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Turning Off Water To Your Home

How to Turn Off Your Water

Diagram showing components of household water supply system, including customer and utility ownership areas.

Everyone in your home should know how to shut off water to your house. If you have planned work or in the event of an emergency you may need to turn off water supply to prevent water damage.

Take a few minutes to locate and learn how to operate your house valve. The information below guides you on locating and turning off your water by utilizing the “house or gate valve.”  Never attempt to turn the valve on the District’s meter, that is considered tampering and a penalty or damage charges may be imposed. Contact the District if you do not have a house or gate valve to have service turned off.

Locating Your House Valve

  • Your house valve is typically located on the outside of your home. It may be in the front, on the side or the backyard.
  • Look for a hose bib (outside faucet) next to your home with a pipe coming up from the ground (Photo 1)
Irrigation system with labeled valves: landscaping valves, hose-bib, and house valve.
(Photo 1)
  • The house valve is located on that pipe between the ground and the hose bib.

Operating Your House Valve

Your house valve can be one of two types: a gate valve (Photo 2) or a ball valve (Photo 3)

A water valve on a metal pipe, installed above ground, likely for controlling water flow.
(Photo 2) Gate Valve
Pipe with valve and red handle locked with a padlock.
(Photo 3) Ball Valve
  • Gate valves are operated by turning the wheel clockwise until the water is off.
  • Ball valves are operated by turning the handle a quarter turn clockwise until the water is off.
  • To verify the water is off, turn on the hose bib next to the house.

You may want to attach a label to your house or gate valve for quick identification (so that you and the members of household can find it even in the dark.)