The meter check, step by step
Do this when nobody is using water, ideally in the morning before showers or after a long absence.
Stop all use
Close every faucet. Pause the dishwasher, washing machine, ice maker and any humidifier. Make sure no toilet is mid refill.
Read the dial
Open the meter box lid and look at the small leak indicator or the sweep hand. Note the position, then check again after 15 minutes.
Shut the home main valve
Turn off the main valve where the line enters the house. Check the meter again.
Shut the sprinkler main valve
Close the sprinkler main as the city advises, then read the dial a final time.
Interpret what you see
Use the table below.
What the dial is telling you
| What happens to the dial | Where the leak probably is | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Stops when the home main is closed | Inside the house, a toilet, fixture or supply line | Dye test the toilets, then call if none |
| Still moves with the house main closed | Service line between meter and house, or a leak outside | Call a plumber for leak location |
| Stops when the sprinkler main is closed | Irrigation line, valve or head | Winterize or repair the sprinkler |
| Does not move at all | No active leak | Check for intermittent leaks like a toilet flapper |
The city says to hire a plumber to locate and repair any leak on your property. Meter checks narrow the search, they do not fix it.
What Herriman City says about the meter and your valves
Herriman City's water FAQ describes the check above and warns against tampering. Its utility billing page says any tampering with the meter or setter may result in the homeowner being fined. Do not turn the meter's own valve, remove its lid fittings or touch the setter. Use only your home's main valve and the sprinkler main valve.
Billing runs monthly and one month behind, so a leak that started this month often does not show on a bill until the next one. A meter check now beats waiting for the number.
If you see water in the street or around the meter box itself, that may be a city-side main break. Herriman City Water Department takes calls at 801-446-5323, and after hours choose option 1 for water.
Do not tamper with the meter or setter
The city owns the meter and setter. Even a loose-looking nut should be left alone. Tell the city or a plumber instead.
Dial still moving after both valves are closed? Call (385) 488-1892 and a plumber can trace it with the price explained up front. See leak detection.
Call (385) 488-1892The toilet dye test
A silent toilet leak is the most common reason a meter moves with the house quiet.
Add color
Drop a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet into the tank. Do not flush.
Wait 15 minutes
Leave the toilet alone while the dial check continues.
Look at the bowl
Color in the bowl means the flapper is letting water leak past the seat. A new flapper is a cheap fix, and a fill valve that hisses after the tank is full is another culprit.
Reading the numbers
Meter faces differ. Some count gallons and some count cubic feet, and a sweep hand or small triangle shows flow too slow for the digits to catch. Write down the reading, wait an hour with all water off, and compare.
Any change is a leak, even a small one. A pinhole-sized leak can waste thousands of gallons over a month, and it is the kind that moves the dial slowly enough to miss in a quick glance.
Finding the main valve without a fight
The main valve is usually where the line enters the house, often in a basement, a utility room or near the water heater. A round handle is a gate valve and should be turned slowly clockwise, while a lever handle is a quarter-turn ball valve.
If a valve will not move or weeps at the stem when you try, stop. Old gate valves can break, and forcing one turns a small check into a flood. A licensed plumber can replace it, and the same visit can include leak detection with acoustic gear.
Sprinklers, secondary water, and winter timing
Secondary water in Herriman is available only from May 1 to mid October, and the city began staged shutdowns with a notice dated October 13, 2026. Because it is metered separately, a leak on that line can run up water use, and it is not for drinking.
The city's October 21 winterization notice says to winterize sprinklers before freezing, drain or blow out the lines, disconnect and drain hoses, shut off outdoor faucets where applicable and insulate exposed pipes in garages and crawl spaces. A dial that stops after the sprinkler main closes is a good sign that your repair can wait until spring, but only if the system is drained.
When the leak is on the service line
If the dial still moves with both valves closed, the leak is between the meter and your house or inside the wall, and a plumber is the right call. A buried leak may show only as a soft spot in the lawn or a warm spot on the floor, so locating before digging saves money. See water line repair for options.
Neighbors face the same steps. Homeowners in Riverton and West Jordan can follow the same method, but check your own city's procedure and valve locations.
Meter check questions from Herriman homes
Where is my water meter?
It sits in a box in the ground near the curb or property line, usually with a lid. Look for the lid on the city side of your yard.
Can I turn off the water at the meter?
No. Herriman City says tampering with the meter or setter may result in a fine. Use the main valve inside or outside your house instead.
Does the meter check find slow toilet leaks?
It can, if you let the dial run for 15 to 30 minutes. A dye tablet in the tank confirms it when color reaches the bowl.
Who fixes a leak on the street side of the meter?
The city does. Call the water department at the number on its water page, and call a plumber for anything on your side.
Why would a Herriman home see a leak only in the sprinkler zone?
Sprinkler lines sit shallow, and the city notes that freezing can crack pipes and parts. Check for broken heads and cracked valves after the system is blown out for winter.
Water running somewhere you cannot see? Call (385) 488-1892, dispatch is 24/7.
Call (385) 488-1892Sources and standards
Local rules and figures in this guide come from the public sources below. Fees and codes change, so confirm the current version before you act on it.