Regardless of the reason you can't track down a stop, it's a good idea to locate your house's main water shut-off valve.

It may have a wheel-style circular handle or a gate valve lever-style handle. It’s often located within a few feet of where the water supply line enters the house. Didn't find it so easily?

To shut off the water to your house at the meter, you typically need a "water meter key" which is a specialized t-shaped tool used to access and turn the valve on your water meter box. HOUSTON - A ...