Water line leaking? Find the right fix in Decatur.
In DeKalb County, the pipe from the meter to your house is yours to repair. One call connects you with an independent local provider for spot repairs, full line replacement or trenchless work.
- Leak pinpointed before digging
- Repair or new line
- Lawn-saving boring
What are you seeing?
Tap the problem for a quick answer.
Soggy ground between the meter and the house usually means the buried service line is leaking. It is the owner's side in DeKalb County, and it is normally found and fixed through one small hole.
Yard leak repair Close the main valve, then call.Shut the main valve where the line enters the house. If the water is coming up between the meter and the house, the line has likely split and needs repair right away.
Burst line steps An old galvanized line is a common cause.Weak pressure at every tap often points to a rusted-shut galvanized service line. DeKalb puts their typical life at 40 to 60 years; replacing the run usually fixes it.
Galvanized pipe Check the meter for a hidden leak.Turn off every fixture and close the main valve at the house. If the meter still moves, water is escaping from the yard line even if nothing looks wet.
Finding hidden leaks A new line from meter to house.If your line has leaked before or is galvanized, a new service line ends the repeat repairs. It can go in by trench or by boring under the yard.
Line replacement That is likely DeKalb County's pipe.Water surfacing in the street or before the meter is on the county side. Call DeKalb County Watershed Management. If it is between the meter and the house, call us.
Who owns which pipe- Meter to houseThe owner's side of every DeKalb line
- Pinpoint firstSmall hole instead of a torn-up yard
- Often same dayFor an accessible spot repair
- Decatur & DeKalbCity neighborhoods and 9 nearby areas
Everything between the meter and your house
One stretch of pipe, six ways it gets fixed. Pick the problem that looks like yours.
Water line repair
Repairing the buried pipe on your side of the DeKalb meter: the break is located, a small hole is opened at that spot, and the damaged piece is cut out and replaced.
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Main line replacement
Laying a new service line from the DeKalb meter to the house, by trench or by boring, and retiring the old pipe.
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Galvanized pipe replacement
Replacing an aging galvanized steel service line on the owner's side of the meter with modern pipe.
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Burst line help
Urgent repair of a service line that has split or pulled apart, after the water has been shut off.
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Yard & hidden leak repair
Finding and fixing leaks in buried pipe: the service line, sprinkler mains and lines to outbuildings.
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Trenchless replacement
Installing a new service line by boring between two small pits instead of digging a full trench.
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The meter is the dividing line
DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management owns the main in the street and everything up to and including the meter. From the meter to the plumbing inside the house, the line belongs to the property owner. That holds inside the City of Decatur too, because Decatur homes are on DeKalb water.
DeKalb County Property owner
- Leak in the street or before the meter: call the county
- Meter spinning with the house shut off: your yard line
From first call to a closed trench
The same five steps whether it is one leaking coupling or a brand-new line across the yard.
- 1ConfirmA meter test with the house shut off proves the leak is in the yard line.
- 2MarkGeorgia 811 marks public utilities; the private line is traced separately.
- 3PinpointListening gear or tracer gas finds the break so the hole stays small.
- 4RepairWater is shut at the meter and the bad section is replaced, or a new line goes in.
- 5Test & restorePressure test, then backfill and compact the red clay.
Why Decatur water lines fail
Older housing, Piedmont red clay and the occasional hard freeze. Each shows up differently in the yard.
Older homes, original pipe
Neighborhoods from Oakhurst and Winnona Park to the MAK district and Clairemont are full of homes built long before plastic service lines. Many still run on their original yard pipe, with brick walks, old oaks and granite steps sitting right on top of it.
That is why a precise leak mark and, on longer runs, boring under the yard are worth asking about here.
- Oakhurst
- Winnona Park
- MAK
- Clairemont
- Ponce de Leon Court
- Midway Woods
Decatur mailing ZIP codes
The Decatur address reaches well past the city limits into unincorporated DeKalb.
- 30030
- 30031
- 30032
- 30033
- 30034
- 30035
- 30036
- 30037
Nearby DeKalb communities
Each page covers the housing age, ground and local water history that shape repairs there.
Common questions
Straight answers based on DeKalb County's own rules. More in the full question list.
Call +1 (800) 555-0142Who fixes a leak between the meter and my house in Decatur?
The property owner. DeKalb County owns the main and the meter; the pipe from the meter to the house is the owner's, so the repair is arranged privately with a plumber.
Does the City of Decatur run its own water system?
No. Homes in the City of Decatur are served by DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management, so DeKalb's rules on who owns which pipe apply.
How do I know if my yard line is leaking?
Turn off every fixture and watch the meter. If the dial or leak indicator keeps moving, close the main valve at the house. If it still moves, water is escaping from the yard line.
What should I do if water is coming up in the street?
Call DeKalb County Watershed Management. Water surfacing in the street or before the meter is on the county's side.
Can a line be replaced without digging up my yard?
Often. A new line can be bored underground between a pit at the meter and a pit at the house, leaving trees, walks and the drive in place.
How old is too old for a galvanized line?
DeKalb's own notices put the typical life of galvanized service lines at 40 to 60 years. Many Decatur homes are older than that.
Water surfacing between the meter and your house?
Call to reach an independent water line repair provider serving Decatur and nearby DeKalb County.