Does water use during an absence prove an underground leak?
No. Establish the dates and what water-using equipment remained active. A running fixture, automatic watering or another known use needs consideration before assuming the loss is buried.
What to establish first
Put the away dates beside the billing period. The statement may cover days before departure or after return. Write down who had authorized access and any maintenance that occurred, without assuming a person caused the change.
List automatic uses you know about, such as irrigation or refill equipment. If the property was checked during the absence, ask what the visitor actually observed. “The house looked fine” is not a record of fixture use or the water reading.
Agree the inspection scope
For an FPUA bill, its usage-history guidance can help you identify the first unusual period. Ask the utility to explain the reading dates or units if those are unclear. Separate that account question from a request to inspect plumbing.
Fort Pierce Utilities Authority
Local checks and the next decision
Prepare safe current observations for the inspection: a fixture that keeps refilling, dampness, a visible drip or no visible sign at all. Do not call the absence of a puddle proof that there is no leak. Tell the person reviewing the property which rooms or exterior areas have not been checked.
If an owner is arranging a visit remotely, identify a local person who may admit the inspector. Decide how additional testing or access would be authorized. Avoid sending keys, gate details or utility credentials through an unsecured public message.
Compare the right periods afterward
Keep the inspection date and any repair date with the usage record. A later bill may include time both before and after the change. Ask the utility about the relevant reading period before deciding whether the result was successful or whether further investigation is needed.
Fort Pierce Utilities AuthorityU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyFort Pierce Utilities Authority