A sudden high water bill — or a letter, text, or call from the Las Vegas Valley Water District saying you might have a leak — is stressful. Most of the time it is fixable. This guide covers what the notice means, what to check first, and when to call a plumber.

Looking for hands-on help? See our Las Vegas leak detection and Henderson leak detection pages, or contact us.

Don’t Panic — Here’s What the Notice Means

The Water District’s smart meters watch for continuous flow. When water moves through the meter for at least three days straight, the district tries to reach the account holder by letter, text, or automated call. The message asks you to check the property for a leak or a malfunction. It does not say where the water is going.

In plain terms: something on your side of the meter has been using water around the clock. That can be a leak — or a toilet, irrigation clock, pool filler, or softener that will not shut off.

Henderson note: City of Henderson Utility Services bills Henderson homes, not LVVWD. If your Henderson bill jumped, use the same checks below, then review the city’s own leak-adjustment rules.

What Usually Causes a High Water Bill Here

In our experience serving Las Vegas and Henderson homes, most high water bills trace back to one of these:

A stuck pool auto-fill valve — quietly adds water day and night
A running toilet — a worn flapper or fill valve that never fully stops
A main service-line leak or a slab leak — less common, but more serious when it is

Also check irrigation stuck on, a dripping faucet, a softener stuck regenerating, or a relief-valve drip.

Quick Checks You Can Do in 15 Minutes

Toilets: Listen for running water. Drop food coloring in the tank; if color shows in the bowl without flushing, the flapper leaks.
Irrigation: Confirm the clock is on the right day and time. Look for soggy spots, misting heads, or a valve box full of water.
Pool: Turn off the auto-fill and watch the water level for a day or two.
Softener / RO: Put the softener in bypass. Check the RO drain for constant drip.
Faucets and the water heater: Check for drips and for water at the temperature-and-pressure relief valve discharge.

The Meter Test (Confirms an Unknown Leak)

This is the same basic check the Water District teaches:

Turn off every faucet, appliance, and irrigation zone.
Find the meter (usually in a box near the curb) and watch the red or white flow-indicator triangle.
If it still moves with everything off, water is going somewhere.
Shut the house main. If the triangle stops, the leak is inside or on irrigation/pool. If it keeps moving, the leak is likely between the meter and the shutoff (the service line).

How We Find a Leak

When the simple checks do not turn it up, we run a professional leak test. On our leak detection visits we typically:

Confirm the meter and check visible plumbing first
Isolate sections (hot vs. cold, house vs. irrigation) to narrow the line
Use pressure testing where it helps
Pinpoint with a listening device and thermal imaging before any drywall or concrete is opened

The goal is a small, targeted repair — not guessing. More on slab leak warning signs and slab leak repair.

Hot Floor, High Bills? It May Not Be the Water Heater

A hot-water slab leak under the floor is often mistaken for a failing water heater. The heater runs constantly, hot water runs out faster, gas or electric use jumps, the water bill climbs, and parts of the floor feel warm. Replacing the heater will not fix a slab leak. Have an experienced licensed plumber diagnose it first so you do not pay for an unneeded water heater replacement. See our slab leak repair and water heaters and tankless pages.

Pipe Types Common in Valley Homes

Copper: Hard water can wear it from the inside; pinholes often show up on hot lines first.
Kitec (PEX-AL-PEX): Orange or blue pipe with an aluminum core and brass fittings. A U.S./Canada class-action settlement addressed failures in this system (claims period closed; see kitecsettlement.com). This is not legal advice — if you have Kitec, have a plumber inspect it.
Black poly: Older polyethylene service lines between the meter and the house; fittings and age are common weak points.
Blue “Bruiser” HDPE: Modern blue-skinned polyethylene service tubing used for cold-water service lines; durable when installed correctly.

If leaks keep returning, a PEX repipe may be the better long-term fix. See our pipe repairs page.

Bill Help After You Fix the Leak

LVVWD offers help after a leak is repaired. Confirm current rules on the district’s Customer Assistance page:

Leak Adjustment Program: May reduce a high bill from a leak. Among the published requirements: usage at least 50% above baseline, repairs finished within 60 days of the billing date when the leak was found, and an online application within 90 days after repairs. One credit per 12 months.
Leak Repair Reimbursement: Separate program. Eligible owners may get up to 50% of a paid repair invoice back (up to $2,000; $200 minimum), with other conditions.

Keep itemized paid invoices and repair dates. Henderson customers use the City of Henderson’s own leak-adjustment process — different rules, different portal. We are an independent plumbing company, separate from LVVWD and the City of Henderson; each utility decides eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a leak letter the same as a water-waste fine?
No. A continuous-flow or high-use notice asks you to inspect for a leak or malfunction. Water-waste enforcement is a separate process.

The meter triangle is moving. Do I need a plumber today?
If you cannot find an obvious toilet, irrigation, or pool cause, yes — call. Hidden and slab leaks get worse and more expensive the longer they run.

Can you help with documentation for a bill adjustment?
Yes. We provide itemized invoices and repair dates you can submit with your utility application.

Do you serve Henderson too?
Yes. Same leak detection process; just use the City of Henderson for billing questions. See our Henderson slab leak page.

Ready for Help Finding the Leak?

Las Vegas Water Experts is family owned and operated, with 24+ years of plumbing experience. Licensed in Nevada (LIC# 0095727). We find and fix leaks across Las Vegas and Henderson.

Call 702-577-5505 or use our contact page. We answer 24/7.

High Water Bill or Leak Letter in Las Vegas? What to Do