Catch the leak in a measuring jug.
1 litre in 60 seconds is 1 L per minute.
This leak loses about 1.00 litres per minute
| Over | Water lost | Water only | Water and sewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| A day | 1,440 L | $3.04 | $8.58 |
| 30 days | 43,200 L | $91.24 | $257.43 |
| A year | 525,600 L | $1,110.07 | $3,132.05 |
Whether the utility also charges sewer on the extra water depends on how your bill is set up, so both columns are shown. Fixed monthly charges do not change with a leak. A real leak may also be damaging the building: have a licensed plumber find and fix it.
A slow leak is easy to ignore and expensive to leave. This calculator turns a measurement you can take in a minute into a cost. Hold a measuring jug under the drip, or time how long a trickle takes to fill a litre, enter the numbers, and it shows the water lost and what that water costs per day, per month and per year at the 2026 rates published by the District of Saanich or the City of Victoria. If you live elsewhere in the region, enter your own rates from your bill.
If your bill is high and you cannot see a leak, start with our guide to a high water bill and hidden leaks. For an active leak, shut the water off first.
How the numbers are worked out
- Flow: litres collected divided by seconds, times 60, gives litres per minute.
- Volume: litres per minute x 1,440 minutes a day; 30 days for a month; 365 days for a year.
- Cost: cubic metres (litres divided by 1,000) x the water rate, and with sewer added, x the water plus sewer rate.
- Saanich 2026: water $2.112 per cubic metre; sewer usage $1.698; CRD sewer treatment $2.149.
- Victoria 2026: water $5.49 per unit; sewer $2.93 per unit (October to May) or $2.05 (June to September); CRD sewer $7.51 per unit (October to May) or $5.26 (June to September). One unit is 100 cubic feet, or 2,832 litres, so the tool divides by 2.832 to get cubic metres.
What this tool does not cover
Rates are the published 2026 consumption rates and change each year. Fixed monthly charges do not depend on the leak and are not included. Some utilities bill sewer on winter water use rather than on every litre, and some offer leak adjustments, so the water-only column is the safer floor and the water-and-sewer column is the ceiling; ask your utility how your bill works. The tool cannot tell you where a leak is or what it has damaged. Have a licensed plumber find and repair it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a running toilet cost?
It depends on how fast it leaks. Measure it, enter the litres per minute, and the calculator shows the cost at your local rates. A constant trickle adds up over a month.
How do I measure a leak?
Catch the water in a measuring jug for a set time, or time how long a trickle takes to fill a litre. For a hidden leak, read the water meter, shut off every fixture, and read it again after an hour; a moving meter means water is escaping.
Will my utility refund a leak?
Some utilities offer adjustments or different sewer billing for leaks. Ask yours; policies differ between municipalities.
Why are Victoria and Saanich so different?
Each municipality sets its own retail rate and billing structure on top of the CRD wholesale and sewer charges.
Sources
Last verified October 9, 2026. Codes, rebates and permit rules change; confirm with your plumber, Technical Safety BC or your municipality before you rely on a result.