Main water line leaks in Fullerton

Why hillside lines leak

In the hills of north Fullerton, meters are often at the street with the house well above or below. The line between them runs up or down the slope, sometimes under steps, retaining walls and terraced planters. Soil movement on slopes puts stress on the pipe, and the high pressure common at lower elevations adds more. Older homes may still have galvanised lines; others have copper that can pinhole in some soils.

Water travels downhill

On a slope, water from a broken line follows the trench and the grade. It often surfaces at the bottom of a retaining wall, in a lower planter or at the curb, sometimes many feet from the leak. Digging where the water appears is a common and expensive mistake. A plumber will trace the pipe route, then listen along it to find the break itself.

Flatland lines

In south Fullerton's flatter tracts, service lines are shorter and run under the front lawn. A leak there usually shows as a soft, green strip in the lawn or water at the sidewalk, and repairs are simpler. Replacement can often be done by boring under the lawn rather than trenching it.

What to do now

• Close the house shut-off and confirm the meter keeps moving, which proves the leak is outside
• If water is pooling near a retaining wall, keep people off the area below it
• Note where water is surfacing and when, to help the locate
• If the leak is near the meter box itself, call the city water utility first, since their side may be leaking

Pipe materials you might find

Fullerton's older homes near downtown and the college may still have galvanised steel service lines, sometimes partly replaced with copper. Post-war tracts generally have copper. Some homes that had leaks in the 1980s or 1990s got plastic replacement lines, which can crack at fittings as they age.

If the line has to be replaced, modern options include Type K copper or polyethylene, often pulled through the old line's path or bored under the lawn and driveway. On hillside lots, the plumber may suggest a different route altogether to avoid steps and retaining walls.