A water leak is a bad time to look for the shutoff.
Water is coming out where it shouldn't. Do you know which valve stops it?
That's worth finding out before a pipe leaks, not while you're moving boxes out of a wet basement. If you've recently moved, or someone else has always dealt with the plumbing, make this part of getting to know the home.
Find the valve, not just the meter
Toronto says the main water supply valve is typically on the foundation wall where the drinking water pipe enters the home, just before the meter. Peel Region's meter guide says most meters are in the basement, next to the main shutoff. Homes without basements may have the meter in a crawl space or on the main floor.
Those are starting points, not a guarantee about your house. Ask a qualified plumber to identify the correct valve and explain how your particular setup operates if you're unsure. Don't turn an unidentified valve just to see what happens, or force one that is stuck.
Once it's identified, take a clear photo for your own household notes. Write down where it is in ordinary words, such as inside the utility cupboard beside the stairs. A photo of a valve means much less if nobody knows which room it's in.
Make sure someone can reach it
Look at the route to the valve. Would you need to shift a freezer, unload a shelf or find a key first? Keep the access clear and tell the other adults in the household where it is.
If it's behind a finished wall or inside a locked space, get proper advice about access rather than removing panels or altering plumbing yourself. In a condo or managed building, ask management about the procedure for your unit and the emergency contact. Don't assume a valve serving shared plumbing is yours to operate.
Know who to call if it doesn't work
The City of Toronto's leak guidance says private plumbing repairs need a plumber. For a leak inside the home, the private main valve can stop the supply while help is arranged, if it's safe to reach and operate.
If that valve isn't working, Toronto residents can call 311 to request a water shutoff at the property line. The City notes that there is a fee. Outside Toronto, use your own municipality's water service contact rather than assuming Toronto's process applies.
Save the relevant number now, along with a plumber's contact. If reaching the valve would put you in danger, stay clear and get emergency help instead.
You don't need to become a plumber. You do need to know where the control is, whether you can safely reach it and whom to call when you can't. That is a useful job to finish before the next box goes into the utility room.
General homeowner information only. A qualified plumber or your building manager should confirm the arrangement and safe procedure for your property.
Illustrative photograph: Water Pipes and Water Shutoff by Tony Webster, December 2024, used unchanged under CC BY 2.0. This is not a photograph of a SirLuckHomes listing or a guide to identifying your own valve.
