A high water bill comes from more water used, a leak, or a billing or meter issue, and a two-hour meter test sorts the leak from the rest. Stop all water use, record the meter, wait two hours and read it again, because a changed reading means water is leaking somewhere. Bienvenu Brothers finds and repairs hidden leaks in Metairie, New Orleans and the surrounding communities. Our BBB A+ Rated, 4th generation family-owned company is 100% recommended on Facebook, Loved Locally on Nextdoor and an Angi Super Service Award winner. We work under Louisiana master plumber license LMP#7214WSPS, stay fully insured and have served South Louisiana since 1937. Contact Bienvenu Brothers or call (504) 835-7783 if your meter keeps moving.
This guide explains what counts as a high bill, the causes behind it, a step-by-step leak check that works with standard and smart meters, and how Jefferson Parish and the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (S&WB) handle meters, leaks and adjustments.
What a High Water Bill Really Means
A water bill reflects the water that passed through your meter during one billing period. A high bill means more water passed through than usual, and the cause can be a leak or a change in habits, dates or equipment. Compare the usage figure with the same month last year, the last three bills and the number of days in each billing period before you suspect anything else.
| Reference point | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average home water use per person, per day | 82 gallons | EPA Statistics and Facts, citing USGS |
| A family of four over a 30-day month at that average | About 9,800 gallons | 82 gallons times 4 people times 30 days |
| Colder-month flag for a family of four (January or February) | More than 12,000 gallons | EPA Fix a Leak Week |
| Water the average household leaks each year | More than 9,300 gallons | EPA Fix a Leak Week |
| Homes with leaks of 50 gallons or more per day | 9 percent | EPA Fix a Leak Week |
Your own history matters more than any national average. Households with pools, irrigation systems, home businesses or frequent guests use more water without any leak.
What Causes a High Water Bill
Leaks cause many high bills, but not all of them. This table sorts the common causes and gives the first check for each.
| Cause | How it shows up | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet flapper or fill valve leak | The meter moves with everything off, sometimes with a faint refill sound | Toilet dye test |
| Faucet or shower head drip | A visible or audible drip | Look and listen at every fixture |
| Supply line, shutoff valve or appliance hose leak | A damp cabinet floor or a wet spot beside the washer, dishwasher or ice maker | Look under sinks and behind appliances |
| Water heater leak | Water around the base or a steady drip from the relief valve pipe | Inspect the base and the discharge pipe |
| Outdoor leak | Wet soil by the foundation, a hose bib that drips or an irrigation valve stuck open | Close the outdoor valves and rerun the meter test |
| Leak in the line from the meter to the house | Wet or unusually green yard patches, low pressure, a meter that moves after the main shutoff closes | Close the house main and watch the meter |
| Slab leak in pipes under the foundation | Warm floor spots, the sound of running water, cracked tile, a meter that moves with every fixture off | Rerun the meter test, then call a leak detection professional |
| More water use than usual | Guests, hot weather, a filling pool or new habits | Compare with the same month last year |
| Longer billing period, estimated read or catch-up read | More days of usage on one bill | Check the dates and the read type on the bill |
| A new smart meter | Measured use differs from the old meter | Ask the utility to review the meter and the reads |
Seasonal habits move the number too. Our post on checking for hidden leaks after Mardi Gras guests leave explains why a houseful of visitors raises usage, and our guide to summer plumbing problems covers irrigation and heat. A pipe that cracked during a cold snap can start a leak that nobody sees, and our guide to preventing frozen pipes covers the prevention side.
Signs of a Hidden Leak Beyond the Bill
- The meter moves with every fixture off. This is the clearest sign, and the meter test finds it.
- The sound of water you cannot place. A hiss or trickle in a quiet house points to a leak in a wall, a toilet or a line.
- Warm spots on the floor. A leak in a hot water line under the slab can warm the floor above it.
- Damp patches, stains or a musty smell. Walls, ceilings and cabinets show moisture before pipes show damage.
- Wet or unusually green yard patches. A leak between the meter and the house can soak the soil above it.
- Lower water pressure. Water escaping through a leak leaves less for your fixtures.
- A utility alert. DropCountr flags unusual or continuous use, and S&WB alerts customers at more than 4 gallons per hour of continuous use over 48 hours.
Our guides to signs of water leaks in New Orleans homes and more water leak signs to watch for show what these signs look like in local houses.
