Water Meter Box Leaking in Arlington? Who Fixes It and What to Do

If water is pooling in your water meter box, the leak is either on the city side (the meter, its fittings or the line from the street) or on your side (the customer valve or the line to your house). In Arlington, the city's water utility generally handles leaks up to and including the meter. Leaks after the meter are the homeowner's job. A quick check of the leak dial shows which side it is on. Call (817) 285-5426 if it is yours.

For hidden yard and slab leaks, our leak detection Arlington TX team answers 24/7.

How can you tell which side is leaking?

Turn off every faucet and water-using appliance, then open the meter box lid and watch the small leak dial. If the dial spins, water is flowing past the meter into your line, so the leak is on your side. If the dial is still but water keeps bubbling up around the meter or the street-side pipe, the leak is likely on the city side.

1. Shut off all water inside and outside, including sprinklers and the ice maker.
2. Lift the meter box lid with a screwdriver. Watch for snakes, spiders and fire ants.
3. Bail or sponge out standing water so you can see the meter and fittings.
4. Watch the leak dial for two minutes.
5. Look for water coming from the street side, the meter itself, or your side's valve.

Who pays to fix a meter box leak in Arlington?

Leaks on the street side and at the meter are generally the city's responsibility, and Arlington Water Utilities should be called to report them. Leaks at the customer-side valve or anywhere along the line from the meter to the house are usually the property owner's. If you are unsure, report it to the city first. They can check their side and tell you if the leak is yours.

Rain, irrigation runoff and a high water table after storms can also fill a meter box with water that is not a leak at all. If the box drains slowly over a dry day and the dial is still, it may just be groundwater.

What if the leak is on your side?

Close the customer-side valve in the meter box if you have one, or the main shut-off at the house, to stop the flow. Then call for water line leak detection. The tech pressure tests the yard line and uses acoustic tools to find the leak along the buried pipe. Water line leak detection in Arlington usually costs about $200 to $500.

Our main water shut-off valve guide shows where to find the house valve. For the full search and repair process, read underground water line leaks.

What causes leaks near the meter?

• Clay soil moving in drought and after heavy rain, which pulls on fittings.
• Old galvanized or polybutylene service lines on older homes.
• A worn customer valve or a cracked compression fitting.
• Damage from digging, lawn edging or a car driving over the box.
• Hard freezes, like the 2021 winter storm, that crack exposed fittings.

A sudden jump in your bill is often the first clue. See our high water bill guide for other causes.

Could the problem be bigger than the meter?

Yes, if the dial keeps spinning after you fix an obvious drip. The leak may be under the slab or in an irrigation line. A full test of the house lines finds it. Our slab leak detection visit guide explains what that looks like. If you also have a pool, rule it out with our pool leak detection Arlington TX guide.