Relief research · dataset 2026.08
Leak adjustment and assistance information for City of Modesto Utilities Department – Utility Billing and Water Services
A high bill does not automatically qualify for a credit. This page states only the provider-specific emergency, leak, or assistance details identified in public material.
Stop active water loss
Use the provider’s emergency route for public-side issues and a qualified repair route for private plumbing.
Preserve the evidence
Keep dated readings, photographs, parts receipts, contractor invoices, and proof that usage returned to normal.
Ask for the exact policy
Confirm the form, filing deadline, eligible repairs, calculation method, and payment expectation during review.
Provider-specific findings
Relief research for this provider
The notes below may document a route, rule, or explicit public-information limit. General preparation steps are not represented as utility policy.
- Emergency reporting route
- (209) 342-2246, the City of Modesto Water Services Division’s 24-hour, seven-days-a-week emergency water hotline for main breaks, service leaks, valve leaks, hydrant knockovers, pressure issues, water waste, and emergency water-service shutoffs.
- Leak-adjustment policy
- Modesto’s Courtesy Leak Adjustment Program is available to the account holder of record once every two years. The leak must be repaired before the request is filed, and a completed Request for Review with documentation must be submitted within 90 days of the billing period in which the leak occurred. Acceptable proof can include a plumber’s invoice, receipts for parts used in a self-repair, photographs, and any additional documentation requested by the Revenue Collections and Compliance Manager. Willful or negligent use, theft, unattended running nozzles, and faulty irrigation valves or timers are excluded. For residential accounts, the credit is calculated against usage for the same month of the prior year and is capped at $1,500; commercial water and sewer credits are capped at $3,000. The program does not promise automatic approval merely because a bill is high.
- Utility assistance program
- The City’s Utility Billing Assistance Program provides a $45 discount on each monthly billing cycle for the primary account holder’s primary residence. Applicants must submit a City utility bill and proof that the account holder is enrolled in an eligible program such as CalWORKs, CalFresh, General Assistance, Medi-Cal, WIC, State Supplementary Payments, SSI, or a qualifying CARE discount. Customers must reapply every two years, and the City says processing takes four to six weeks after a complete approved application. Applications may be requested by phone, submitted at 1010 Tenth Street Suite 2100, mailed to P.O. Box 767, or filed through the online portal/form.
- State and federal aid connection
- Modesto identifies itself as a Direct Pay partner for California’s Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The City’s rate-study information states that eligible low-income households may receive a one-time payment of up to $2,000 toward a past-due utility bill or up to $1,030 toward a current bill. Customers are directed to the California Department of Community Services and Development at https://www.csd.ca.gov/waterbill or to 1-866-675-6623; the City’s local Utility Billing Assistance Program is separately administered through Modesto Revenue Collections. The new portal also provides an application path for the local $45 program.
Directory comparison
Public-information visibility
| Measure | This provider | California | National index |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leak policy identified | Yes | 54% | 35% |
| Utility assistance identified | Yes | 55% | 31% |
| Relief fields documented | 4 of 4 | — | — |
Coverage does not measure generosity, eligibility, available funding, or service quality.
Read the nationwide analysis →Research record
Broad public detail found
4 of 4 fields in this section contain provider-specific public detail in dataset August 1, 2026.
Documented
100%
Primary verification routes
- City of Modesto Utilities Department – Utility Billing and Water Services public website ↗
Provider-controlled destination used to confirm current customer instructions.
- csd.ca.gov reference ↗
Public URL preserved in the compiled record. Confirm its publisher, date, and applicability before relying on it.
- EPA SDWIS / ECHO lookup (CA5010010) ↗
Search the federal drinking-water database using public water system ID CA5010010.