Mellons Bay · Leak detection
Leak Detection in Mellons Bay
A strip of lawn staying green and wet while the grass beside it dries out can point to water escaping below the surface.
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How it works
Call or enquire
Phone us or send the address and what you’re seeing.
We assess
A licensed Stately plumber looks at the job on site.
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You get a plain explanation and a clear quote before work starts.
Job done and tidied
We finish the work and leave the site clean.
It can also reflect watering or runoff, so we check the pattern before recommending any digging. Stately covers Mellons Bay, investigating persistent wet lawn strips and explaining what the checks show. Your observations about when the strip appeared and how it changes help us decide where to start.
Notice how the strip behaves
Look at the strip during a spell with no rain or lawn watering. Note whether it stays soft, grows wider, or develops a small puddle at one end. A photo taken from the same position each day can give us a clearer picture than colour alone.
Keep people off any noticeably soft patch, and avoid probing it with a spade or stake. Check whether a sprinkler reaches that line or water runs towards it from elsewhere. These observations help separate a possible buried supply leak from water arriving across the surface.
Check whether water keeps flowing
If you can safely read your water meter, Watercare's leak check involves using no water for four hours or more, with readings before and after. Leave the meter tap on during this test. Plan around appliances and automatic watering so their use will not confuse the result.
A changed reading gives us a reason to investigate water passing through the meter, but it cannot pinpoint the wet strip as the source. If that test is impractical, tell us. Onsite, we can inspect accessible fittings, check what is running, and assess how the supply relates to the lawn.
More about leak detection in Mellons Bay
Narrow down the buried route
We compare the wet strip with accessible pipe entry points and any plans or records you have. Water can travel before reaching the surface, so the greenest part of the lawn may sit away from the actual break. We use the visible pattern as a starting clue.
Depending on access and the supply arrangement, checks may include pressure testing, listening for escaping water, or isolating sections through accessible valves. Before closing a valve, we tell you how the water supply will be affected. Please clear access to the meter and known valves, but leave covers, fittings and pipework intact.
Agree access before opening the lawn
Once the checks narrow the suspected area, we explain what supports that location and what remains uncertain. Some leaks require a small opening to confirm the fault. Before excavation, we discuss the proposed position, access constraints and any known buried services that could affect the work.
We aim to keep the opening focused, although its size may change once the pipe is exposed. If the evidence points elsewhere, we explain that rather than treating the wet lawn as proof. The next step should follow the findings, not simply the most obvious patch.
Repair decisions and the final checks
If an exposed supply pipe is leaking, we assess the damaged section and surrounding accessible pipe before proposing the repair. Water main repairs may involve replacing a short section or addressing a longer affected length. We explain why the observed condition supports the proposed scope before proceeding.
After a repair, we check the repaired connection and supply operation before discussing reinstatement. The lawn may remain damp while retained moisture clears. Our handover explains what was found, what was repaired, any remaining uncertainty and what to watch for if the strip stays unusually wet.
Leak detection: questions from Mellons Bay
Should I stop watering the lawn?
Pause watering over the affected strip if practical, and note when you stopped. This helps show whether the wetness persists independently. Avoid changing several things at once, as that can make the pattern harder to interpret.
Does green grass prove there is a leak?
No. Extra moisture can keep grass green, but watering and runoff can produce a similar strip. Persistent wetness during dry weather is a useful clue that needs checking against the supply and other possible water sources.
What should I send before a visit?
Send a wide photo showing the strip's position, a closer photo of any pooling, and notes about rain and watering. Include any meter readings you have already taken and tell us about restricted access.
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