High Water Bill: DIY or Professional?
Most of the checking takes nothing but time and a pen. The repair is where the line falls between a homeowner and a licensed plumber.
| Task | Reasonable for a homeowner | Call a professional when |
|---|---|---|
| Compare bills, dates and read type | Yes | The bill shows a charge you cannot explain after you check the dates |
| Run the meter test or read hourly data | Yes | The meter box is hard to reach, or the meter keeps moving with everything off |
| Run the dye test and replace a flapper | Yes | The fill valve or tank fittings have corroded |
| Check faucets, shower heads and hose bibs | Yes | A drip continues after a new washer or cartridge |
| Close the main shutoff to isolate the leak | Yes, when the valve works | The valve sticks, leaks or will not close fully |
| Find a leak in a wall, ceiling or slab | No | Always, because it takes acoustic, thermal and pressure testing tools |
| Repair the line from the meter to the house | No | Always, through a licensed plumber |
| Gather paperwork for the utility | Yes | You want the plumber to describe the leak and repair on the invoice |
How to Check for a Hidden Leak, Step by Step
Work through these steps in order. The first five need no tools, and each one narrows the search.
Step 1: Check the Bill First
- Usage and dates. Compare gallons or cubic feet used with earlier bills, and count the days in the billing period.
- Read type. The S&WB FAQ says the read type field at the top of the bill shows whether S&WB estimated the bill.
- Units. Meters read in gallons or cubic feet. One cubic foot equals about 7.48 gallons, so 100 cubic feet equals about 748 gallons.
Step 2: Find Your Meter and Know Its Type
Most water meters sit in a meter box near the curb or property line, and the S&WB FAQ states that almost all New Orleans meters already sit outside. A standard meter has a dial or digital register that you read yourself. A smart meter reports usage to the utility, so you read your usage online.
S&WB recommends that customers not lift the smart meter lid, to avoid damage, and its smart metering explains the cases where a plumber or facility manager needs access. If you have a smart meter, use the usage chart in the smart meter version of Step 3 instead of opening the box.
Step 3: Run the Two-Hour Meter Test
- Stop all water use. Close faucets, pause the dishwasher and washing machine, and make sure no one flushes a toilet. Confirm that the irrigation timer, ice maker and any softener cycle are idle.
- Record the reading and the time. Write down every digit, including any small test dial.
- Wait two hours without using any water.
- Read the meter again. EPA says that if the reading has changed at all, you probably have a leak.
- Convert the change. The worksheet below turns the change into a daily and monthly figure.
| Measure | How to calculate it | Example with a 5 gallon change |
|---|---|---|
| Gallons per hour | Change in the reading divided by 2 | 5 divided by 2 is 2.5 gallons per hour |
| Gallons per day | Gallons per hour times 24 | 2.5 times 24 is 60 gallons per day |
| Gallons per 30-day period | Gallons per day times 30 | 60 times 30 is 1,800 gallons |
If your meter reads in cubic feet, multiply the change by 7.48 to convert it to gallons. Some meters also have a small leak indicator that turns when even a trickle of water passes, so watch it before you start the two hours.
Smart Meter Version of Step 3: Read the Usage Chart
Smart meters let you run a similar test from your phone. S&WB’s customer portal shows hourly use, so open the chart for the overnight hours. A house with no overnight water use should show zero for several hours in a row. Flow in every hour points to a leak or to a timed device such as an irrigation system, a softener, an ice maker or a humidifier.
Jefferson Parish’s DropCountr shows daily, monthly and yearly use and flags unusual or continuous use that may indicate a leak. Pick a day when nobody was home and compare its total with a normal day. Use well above zero on an empty day points to a leak or a timed device.
Do not wait for an alert. S&WB alerts registered customers when the meter records more than 4 gallons per hour of continuous use over 48 hours, which equals about 96 gallons per day. EPA reports that 9 percent of homes have leaks of 50 gallons or more per day, which is about 2 gallons per hour. A leak in that range can run below the alert threshold.
Step 4: Test the Toilets
Add a few drops of food coloring to each toilet tank, wait 10 minutes without flushing and check the bowl. Color in the bowl means the flapper or fill valve leaks. Flush right away so the dye does not stain the tank. Our guide to fixing a running toilet and our post on toilet repairs in New Orleans cover the repair.
