Services > Water > Leaks

Emergency Water Leak 253-8002 253-8003 253-8004 City of Port Orford 555 W. 20th St. POB 310 Port Orford, OR 97465 Phone: 541.332.3681 FAX: 541.332.3830 email

Leaks Unseen or unfixed, they can drip hundreds or thousands of gallons of water wastefully down the drain. A little detective work twice a year can catch these water thieves in the act and put then out of circulation. Repair all leaks. Water Bill Always review your water bill carefully. Large amounts of usage may indicate a leak. If excess usage is noticibly large, the City will contact you to check for a leak. Faucets Worn washers in household faucets and showerheads should be checked periodically. Faucet leaks are usually caused by worn washers or "O" rings (for washerless faucets). Repairing faucet leaks is easy. All you have to do is turn off the water supply line to that faucet, replace the washer and turn on the line again. Any good do-it-yourself book will offer advice on this simple task. If you're not a do-it-yourselfer, have the work done by someone who knows how to do the job. Pinhole Leaks in Copper Pipes Historically, copper has been one of the more commonly installed piping materials for water service in homes. Pinhole leaks in copper pipes occur throughout the nation and the world. While the City of Port Orford is not responsible for home and commercial plumbing systems, customers' concerns are important to us. The problem is complex. Numerous factors may be involved in pinhole leaks, including: manufacturing, type of piping (thickness), installation, bacteria, temperature, electrical currents, interior surface condition of pipes, velocity of water, changes in water direction (elbows, tees), the water supply system, and corrosiveness of the water. The City is adding corrosion control at the water treatment plant to prevent interaction of the interior surface of the pipes with our water. You can be assured about the safety and quality of our water. To guarantee water quality, stringent tests are regularly performed on the City's treated drinking water. The water quality report is available [click here to view the Report].

Toilets The biggest single cause of high water bills is a leaking toilet. It can waste hundreds of gallons of water per day! Dripping faucets and leaking toilets are more than a nuisance. They waste water and cost you MONEY! Research shows that a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day, which could translate into $75.48 per billing cycle on your water and wastewater bill. The City of Port Orford knows you are concerned about the cost of your utility bill as well as water conservation. One of the best things you can do is find and fix any household leaks you may have. Start with the Toilet Toilets are the most common source of leaks. Here’s how to see if yours is leaking. First: · Put a dye tablet or several drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. Wait 15 minutes. Do not flush the toilet during this time. If colored water appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak from the tank into the bowl! · Check the flush valve ball. It may be worn and need replacing. · If the flush valve ball isn’t worn, check to see if it fits into the flush valve snugly. The valve may need cleaning. Then, if the ball still won’t seat properly, straighten the guidewire and make sure it’s not catching on anything. Second: · Sprinkle a small amount of talcum powder on top of the water in the tank. If this powder moves toward the overflow tube you probably have an overflow leak. · gently bend the float arm down to shut off the valve before water spills into the tube, or replace the float valve. · If your toilet won’t shut off, or whistles or whines after adjusting the float ball, you may need a new ballcock assembly.

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