Last reviewed and updated: 2026-09-20
Cobb County Water System offers a partial leak credit once in a rolling 12-month period, covering no more than two affected months. To qualify you must submit your account address and number, a brief explanation of the leak type, and a plumbing repair receipt, a receipt for parts, or at minimum a letter explaining what was done to correct the problem. Pool leaks also require the pool volume. Applications go through the county's Customer Self-Service Portal, and you must keep paying the bill while the claim is processed. Dripping faucets during freezing weather do not qualify.
The policy at a glance
- Frequency: once per rolling 12-month period.
- Months covered: no more than two affected months.
- Type of relief: a partial credit, not a full refund. Cobb describes it as "a partial offset of the costs associated with certain plumbing failures, not to fully compensate a customer for the costs of a leak."
- Proof required: a plumbing repair receipt, a parts receipt, or a letter explaining what was done.
- Pool leaks: pool volume must also be supplied.
- While you wait: you remain responsible for paying the bill.
- Excluded: faucets left dripping during freezing weather, roughly 50 gallons, which the county does not treat as a leak.
The single most missed step: the paperwork. If your bill has jumped and you have not yet found the cause, start with the high water bill triage. Homeowners repair the leak, throw away the invoice or never ask for one, and then cannot support the application. Ask for written documentation describing the leak and the repair before the job is closed out.
Does your leak qualify?
| Situation | Typically eligible? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buried service line break | Yes | Classic qualifying plumbing failure; document the repair |
| Slab leak under the foundation | Yes | Keep the detection report and the repair invoice |
| Failed toilet flapper or fill valve | Usually | A parts receipt can serve as proof |
| Irrigation lateral or stuck valve | Usually | Document which zone and what was replaced |
| Pool leak | Yes, with extra detail | Pool volume is required in addition to repair proof |
| Water heater failure | Usually | Replacement invoice supports the claim |
| Faucet left dripping in freezing weather | No | Explicitly excluded: approximately 50 gallons, not treated as a leak |
| Unrepaired leak | No | The county wants evidence the problem was corrected |
| Second leak in the same 12 months | No | One adjustment per rolling 12-month period |
How to apply, step by step
- Confirm Cobb County Water System bills you. Homes inside the Marietta city limits are billed by Marietta Power & Water instead, which runs its own separate process.
- Get the leak located and repaired. The credit depends on evidence the problem was corrected, so book leak detection in Marietta, GA and ask for a written report.
- Collect your documentation. A plumbing repair receipt, or a receipt for parts, or at minimum a letter explaining what was done to fix the problem.
- Gather your account details. Service address and account number, both on your bill.
- Write a brief explanation of the leak. Type of leak, where it was, roughly when it started, when it was repaired. Short and factual.
- Add pool volume if it was a pool leak. Required for pool-related claims.
- Submit through the Customer Self-Service Portal. Cobb County Water System provides the portal and a walkthrough video on its YouTube channel.
- Keep paying the bill. You remain responsible for the balance while the claim is processed.
Document checklist
Have these ready before you start the application
- Service address exactly as it appears on the bill
- Cobb County Water System account number
- A short written explanation of the leak type and location
- Plumbing repair invoice, or a parts receipt, or a letter describing the repair
- Leak detection report, if one was produced
- Photographs of the leak, the damage and the completed repair
- The affected billing statements
- Pool volume in gallons, for pool leaks only
If you no longer have an invoice
The policy allows "at a minimum a letter explaining what was done to correct the problem." That letter should state plainly what the leak was, where it was located, how it was found, what was repaired or replaced, and the date the work was completed. If you had the leak professionally located, ask whoever did the work to put that on their letterhead.
Always verify current terms. This page summarises Cobb County Water System's published leak adjustment policy for general guidance. Policies change. Confirm the current terms and the application process directly with Cobb County Water System before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Does Cobb County give credit for a water leak?
Yes. Cobb County Water System offers a partial credit for eligible leaks once in a rolling 12-month period, applied to no more than two affected months. It is described as a partial offset of the cost of certain plumbing failures rather than full compensation for a leak.
How many times can I get a Cobb County leak adjustment?
Once in a rolling 12-month period, and the credit applies to no more than two affected months. A second leak inside that same window does not qualify for another adjustment.
What documents do I need for a Cobb County leak adjustment?
Your account address and number, a brief explanation of the leak type, and a plumbing repair receipt, a receipt for parts, or at minimum a letter explaining what was done to correct the problem. Pool leaks also require the pool volume.
How do I submit the application?
Through Cobb County Water System's Customer Self-Service Portal. The Water System also publishes a walkthrough video on its YouTube channel showing the submission process.
Do I still have to pay the bill while waiting?
Yes. Cobb County states that customers are responsible for paying the water bill while a leak credit is processed. Any approved credit is applied afterwards.
What leaks do not qualify?
Faucets left dripping during freezing weather are explicitly excluded, the county notes such drips produce roughly 50 gallons and are not considered a leak. Unrepaired leaks and second leaks within the same 12-month window also do not qualify.
Does the credit cover the cost of the repair?
No. The credit is applied to the inflated water bill, not to the plumbing work. Cobb is explicit that the programme is a partial offset rather than full compensation.
What if I do not have a plumber's invoice?
The policy accepts a receipt for parts, or at minimum a letter explaining what was done to correct the problem. The letter should state what the leak was, where it was, how it was found, what was repaired, and the date the work was completed.
I live inside the Marietta city limits. Does this apply to me?
No. City customers are billed by Marietta Power & Water, which operates its own separate leak credit process. Check the utility name on your bill to confirm which applies.
Does a pool leak qualify for a Cobb County leak adjustment?
Yes, with an extra requirement: pool leak claims must include the pool volume in addition to the usual account details, explanation and proof of repair.