Water Pipe Leak!

[flip_it_fast]

I have a question for any one who may be able to help me.

I have city water although I don't live in the city, I live in the outskirts. We think we may have a water leak outside of our house in the main pipe that carries water into the house. Are we responsible to dig it up and make the repairs or is the water company responsible?

We have a long driveway up to our house. The water meter sits next to the driveway (underground) at the very bottom. We believe the leak is right between the meter and our house.

If we had the money, we would dig it up right now and make the repairs but we don't. If we have to fix it then we are leaving it buried, keeping the dirt down on it to slow the leak, until I get paid.

I am so stressed about this right now. This is about the last thing I need with already trying to get the kids back to school stuff and everything else that has to be paid! I am really hoping that the water company has to fix it.

The only thing I know to do is to call the company tomorrow and find out what the deal is.

[homealone]

I delt with a problem close to yours. I was told that if the water leak is between your house and the water meter, it is your responsibility to have it fixed. The water company will only deal with problems from the meter out.

Though you should have them check it, because the leak may not be just where you think it is, and it could end up being their problem to fix.


Let us know how it turns out for you! I know how hard it is getting kids ready for school, paying bills and so on, then have something like this happen, really works on the nerves!

[flip_it_fast]

Well, I found out today for sure that it is our responsibility to make any of the repairs if the problem is between the meter and our house which we are sure it is. My husband started to dig it up this evening and then the thunderstorms hit so that came to a halt. What a pain in the booty! As if we need something else to worry about!

[flip_it_fast]

Okay, so I thought this disaster couldn't possibly become more disasterous but guess what.. it has. I called the water department this morning to see about having them send someone to shut the water off so that we can make the repairs. They told us to go ahead and shut it off ourselves, so we did. My husband resumes digging and hours later, we still haven't found the pipe!!! Not a single hint of where it is! We know where it comes out of the house and we know where the meter is but no matter where we dig, we can't find pipe! It must be 20 feet below the ground! So now, we are going to start digging where the pipe comes out of the house and continue to dig, all the way to China if necessary, until we find the leak.

Whats even worse is that there is a set off railroad tracks that run straight across my driveway and the pipe is actually run underneath of those! And we are responsible to fix this pipe. What are we supposed to do, have the railroad company shut down for a couple of days while we remove tracks and fix our pipe??? Unreal!

Oh and to top it all off, this pipe may have been leaking for as much as two weeks without us knowing it and we have to pay for every drop of the water. We could be talking about $1 to $2 thousand dollars for this! Imagine if the water was running continuously at your house for two weeks! How much would the bill be.

I am seriously sick about this right now. I have no idea what we are supposed to do. How are we going to pay that much for water that just ran all over the ground!

[SNC]

well if it is copper pipe, maybe you can just cut out a small section where the leak is. running under the railroad, that sucks

[flip_it_fast]

Well, we got the leak fixed. We finally dug deep enough and found the pipe, or hose rather which is more of what it is like. The pipe was cut completely in half right next to the railroad tracks. There was no sand or anything around the pipe to cushion it from rocks and stuff. Thats probably what caused the problem.

So, we got it fixed but now the really hard part will come... the bill. The pipe was cut in half, I cannot imagine how much water leaked out. I am sure I will throw up when the bill comes. I am estimating it will be about $1,000 bucks, maybe more. I have no idea what we will do. We don't have that kind of money.

[flippinout]

This doesnt sound right. It seems this should have been the water companies job.

Our water meter is in our basement. Where is yours located at? I find it hard to believe that it would have been that far away from your house.

If the water meter is in your basement, or close to your house, then you shouldnt owe anything because of that water leak.

Ok, you say it is at the end of your driveway? Is that the shut off valve or water meter? Anyway, with the break by the railroad tracks, it shouldnt make your bill go up, and should have been done by the water company like I said.

[flip_it_fast]

My meter is located clear down at the very end of my driveway. It is an underground meter. The railroad tracks sit at about the halfway point up my driveway.

I am responsible for doing the repairs unfortunately, and for paying for the water that leaked out!

Here is the water companies policy... Read after line 4 in the top section.

Water Dept.