Before you start: who owns the meter
The meter belongs to the water utility, not to you. In Westborough that is the Westborough Water Department. Do not remove, tamper with or adjust the meter. Lifting the lid and reading the dial is fine. Anything beyond that is a call to the department.
If the meter is in a pit outside, stay clear of traffic and watch for insects and standing water. If it is inside, usually in a basement near the front wall, it is easier to reach.
Step by step: the twenty minute test
Run the steps in order and write the numbers down.
- Turn off every faucet, appliance and irrigation system.
- Find the meter and wipe the cover of the read-out window.
- Look for a small triangle, star or flow indicator that spins when any water moves.
- Write down the full reading, including the small dial digits.
- Wait twenty minutes without using any water.
- Read the meter again and compare.
Reading the result
Any change in the numbers means water moved. The size and pattern of the change tells you what to try next.
| What you see | Likely meaning | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| No change, indicator still | No leak in this window | Repeat overnight if the bill is high. |
| Indicator slowly turns, small change | Small leak or a toilet flapper seeping | Run the toilet dye test, then check outdoor spigots. |
| Fast change, indicator spinning | Larger leak or a fixture running | Shut the main valve and look for the source. |
| Meter moves only with the main valve open | Leak is inside the house | Check fixtures, water heater, softener. |
| Meter moves even with the main valve closed | Meter or valve problem | Call the water department. |
Narrowing it down: inside or outside the house
Close the main shutoff valve where the line enters the house. Watch the meter for ten minutes. If the indicator stops, the leak is on the house side of the valve. If it keeps moving, the leak is on the service line between the meter and the valve, or the valve itself is leaking.
A leak on the service line is a different repair from a leak in a wall. It involves excavation, and that is where a licensed plumber and a locate of the underground line matter.
The five-minute checks for the most common culprits
Run these after the test shows a leak inside the house.
- Drop food coloring in each toilet tank, wait ten minutes and look for color in the bowl.
- Look under every sink and around the dishwasher and washing machine hoses.
- Check the water heater drain valve and the relief valve discharge pipe.
- Walk outside and check hose bibs and any irrigation valves.
- Listen quietly at night for faint hissing near walls and floors.
The sneaky ones: toilets and irrigation
A toilet flapper that does not seal can lose a startling amount of water without making noise. The dye test catches it every time. A sprinkler valve stuck slightly open does the same underground, and you may only notice a soggy patch of lawn.
If the meter moves slowly and the toilets are clean, shut off the irrigation system at its own valve and test again.
When to call for help
Call right away if water is visible in a ceiling, if the floor is warm in one spot, or if the meter spins fast with the main valve open. Shut the main valve first and keep it closed until a plumber arrives.
For a high bill with no visible cause, record the readings from your test and call. Those numbers shorten the diagnostic visit and let the technician plan which tools to bring.
Keep the numbers
Write down the date, time, both readings and what you shut off. If the leak turns out to be on the utility side, those notes support a conversation with the water department. If it is on your side, they help an insurance adjuster understand when the leak started.
Westborough, MA note: the Water Department and your annual report
Westborough has about 7,930 households according to the 2020 census, and the Westborough Water Department serves them from groundwater wells and the Westboro Reservoir. Meter reading, billing and meter replacement questions go to the department, not to a plumber.
The practical point: if your test shows the meter moving with the main valve closed, stop troubleshooting and call the department. If the leak is on your side, a licensed plumber handles the repair.
Permit rules vary, so ask the Westborough Building Department at Town Hall before you replace a service line or any main shutoff valve.
Once you know the leak is inside, the search is much smaller. A dedicated leak detection visit can pinpoint it without opening walls, and if the test blames the service line, water line repair is the next page to read. We dispatch to Westborough and to nearby towns such as Southborough and Northborough.
Water meter leak test: questions answered
It is a reliable yes-or-no test for a leak downstream of the meter. It cannot tell you where the leak is, but it tells you whether to keep looking and whether the problem is inside or outside the house.
If every fixture is off and the indicator turns even slowly, water is moving. Slow movement often means a toilet flapper or a dripping fixture, but a small underground leak can look the same. Repeat the test after the dye check.
Use the main shutoff valve in the house instead. The curb stop and the meter belong to the utility, and operating them without permission can cause problems.
Billing adjustments are a decision for the water department. Keep your test notes and the plumber's report, and ask the department about its process.
Call the Westborough Water Department for meter, billing and utility-side questions. Call a licensed plumber when the leak turns out to be inside the house or on the pipe between the main valve and the meter.
Want a licensed plumber to look at it? Call (508) 389-4045
Plumbing problem in Westborough?
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