Leak Detection in Fallbrook, CA

Signs of a hidden leak

• A water bill that keeps rising without a change in use
• The meter's leak indicator spinning with all fixtures off
• Wet ground or unusually lush growth between the meter and the house
• Water stains, soft drywall or a musty smell indoors
• Pressure that has slowly weakened at taps and showers
• Running-water sounds when nothing is on

Local conditions in Fallbrook

Fallbrook Public Utility District provides water, wastewater and recycled water across a 28,000-acre service area. Some edges of the Fallbrook area fall within Rainbow Municipal Water District instead, so check your bill. According to FPUD, the customer is responsible for repairing leaks on the property's side of the meter, and the District handles leaks at the meter, in the street or at a hydrant. The meter is usually near the front of the lot facing the street. On a larger property, the private run from there to the house can be long, and much of it may sit under landscaping or a driveway.

FPUD supplements imported water with local water from the Santa Margarita River. It also publishes an interactive Lead and Copper Service Line Map showing service line materials across its service area, which can tell you what your line is likely made of before anyone digs. Some parcels in the area are not on municipal sewer, but leak detection focuses on the pressurized supply side, so the meter test works the same way either way.

What affects cost

• Length and depth of the line between the meter and the house
• How many separate systems need isolating, such as house, irrigation and outbuildings
• Whether acoustic tools are enough or tracer gas is needed on a long run
• Restoring landscaping, hardscape or flooring after access
• Permits for unincorporated addresses, which go through the County of San Diego

When you call

You'll reach an independent plumber who works in the Fallbrook area. Tell them whether the meter moves with everything shut, roughly how far the house sits from the street, and whether the irrigation has separate valves. If water is coming up at the meter or in the road, call FPUD at (760) 728-1125 first, since that side is theirs.