Find your shutoff
Where is my main water valve?
Pick your home. You get where the valve usually is. Can't find it or can't turn it? Your water utility has a 24 hour line.
Step 1
What kind of home is it?
Look under or at the top of the water heater. On a slab home that is where the main shutoff usually sits.
Look along the front wall of the house, where the water line comes in.
Look on the inside of the wall where the water supply line enters the house.
Your unit may not have its own main. Close the valve on the fixture that is leaking, then call building maintenance or the association's emergency line right away.
Source: Angi, how to find your water shut-off valve, updated July 2026. View source
Turning it
- Turn the handle clockwise until it stops. A lever handle goes a quarter turn, until it sits across the pipe.
- Open a faucet on the lowest floor to let the pressure out.
- If it will not move, do not force it with a tool. Call your utility below.
Step 2, if you cannot find or turn it
Which company sends your water bill?
Do not open the city valve in the ground by the street or the meter yourself. Angi notes it is illegal to shut that one off without calling the utility's emergency line. Call them instead.
- City of Tampa Water Department(813) 274-7400After hours, weekends and holidays. Weekdays 8am to 5pm: (813) 274-8811Checked on the utility's own site, 18 September 2026. View source
- OUC, Orlando Utilities Commission(407) 423-901824 hours, 7 daysChecked on the utility's own site, 18 September 2026. View source
- Orange County Utilities(407) 836-277724 hours, 7 daysChecked on the utility's own site, 18 September 2026. View source
- Miami-Dade Water and Sewer(305) 274-927224 hoursChecked on the utility's own site, 18 September 2026. View source
- JEA(904) 665-600024 hours, 7 daysChecked on the utility's own site, 18 September 2026. View source
Not on this list? The emergency number is printed on your water bill. We add more Florida utilities as we verify them.
Do it today, before you need it
Find it now, while nothing is leaking
- Find the valve using Step 1.
- Tie a bright tag on it so anyone in the house can find it in the dark.
- Save your utility's 24 hour number in your phone.