Leak relief and household assistance

A high water bill may have a path to review

Hidden plumbing failures can produce an alarming bill before the problem is visible. This guide separates what Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities publicly describes from the practical steps every customer can take while requesting help.

Provider-specific review

What the public record says about a leak adjustment

The current Public Utilities pages encourage smart-meter customers to review use patterns in the Customer Portal and WaterMAPS, but they do not publish a universal 2026 leak-adjustment percentage, cap, or receipt formula. A customer with a sudden high bill should check the portal's daily pattern, shut off fixtures and irrigation, document the meter reading, repair the leak, retain plumber receipts/photos, and ask Public Utilities Customer Service whether an account-specific abatement or one-time adjustment is available. If the customer is inside Salt Lake County's Tax Abatement Program, the qualifying reduction applies to water, garbage, and stormwater charges, not automatically to a leak. Sewer charges based on winter average may not track all summer leakage, so the customer should request a separate sewer review if appropriate.

Stop the loss

Shut off the failing fixture or supply and arrange a qualified repair.

Keep proof

Save dated invoices, parts receipts, photographs, and meter readings.

Request review

Submit the request promptly and keep paying any undisputed amount.

Utility assistance

Customer assistance and eligibility

Project Water ASSIST is operated by the Salt Lake City Chapter of the Salvation Army in partnership with Public Utilities. To qualify, the household must have income at or below 150% of the federal poverty line and an active disconnection notice; applicants call Salvation Army at (801) 969-0526 or Public Utilities at (801) 483-6900. The public program page does not publish a universal dollar cap, senior discount, or disabled-veteran reduction. Qualified Salt Lake County Tax Abatement Program participants may receive a reduction in water, garbage, and stormwater charges; call Salt Lake County at (385) 468-8300 option 2 for eligibility.

State and federal connections

Where to ask for broader aid

The utility's direct program is Project Water ASSIST, funded through customer donations and administered by the Salvation Army. Customers should provide the active disconnection notice, income documentation, and account information to the Salvation Army and ask Public Utilities to record any pledge before the cutoff date. The City's 2026 Affordability Resources Guide can route residents to Community Action, county assistance, and current state/federal resources; 2026 public pages do not identify a standing LIHWAP water benefit, so customers should confirm current Utah funding and local Community Action availability through 2-1-1 or the agency administering the program.

Research status for this provider

4 of 4 relief signals publicly identified

Verify with official provider ↗

Emergency route

Published detail

Leak policy

Published detail

Utility aid

Published detail

State/federal aid

Published detail

Leak and assistance notes

Build the file before asking Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities for relief

A high bill can have several causes, including a hidden plumbing failure, irrigation use, a meter issue, a change in occupancy, or a rate adjustment. The provider’s leak policy determines whether any credit is available; an unusually high bill does not automatically qualify.

Keep a dated record of the reading, the suspected source, the repair, the contractor or parts receipt, and the return to normal use. Ask whether the utility requires a specific form, a licensed repair, a meter test, photos, or a request within a fixed number of days.

For income-related difficulty, ask about local assistance, payment arrangements, state programs, and community referrals separately from a leak adjustment. These programs often use different applications, documents, funding limits, and deadlines.

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