A leak ran up a county water bill you cannot pay
When a service line breaks under the yard or a pipe splits in a crawl space while nobody is home, the next county water bill can be startling. The Pickens County Water & Sewer Authority's rate sheet is clear that the authority is not responsible for water loss on the customer's side of the meter, so the starting point is that the account holder owes for the water. The authority's Policy #8, Leak Adjustments, is the written exception. It was adopted on March 17, 2008 and most recently amended on February 20, 2023.
This page lays out what the policy says, in the order you will meet it: who can ask, what qualifies, the deadline, how often it can be used, and what happens to bills that fall below the threshold. Everything here comes from the policy document and the authority's rate sheet. The policy applies to county water accounts only; City of Jasper accounts follow the city's own billing rules.
Who qualifies, and for what
Only the account holder or holders may request an adjustment. To qualify, consumption must be above the customer's monthly average, and the extra consumption on the customer's side of the meter must be due to a leak, a service line break or a similar exceptional increase. The policy specifically excludes seasonal use such as watering new sod or filling a swimming pool.
The size threshold is the key test. Qualifying leak adjustments are for consumption greater than 40,000 gallons and/or a balance of $300 or higher. Accounts with consumption of 40,000 gallons or less and/or a balance of $299.00 or less do not qualify for an adjustment; they are set up on a monthly payment plan instead. The terms are summarized in the table below.
| Term | What the policy says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who may ask | Only the account holder(s) | Policy #8 |
| What qualifies | Consumption above the monthly average caused by a leak, service line break or similar exceptional increase | Policy #8 |
| Size threshold | Consumption greater than 40,000 gallons and/or a balance of $300 or higher | Policy #8 |
| Deadline | Bills not contested within 30 days of the billing date need not be considered | Policy #8 |
| How often | One-time adjustment per meter location for a two (2) year period | Policy #8 |
| Below the threshold | 40,000 gallons or less and/or a balance of $299.00 or less: monthly payment plan, paid within 12 months | Policy #8 |
| Not covered | Seasonal use such as watering sod or filling swimming pools | Policy #8 |
The 30-day deadline and the highest-usage bill
Timing matters. The policy says the water department is not compelled to consider adjustments of any bill not contested within 30 days of the billing date. If the leak ran across two billing periods, the adjustment is made on the bill with the highest usage, and any remaining balance after the adjustment remains the account holder's responsibility.
Requests are reviewed by the director, the office manager and/or the water board, who approve or deny them based on the information provided. The adjustment is a one-time adjustment per meter location for a two-year period, and future above-average consumption, late fees and other charges stay with the account holder. The authority's office is at 1266 East Church Street, Suite 117, Jasper, and its rate sheet lists 706-253-8718 during business hours.
The water board itself meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm in Room 149 of the Pickens County Government Administrative Building, according to the rate sheet.
Water still moving? Close your own shutoff valve first, then send a Free Quote Request.
Free Quote RequestWhat to gather before you ask
The policy asks the account holder to show that the higher use came from a leak or a line break. The natural evidence is a repair invoice from the plumber who fixed it, dated photos of the failure and the damage, meter readings taken before and after the repair, and the bills that show your normal average. Keep the replaced part if you can. If the leak spanned two bills, bring both.
Pay attention to the other deadlines on the account while you wait. The county's bills are due on the 5th, with a late charge if unpaid by 8:00 am on the 6th, and disconnections are scheduled for the third Tuesday. A request for review does not appear in the rate sheet as a reason to pause those dates, so call the office if you are close to a deadline. The rate sheet also lists a $30.00 return check fee per returned check or ACH payment.
If the bill falls below the threshold
Leak bills under the threshold are handled as a payment plan rather than an adjustment. The policy says the contested consumption is paid off monthly, the agreement must be paid within 12 months of the contract date, and the customer pays the agreed monthly amount in addition to the current water charge. Payment agreements are subject to late penalties and/or disconnection if not paid by the 15th of each month, and customers are allowed one payment plan per year.
To estimate what a leak added before you call, use the Jasper water leak cost calculator with the county option, and see the high water bill guide for the meter test that tells you whether the leak is fixed.
Preventing a repeat
Because the adjustment can only be used once per meter location every two years, a second leak in that window is entirely the account holder's cost. The county's water page offers practical prevention points: a toilet leak can waste up to 200 gallons a day, a pinhole leak in a hose up to 170 gallons a day, and a faucet dripping once a second 2,700 gallons a year. Checking toilets with food coloring and replacing worn washing machine hoses are cheap ways to cut the risk. For freeze protection in winter, see the burst and frozen pipe guide.
Where these facts come from: Pickens County Water and Sewer Authority: Policy #8, Leak Adjustments (amended February 20, 2023, PDF); Pickens County Water & Sewer Authority: Water Rates & Meter Fees, effective January 1, 2024 (Water Rate Sheet, PDF); Pickens County, GA: Water department page (billing, disconnect schedule, water-loss facts). Checked 2026-10-26.
Describe the problem once. Independent plumbers who work in Pickens County can follow up.
Free Quote RequestQuestions Pickens County homeowners ask
How big does a leak have to be for a Pickens County adjustment?
Policy #8 covers consumption greater than 40,000 gallons and/or a balance of $300 or higher. Smaller leak bills go on a monthly payment plan.
How long do I have to contest a county water bill after a leak?
The policy says bills not contested within 30 days of the billing date do not have to be considered.
Can I get a leak adjustment every year?
No. It is a one-time adjustment per meter location for a two-year period.