qualify for our leak allowance program.
Credit for High Water Bills
To encourage customers to make repairs to leaking plumbing fixtures, we will provide an allowance credit on high water bills. The leak allowance program is open to all single-family residential, multifamily residential and non-residential accounts. We shall be the sole judge in determining the excess delivery due to leakage.
Allowance Credit
An allowance credit is applied to the customer’s bill. The allowance ordinarily may be granted based on one-half of the excess delivery due to a visible leak (i.e., fixture leak, toilet leak) and full excess on concealed leaks (I.e., underground leak, behind the wall leak).
Apply for a Credit
Leak allowance credits are reviewed and processed by our High Consumption Unit. The High Consumption Unit is governed by the Rules and Regulations Governing Water Service to Customers, Section D, Rule 6.*
Customers must apply for the leak allowance credit within 15 days of the first notice of the high bill by filling out the request form below or by contacting the High Consumption Unit at 415-551-4780. Proof of repairs must be submitted electronically.
Proof of repairs may also be mailed to:
SFPUC
Attn: High Bill Unit
525 Golden Gate Ave., 2nd Floor,
San Francisco, CA 94102.
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Submit the Allowance Credit Application
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Check Your Application Status
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to submit proof of repairs to get a leak allowance?
Yes, proof of repairs is required. Proof of repair may be in the form of a plumber’s invoice or a purchase receipt of materials.I made repairs but do not have proof. What should I do?
Contact the High Consumption Unit at 415-551-4780 to schedule an inspection to verify the repairs.Can I get an allowance prior to making the repairs?
No. A leak allowance may be granted only after the leaks have been addressed by making repairs.How will I know if I have been granted an allowance?
A letter will be sent by email or, if no email is on file, by United States Postal Service mail. Applicants may also check the status of their request using the web form on this page.How long is the review process for the leak allowance?
The review may take up to 4 months from the date of request. The review includes validation of a leak, confirmation that the leak was addressed, verification repairs are appropriate for the leak, and verification that consumption has returned to pre-leak consumption.How do I check the status of my request?
Use the form on this web page.Will I get reimbursed for making repairs?
Reimbursement for repairs made are not included as part of the leak allowance program. Customers have sole control of water delivered beyond the Department’s meter and is responsible for maintenance and repairs of pipes and fixtures beyond the meter.How much is the leak allowance?
The allowance adjustment, if granted, will be for 50% of excess usage for visible leaks and 100% of excess usage for concealed leaks and for no more than two billing periods including that in which the claim was made.How is the allowance calculated?
The amount of the allowance adjustment is equal to one-half of the excess delivery for visible leaks and full excess for concealed leaks.How will I receive the allowance?
The allowance will be given as a credit towards the customer’s bill.
*Rules and Regulations Governing Allowance Credit
SECTION D, RULE 6
The customer has sole control of the water delivered beyond our meter and we are not responsible for maintenance and the repairs of the pipes and fixtures beyond the meter. In order to encourage prompt repairs of leaking pipes or fixtures the department may, under certain conditions, grant allowances for apparently excessive bills resulting from leakage beyond the meter. All risk of loss beyond the point of delivery shall be borne by the customer, except as otherwise provided herein.
(a) Allowance may be granted only when claim has been received and evidence clearly shows that the apparently excessive bill is due to leaking pipes or fixtures and not wasteful use and then only when repairs have been promptly made and reported to us. The allowance, if granted, will be for not more than two billing periods including that in which the claim was made.
(b) Allowance ordinarily may be granted on the basis of one-half of the excess delivery due to leakage but in the case of concealed leaks in underground or unexposed pipes, full excess may be allowed.
(c) Outside San Francisco no allowance will be made on account of leakage except when in our judgment, exceptional conditions justify allowance and then only for concealed leaks in underground or unexposed pipes. In the event, allowance may be granted based on from fifty to one hundred percent of the excess delivery. No allowance shall apply to customer taking water for resale.
We shall be the sole judge in determining the excess delivery due to leakage.