Maintaining Water Systems

  1. Underground Leaks
  2. Toilet Leaks
  3. Lawn Irrigation
  4. Other Leaks

thCAN7NIOKAccording to City of Irving code, maintaining underground piping on the customer’s side of the water meter - beginning at the connection between the meter and the customer’s service line - is the responsibility of the customer. 

Leaks in underground plumbing can be caused by many different factors, including rust; driving over piping with heavy trucks or equipment; poor initial installation; freezing and thawing of a pipeline; leaking joints or valves; or high-pressure transients from open and closing valves or starting and stopping pumps quickly. Signs of underground leaks include:

  • Unusually wet spots in landscaped areas and/or water pooling on the ground surface.
  • An area that is green, moldy, soft or mossy surrounded by drier conditions.
  • A notable drop in water pressure/flow volume.
  • A sudden problem with rusty water or dirt or air in the water supply. Note, there are causes other than leaks, too.
  • A portion of an irrigated area is suddenly brown, dead or dying when it used to be thriving, indicating water pressure may be too low to enable distant heads to pop up properly.
  • Heaving or cracking of paved areas.
  • Sink holes or potholes.
  • Uneven floor grade or leaning of a structure.
  • Unexplained sudden increase in water use, consistently high water use, or water use that has been climbing at a fairly steady rate for several billing cycles.

If any of these conditions exist at a facility or home, it may have a leak. If a leak is suspected, a professional leak detection company can help pinpoint its exact location. A licensed and bonded utility contractor should perform the repair(s) once the location is known.