Run the meter test
Do this when nobody is home or everyone is willing to keep the water off for a while.
- Shut everything offClose all taps, make sure the dishwasher and washing machine are not running, and turn off the ice maker if you can. Do not flush.
- Find the meterIt is usually in a box near the street, in the basement, or in a utility closet. Lift the lid carefully and clear away dirt or debris.
- Look at the low-flow indicatorMany meters have a small dial or triangle that spins with even a trickle. If it moves with everything off, water is flowing.
- Take two readingsIf there is no indicator, write down the numbers. Wait without using any water, then read again. Any change means a leak.
- Close the main shutoff and repeatShut the valve where the line enters the house, then check the meter. If it still moves, the leak is before that valve.
What the result tells you
The shutoff step is the one that splits the problem in half.
| Meter result | Where the leak is | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Moves with all fixtures off, stops when the house valve is closed | Inside the house or yard plumbing | Check toilets, irrigation, heater and fixtures |
| Keeps moving even with the house valve closed | The pipe between the meter and the house | Call for leak detection and line repair |
| Moves only in short bursts | A toilet filling after a slow flapper leak, or an ice maker | Dye test the toilets, check appliances |
| Moves steadily with no pause | A running fixture or a larger leak | Shut the main and call right away |
| Does not move at all | No active leak at the moment | Check billing and meter reading history |
A steady spin with the house valve closed is the strongest sign of a buried line problem, and it is worth acting on quickly.
The usual suspects inside the house
Check these in order. Most hidden usage comes from the first two.
- Toilets: add a few drops of food coloring to each tank and look in the bowl after fifteen minutes for color.
- Irrigation: look for a zone stuck on, a cracked head, or a valve that does not close fully.
- Water heater: look for dampness at the relief valve and at the bottom of the tank.
- Ice maker and filters: a loose fitting behind a fridge can drip for weeks without being noticed.
- Softener or filter: a stuck valve can keep water flowing to drain, if you have one.
- Outdoor hose bibs: look for water at the base of the wall and for a hose left connected.
Why the toilet is the top culprit
A flapper that no longer seals lets water trickle from the tank into the bowl all day. The fill valve then tops up the tank every few minutes, so the meter moves while the toilet looks quiet. You can often hear a faint refill hiss in a silent house.
The dye test finds this in minutes. A worn flapper is a small part to replace, and the fill valve is worth checking at the same time if it keeps running.
When the leak is underground
If the meter spins with the house valve closed, the pipe between the meter and your home is the suspect. Signs include a soft, green or wet patch in the yard, a drop in water pressure, or the sound of water near the meter box.
Do not dig to chase it. Locating a buried leak with the right equipment limits how much ground is opened, and our leak detection work is built for that. Once found, water line repair fixes the pipe itself.
Your meter and the Water Utility
Millville's water system is run by the City Water Utility under Public Works, which draws from ten wells and serves more than 100 miles of mains. The utility's office is open weekdays from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, and its emergency line is 856-825-7000 ext. 7613. Call it if water is running at the meter or street side, and ask where the city's responsibility ends and yours begins, since the city page does not state the split.
The city also notes that lead can enter water from service pipes between the main and the home. The city is also collecting a service line material questionnaire from owners, so ask the utility whether it needs yours. The utility says its water meets federal and state drinking water standards.
Source type: City of Millville Water Utility web page and 2026 Consumer Confidence Report.
Reading a high bill
A high bill with no change in habits is a good reason to run the test above. Compare the bill period to the one before, and ask the utility how the reading was taken. A slow constant leak, such as a toilet, can quietly add up over a billing cycle.
If your home uses a private well, there is no utility meter to read, and you would check the pressure tank and pump instead. Leaks still waste power in that case.
What to do next
If the test points outside the house, shut the main valve and call. We take calls at all hours on our 24/7 emergency line and serve Millville and nearby towns, including Vineland and Port Norris. Same-day appointments are available when the schedule allows, and the price is clear before work starts.
Questions People Ask
Water is flowing somewhere. A toilet flapper, irrigation zone or a buried line leak are the most common reasons. The meter test tells you whether it is inside the house or outside.
Yes. Even a slow toilet leak will move a sensitive low-flow indicator. Small leaks cost more over a billing cycle than most people expect.
Yes, if it moves with everything off. Closing the house valve limits damage inside, and if the meter still moves, the leak is outside it.
Not necessarily. It means water is passing the meter. Ask the Water Utility where its responsibility ends, since the city page does not state the ownership split.
Call the Water Utility emergency line at 856-825-7000 ext. 7613. If you get no callback, the city page says to call police dispatch.
Sources and standards
These are the references behind the guidance on this page. Rules and contacts change, so confirm details with the agency.
- New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, plumbing subcode (the Millville Construction Office posts the permit form)
- State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, Division of Consumer Affairs, for checking any plumber's license
- City of Millville Water Utility and its annual Consumer Confidence Report