Step 5: Check Fixtures, Appliances and Outdoor Water
- Faucets and shower heads. EPA covers both in its leak checklist. Our guide to replacing a shower head walks through that fix.
- Under-sink supply lines and shutoff valves. Look for damp cabinet floors and mineral crust on fittings.
- Washer, dishwasher and ice maker lines. A slow drip behind an appliance can run for weeks, and our post on washing machine hose bursts shows what to inspect.
- The water heater. Check the base and the relief valve discharge pipe, and see our guide to common water heater problems.
- Hose bibs, irrigation and pool fill lines. EPA lists outdoor irrigation systems and garden hoses among the places to check. Close the outdoor valves and rerun the meter test.
Step 6: Isolate the Leak With the Main Shutoff
Close the main shutoff valve at the house and watch the meter. If the meter stops, the leak sits inside the house. If the meter keeps moving, the leak sits in the line between the meter and the house. Our guide shows how to shut off the main water valve.
Underground and under-slab leaks need professional locating. Our water leak detection and repair service uses acoustic listening, thermal imaging and pressure testing to pinpoint a leak before anyone opens a wall or breaks a slab.
What to Do After You Find the Leak
- Limit the damage. Close the shutoff for that fixture or the main valve. EPA advises fixing plumbing leaks as soon as possible and drying water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
- Record the evidence. Photograph the leak, note the date you found it and save the meter readings or hourly charts.
- Repair it. A flapper or washer suits a homeowner. Supply lines, wall leaks, slab leaks and the line from the meter need a licensed plumber, and you should ask for an invoice that names the leak and the repair date.
- Retest. Run the two-hour meter test again to confirm that the meter holds still.
- Contact your utility. Ask about an adjustment, attach your proof and note any deadline.
- Watch the next bill. Usage should return to normal, and the S&WB adjustment depends on that return.
Water Bill Rules in Metairie, New Orleans and Nearby Communities
Metairie customers receive water from the Jefferson Parish Water Department, and New Orleans customers receive it from the Sewerage and Water Board. The two utilities handle meters, alerts and adjustments differently, as the table shows. Customers in Kenner, Harahan, River Ridge, Gretna, Harvey, Marrero and other nearby communities should check the bill for the utility name and follow that utility’s process.
| Question | Metairie and Jefferson Parish | New Orleans and S&WB |
|---|---|---|
| Water system | The Jefferson Parish Water Department draws from the Mississippi River and runs East Bank and West Bank systems, according to the Jefferson Parish 2025 water quality report. | S&WB draws from the Mississippi River and treats it at the Carrollton plant on the East Bank and the Algiers plant on the West Bank, according to the S&WB 2025 water quality report. |
| See your usage online | DropCountr connects to the home’s parish smart meter and shows daily, monthly and yearly use. | The S&WB customer portal shows hourly use for smart meter customers. |
| Smart meters and billing | Water Department officials said about 84,000 of 160,000 customers had smart meters in July 2026, according to a WRNO report. The parish plans monthly billing once installation reaches every customer, according to a Fox 8 report. | S&WB works to obtain a reading for every customer each month. Its FAQ explains that an estimated bill uses 10 previous readings and that a later reading bills all usage since the last one. |
| Leak alerts | DropCountr flags unusual or continuous use that may indicate a leak, and you can set your own thresholds. | S&WB alerts registered customers at more than 4 gallons per hour of continuous use over 48 hours. |
| Who maintains what | The parish water director said the parish is responsible from the main up to the back of the meter, according to a Fox 8 report. | The S&WB FAQ states that leaks on private property are the property owner’s responsibility. |
| After you repair a leak | The parish water director told Fox 8 in June 2026 that once customers fix a leak and can provide proof, the parish offers a one-time billing adjustment for the prior and current billing cycles. | The S&WB FAQ describes a partial adjustment of the excess charges after the customer submits proof of repair and usage returns to normal the following month. |
| If you dispute the bill | Contact the Water Department. The parish water director told Fox 8 that the parish tends to investigate bills case by case. | Contact S&WB Customer Service. Since September 6, 2024, billing disputes go through a third party. |
Utility rules change. Confirm the current policy and any deadline with your utility before you rely on this table.
