THE QUICK ANSWER
What to settle first.
For a TMWA-served address, compare the account’s hourly usage chart with the irrigation controller’s actual start times and other known water use. A usage peak during watering and water continuing through periods with no known demand answer different questions. The chart cannot locate a failed pipe. If unexplained use persists, ask for leak assessment with the chart and event log; if the chart or account identity is unclear, start with TMWA account support.
AT A GLANCE
Three points to clarify.
Account first
Confirm the meter/account and dates belong to this property.
Events beside readings
Record controller starts, manual watering and other known use.
Choose the next check
Separate a data question, irrigation setting and unexplained plumbing demand.
01 / PLAN THE CONVERSATION
Use the hourly chart rather than the bill total
TMWA’s AMI guidance explains how customers can view daily and hourly water use in their account and configure a leak alert. Access your own account through the utility’s official site. Select the period that raised the question and save a dated screenshot or your own transcription; do not send account credentials to a repair business.
A monthly bill combines many events. A useful comparison puts each suspicious hour beside known demand. Record the controller’s displayed clock, programmed starts and any manual watering. Note a recent reset or schedule change without assuming that the displayed program proves every valve actually opened or closed.
02 / PLAN THE CONVERSATION
Distinguish a repeated watering peak from continuous use
An isolated peak aligned with an irrigation start can guide an irrigation check. It does not establish a hidden supply leak, and it does not prove the irrigation system is working properly. Conversely, use shown outside the known watering period deserves a separate explanation. Include appliances, guests and other legitimate uses before labeling an hour unexplained.
TMWA’s alert settings depend on a minimum-use value and duration. An alert is a prompt to investigate, not a repair diagnosis. If account data is absent, unclear or associated with the wrong property, resolve that data question with the utility before using it to justify excavation.
Call for a quote(833) 876-117603 / PLAN THE CONVERSATION
Bring two contrasting hours to the assessment
For example, label one hour “controller scheduled; actual run not confirmed” and another “no known household or irrigation use.” Preserve both rather than sending only the largest bar. This comparison asks a plumber to explain the testing plan, not accept a homeowner’s guess about a buried line.
Use the leak detection and repair guide to discuss an assessment for unexplained use. Ask what can be checked without opening finishes or digging, what further access would cost, and who must approve it. Irrigation maintenance, account support and private plumbing repair can be separate scopes.
04 / PLAN THE CONVERSATION
Keep a before-and-after event comparison
After an authorized change, compare similar periods and record what changed: timer settings, a repair, household occupancy or appliance use. A lower bar on a different day cannot by itself prove a particular repair succeeded. Keep the provider’s finding and test result beside the utility record.
Ask the responding business to confirm service availability, qualifications, assessment charges and the written scope at your address.
YOUR DECISION WORKSHEET
Hourly-use comparison to bring to an assessment
| Period | Known event | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Watering hour | Controller start; actual operation noted separately | Does the peak align with expected demand? |
| Quiet hour | No known use; appliances checked | What assessment explains the continuing use? |
| After a change | Timer or repair change recorded | Are comparable periods different? |
| Missing or unclear chart | Account and date checked | Can TMWA clarify the data? |
YOUR DISCUSSION CHECKLIST
Turn the conversation into clear answers.
Check an item once you have a recorded answer. These checks organize the conversation; they do not certify the design or work.
CALL-PREPARATION TOOL
Know what to say when you call.
Build a short outline from what you know. This does not submit a request or book service.
Your call notes
Questions to ask: Confirm the exact TMWA account and date range. Note the controller clock and actual watering events. Save both a watering hour and a quiet hour. Please confirm whether you handle the plumbing problem and repair scope I describe and serve my address, plus any assessment fees and exclusions.
Common questions
Does an AMI alert identify an underground leak?
No. It flags a usage pattern. The utility data and property-specific testing have different roles; the chart does not locate a failed component.
Should I change the alert threshold to make the notice disappear?
Do not use a threshold change as evidence that a suspected problem is resolved. Review the utility guidance and investigate unexplained use separately.
Sources and further reading
TMWA: Advanced meter infrastructure and hourly usageEditorial guidance for a project discussion. The responsible provider and applicable authority determine project-specific requirements.
QUESTIONS ABOUT A PLUMBING REPAIR?
Bring your questions and written scope.
Call for a quote(833) 876-1176Ask the responding business to confirm service availability, qualifications, assessment charges and the written scope at your address.