Meters, Leaks & Pipes

Benefits

Know when your water consumption is high and take action - not after it's too late when the bill arrives
Opt-in to receive alert notifications of possible leaks
Access information to help you make decisions to proactively conserve water

How to Set Up Your Account

Go to the My Water Advisor page
Click on Join My Water Advisor
Choose Sign up with account number
Enter Account Number (All the numbers before the dash as it appears on your bill)
Enter the full name(s) as it appears on the bill
Enter a valid email address and create a password

For account information, contact the Utility Billing Department at 972-547-7550 or look it up on your Paymentus Payment Account.

Special Registration Notes

The My Water Advisor 2 setup must match the name on the account.
Only one email can be registered by account number.
Consumption information updates every 24 hours.
All information is provided in gallons. Detailed meter reading knowledge is not necessary. "How to Read Your Meter" is available in Utility Billing Forms and Resources.

Top

Meter Facts

Water Meter Basics

The meter is owned and maintained by the City of McKinney
It is generally located in a small box in the ground near the street or the edge of the property
It registers in gallons all of the water used in your home or building, as well as outdoor water use
Most have electronic reading devices that allow the meter reader to capture the reading remotely
Meters are read monthly. Learn more about meter reads and the billing cycle

Meter Accuracy

All meters are calibrated and tested in the factory before they are shipped.
The American Water Works Association allows an error rate of 1.5%.
The design of the water meter does not allow the City of McKinney to adjust the dials.
Much like an automobile or other mechanical device, the meter slows down with age and can eventually stop registering completely, but it cannot run faster than it was designed to run. The mechanical parts are not capable of "speeding up" or registering a higher reading than actual.

Find out how to read your meter and calculate usage

Top

High Consumption & Outdoor Watering

The average household uses 2,000 gallons of water per person per month. A variance above your normal household consumption could indicate any of the following:

Incorrect irrigation timer settings
- A power surge can reset a timer to factory defaults, causing it to run more frequently than expected.
- Check not only weekly timers, but also daily timers as well.
- Check for multiple timer programs (A, B and C)
Broken or damaged sprinkler heads

Learn more about Common household leaks and Leaks General Information.

Outdoor Water Use

A standard irrigation system uses an estimated 20 gallons per minute; a drip Irrigation system uses an estimated 7 Gallons.

Find out more about water efficient outdoor watering practices.

Typically, customers begin outdoor watering in late March or early April. The increased consumption generally isn’t reflected on the bill for approximately 6 weeks. For example:

If once weekly watering begins April 1, the bill (due nearly a month later) only has consumption for 1 day of watering.
If the timer is increased to twice a week on April 30, the May bill will include 5 watering days, while the June bill (received 6 weeks after watering increased) will have 10 days.

Estimate your Usage

Gather the following information:

Watering frequency
How many times a day
Number of zones
Run time per zone

Use the Irrigation Water Use Spreadsheet to calculate your water use and compare it to your billed consumption.

Top | Back to My Bill

Leaks

The average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year and 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners about 10% on their water bills. A water leak the size of:

1/32" can waste 1,546 gallons of water per week*
3/16" can waste 55,500 gallons of water per week*

*leak / water loss calculations based on a continuous leak at 60 psi water pressure.

Learn more about common leaks

Checking for a leak

Turn off all faucets inside and outside.
Check leak indicator (see image).
- If water is flowing through the meter, it will be measured and displayed in the Gallons Per Minute window in the upper left corner.
- A small drip may not be detectable or measurable.
To determine how big the leak is, calculate your water usage.

What if I find a leak?

If the leak is located before the meter, the city is responsible for the repair. This leak will not affect your consumption as it is not running through the meter.

If the leak is located after the meter, the homeowner is responsible for the repair, including all costs associated with the repair. Sometimes, a simple repair can stop a costly leak.

Top

Leak Credit

The City of McKinney offers a credit as a courtesy to our customers who qualify. Water loss due to theft, vandalism or negligence is not covered.

Requirements

Usage must increase on a single bill at least 3 times greater than the same period of the prior year.
Limited to 1 request per address in a 12-month period.
Submit a leak adjustment form with proof of repair within 60 days of the repair.
To avoid late fees and/or disconnections, payment in full is required until the credit is issued.
See Payment Extensions.

Top

Emergency Water Shutoff

Your home has two shutoff valves. One is owned by the city and should only be accessed by city staff. The other is your personal shutoff valve that you are responsible for and should be able to access. It is important to know where the water shutoff valves are located before an emergency occurs.

Personal Shutoff Valves

These valves completely shut off water to the house. It is the homeowner's responsibility to know where their shut-off valve is located and how to use it. These valves may be found in one of the following locations:

In the crawl space where the water line enters the home
In the garage where the water line enters the wall or ceiling, near the water heater or laundry hookup
Outside near the foundation, often protected by a concrete ring or clay pipe

If you can’t find your personal shutoff valve, you may want to contact a plumber to help you locate or install a new one. If you have an emergency and need help shutting off your water at the meter, please call 972-547-7360.

Supply Valves allow you to shut off service to individual appliances.

City of McKinney Shutoff Valve

The city’s shutoff valve is located between the meter and the street and should only be accessed by authorized city staff. Your water meter is located in a concrete or plastic box in the ground, generally in front of your house and near the side property line.

It is important to keep the box free of plants and roots that can obstruct or hide the meter or damage the service line.

Top

Protecting Pipes from Freezing

Watch our video on How to Prevent Frozen Pipes | Cómo Prevenir Tuberías Congeladas

At-Risk Pipes

Freezing can lead to pipes bursting or cracking. Some pipes are more prone to freezing than others:

Pipes located in exterior walls - usually bathrooms and kitchen sinks.
Any plumbing on the exterior of the home.
Exposed pipes, especially those in unheated areas - attics, crawl spaces, garages.

Protection Suggestions

Watch our video on How to Prevent Frozen Pipes | Cómo Prevenir Tuberías Congeladas
Open cabinet doors under sinks to expose pipes to heat within the house.
Let the cold & hot water run in a stream about the size of a pencil lead from any faucet served by exposed pipes or those in exterior walls. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature day and night.
Disconnect garden hoses.
Please make sure your sprinkler systems are turned off. Although freeze sensors are required on all sprinkler systems to keep them from operating during icy weather, they do need to be replaced periodically.
Install a faucet insulator on outside spigots.
Install foam pipe insulation from your local hardware store over pipes at risk of freezing.
Cover all openings around the foundation.
Collect water in the event that you lose water service. Suggestions for collecting water include catching the water stream in your bathtub, buckets or cups.
- In the event of loss of water service, use the collected water for watering house plants or for flushing toilets.
Check for leaks when the pipes begin to thaw if they become frozen.
If a pipe breaks, turn your water off at the main valve. If you would like assistance with turning off your water, contact the City of McKinney Public Works department at 972-547-7360.
If planning to be out of town for an extended time, turn off water to the house and open faucets to reduce pressure.

For more information on what to do in case of freezing weather, please visit our Severe Weather page.

Top