Water bills have been a live topic in Jefferson Parish this year. Fox 8 reported in June 2026 that the Parish Council tabled two ordinances aimed at complaints about high water usage and utility bills, and that parish officials said the new smart meters are more accurate than the old ones. In August, Fox 8 reported that Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said 47,000 calls came in from January through April, with 1,500 about high consumption, and that the parish said it repairs 500 leaks a week on its side of the meter. Whatever the meter reads, a clean meter test tells you quickly whether your own pipes are part of the story.
We find and repair hidden leaks on both banks of Jefferson Parish and across Orleans Parish. Choose the community nearest you:
- Metairie, LA
- New Orleans, LA
- Kenner, LA
- Harahan, LA
- River Ridge, LA
- Gretna, LA
- Harvey, LA
- Marrero, LA
- Westwego, LA
High Water Bill and Hidden Leak FAQs
These are the questions Metairie and New Orleans homeowners ask us most often about high water bills and hidden leaks.
Why is my water bill so high all of a sudden?
Four things explain many sudden jumps: a leak, more water use, a longer or catch-up billing period and a change in the meter. Compare the usage on the bill with the same month last year, count the days in the billing period and run the two-hour meter test described above. As Fox 8 reported in June 2026, Jefferson Parish officials said the new smart meters are more accurate than the old ones, so measured use can look different from past bills even when habits stay the same.
What counts as a high water bill?
Your own history is the best benchmark. For reference, EPA cites an average of 82 gallons per person per day at home, which works out to about 9,800 gallons in a 30-day month for a family of four. EPA also states that a family of four using more than 12,000 gallons in a colder month, such as January or February, could have serious leaks. Pools, irrigation, guests and home businesses raise usage without a leak, so compare against your own baseline first.
How do I check my house for a hidden water leak?
Run the two-hour meter test from EPA. Stop all water use, read the meter, wait two hours without using any water and read it again. A changed reading means water is leaking somewhere. Then run the toilet dye test, check fixtures and appliances, and close the main shutoff valve to learn whether the leak sits inside the house or outside it. Call us when the meter keeps moving and you cannot find the source.
How do I check for a leak if I have a smart meter?
Use the usage data in your account instead of the meter lid. S&WB recommends that customers not lift the smart meter lid, and its customer portal shows hourly use. Jefferson Parish customers with a smart meter use DropCountr, which shows daily, monthly and yearly use and flags unusual or continuous use that may indicate a leak. Look at the overnight hours in the S&WB chart, or at a day when nobody was home in DropCountr. Use in every hour, or use on an empty day, points to a leak or a timed device such as an irrigation system, softener or ice maker. S&WB alerts customers at more than 4 gallons per hour for 48 hours, so smaller leaks can run without an alert.
How can I tell whether the leak is inside my house or between the meter and the house?
Close the main shutoff valve at the house and watch the meter. If the meter stops, the leak sits inside the house. If it keeps moving, the leak sits in the line between the meter and the house, where wet yard patches and low pressure often give it away. Underground and under-slab leaks need professional locating, and we use acoustic, thermal and pressure testing tools to pinpoint them.
Can a running toilet cause a high water bill?
Yes. A worn flapper or fill valve can leak into the bowl without a sound, and EPA lists worn toilet flappers among common household leak sources. Add a few drops of food coloring to the tank, wait 10 minutes and check the bowl for color, then flush right away to avoid staining. A flapper swap suits most homeowners, and we handle fill valves and tank fittings that have corroded.
Can a dripping faucet or leaking shower head raise my water bill?
Yes. EPA lists dripping faucets and showerheads among places to check for leaks, and a drip runs around the clock. A worn washer, cartridge or head causes most drips, and the fix is quick. Our list of common faucet problems and repairs you can do covers the sink side, and the next bill shows whether the repair worked.
Can I have a slab leak without seeing any water?
Yes. A slab leak sits in pipes under the foundation, so water may never reach the surface. Signs include a meter that moves with every fixture off, warm spots on the floor, the sound of running water and a sudden rise in usage. Our slab leak repair service locates the leak with acoustic and thermal equipment, and our post on slab leak repair dos and don’ts explains what to avoid.
Who is responsible for a leak, me or the water utility?
Responsibility usually divides at the meter, but confirm the boundary for your address. Jefferson Parish’s water director told Fox 8 in June 2026 that the parish is responsible from the main up to the back of the meter. The S&WB FAQ states that leaks on private property are the property owner’s responsibility, and it adjusts bills fully when a meter defect or another S&WB problem caused the high bill. Ask your utility where its responsibility ends for your address.
Can I get a billing adjustment after I fix a leak?
Both utilities describe a process, and details can change. The Jefferson Parish water director told Fox 8 in June 2026 that the parish offers a one-time billing adjustment for the prior and current billing cycles once a customer fixes a leak and provides proof. The S&WB FAQ describes a partial adjustment of the excess charges after the customer submits proof of repair and usage returns to normal the following month. Contact your utility for the current form and deadline before you rely on either rule.
What should I keep when I ask for a billing adjustment?
Keep the bills that show the spike, the meter readings or hourly charts from before and after the repair, photos of the leak and the repair, and an itemized invoice from a licensed plumber that names the leak location and the repair date. Utilities ask for proof of repair, so a complete record speeds the review. Ask your plumber to describe the leak and the repair on the invoice.
What should I do if I find no leak and the bill still looks wrong?
Check the bill’s dates and read type first. The S&WB FAQ explains that an estimated bill uses the 10 previous meter readings and that the read type field at the top of the bill shows whether S&WB estimated the bill. If the bill still looks wrong, contact your utility. Since September 6, 2024, S&WB routes billing disputes, investigations and hearings through a third party, and its bill dispute and adjustments page explains how Customer Service forwards your information. For Jefferson Parish, the water director told Fox 8 in June 2026 that the parish tends to investigate bills case by case.
What do DropCountr and the S&WB customer portal show?
Both connect to smart meters. DropCountr shows Jefferson Parish customers daily, monthly and yearly use, lets them set usage thresholds with alerts by text, email or push notification, and flags unusual or continuous use that may indicate a leak. The S&WB customer portal shows hourly water use for smart meter customers and sends leak alerts. Both registrations ask for your utility account number, service address and email address, and the S&WB portal also asks for the last name on your bill.
How do plumbers find a hidden leak without breaking up the floor?
Leak detection combines tools. Acoustic listening devices pick up the sound of escaping water, thermal imaging cameras show temperature differences in walls and ceilings, and pressure testing isolates sections of pipe. We use these tools to narrow the search before anyone opens a wall or breaks a slab. Once we locate the leak, we repair it and describe the work for your records.
How soon should I fix a hidden leak?
As soon as you confirm it. A leak wastes water around the clock, and moisture in walls and cabinets invites mold. EPA advises fixing plumbing leaks as soon as possible and drying water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Close the supply to the leaking fixture or the main shutoff while you arrange the repair, and call (504) 835-7783 when the leak sits in a wall, a slab or an underground line.
| What We Offer | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Louisiana master plumber license LMP#7214WSPS | A state-licensed master plumber handles your leak repair, not an unlicensed handyman. |
| Fully insured | You stay protected if something goes wrong on your property. |
| BBB A+ Rated | An independent organization rates our business practices and tracks complaints, and you can read the profile yourself. |
| 100% recommended on Facebook | Customers recommend our work in public reviews that anyone can read. |
| Loved Locally on Nextdoor | Your neighbors recommend us on the platform many Metairie and New Orleans families use to find local help. |
| Angi Super Service Award winner | Angi recognizes companies that earn consistently high ratings from verified customers. |
| Leak detection with acoustic, thermal and pressure testing tools | We locate hidden leaks before anyone opens a wall or breaks a slab. |
| Same-day scheduling and 24/7 emergency service | Help is available when a leak will not wait, whatever the hour. |
| 4th generation, serving since 1937 | Four generations of experience with South Louisiana homes and plumbing. |
| Clear repair records | You leave with a description of the leak and the repair for your utility file. |
Bienvenu Brothers finds and repairs hidden leaks across Metairie, New Orleans and nearby communities. Licensed, fully insured, BBB A+ Rated and available 24/7 for emergencies. Call (504) 835-7783 to schedule a leak check.
When to Call Bienvenu Brothers About a High Water Bill
Call us when the meter moves with everything off and you cannot find the source, when you suspect a leak in a wall, a slab or the line from the meter, or when you need a repair record for your utility. Our licensed plumbers locate the leak, repair it and describe the work so you have what you need. Our general plumbing repairs cover the supply lines, valves and fixtures behind most bill spikes, and a periodic check helps, as our guide to regular scheduled plumbing checks explains. Call (504) 835-7783 or Contact Bienvenu Brothers to schedule a visit. The table shows what you get when you choose Bienvenu Brothers.