Is Your Lawn Looking a Little Overgrown? Lush Lawn Can be a Sign of a Sewer Line Leak

In most situations, a vibrant lawn is every homeowner’s dream. However, if one spot on your lawn is overgrown or greener than usual, it could indicate a sewer line leak or other plumbing problem.

Areas of grass may become lush from a plumbing issue. Nearby patches of grass will absorb excess water from the leak, giving them more moisture (and color) than the surrounding grass. Sometimes the leaking water can even be heard when you get close enough.

Keep reading on to learn other indicators of a plumbing issue and when to contact a professional to investigate.

Water Main Leak

The pipe connecting the water meter to your home is the “water main.” Abnormal pools of water in your yard can be an indicator of the main water leak. If you are worried that your water main is leaking, you should contact a plumbing professional.

When it comes to dealing with a water main leak, there are two parties that could be held responsible. You, the homeowner, or the city. It all depends on how accessible your water meter is. Meters are often placed in a homeowner’s front yard to show how much water the owners use.

A pipe runs from the meters to the water main underneath the street. Water is provided to your home from a service pipe that connects to the mainline.

If a leak occurs between the meters and the water main, the county is responsible for it. The county is only responsible if the area around the meters is unmaintained; it’s a homeowner’s responsibility to keep them accessible to the county.

Homeowners own the water service lines that run through their front yard; therefore, you are responsible for the pipes that run from the meters to your house. A leak in your yard is likely to be your responsibility.

A plumber can help you with the entire process of solving the issue, especially since you will end up being in contact with local officials.

Sewer Line Leak

The lateral connection is a key part of a home’s sewer system. Every pipe in your home leads to a sewer line or the lateral connection, and then it runs down to the municipal sewer system at an angle.

A broken sewer line might be more obvious since it will have a foul smell with the water. It could either smell like sewage, mold, or mildew. Due to the bacteria found in sewage, an untreated sewage leak can affect your drinking water and pose a health risk.

Not only are untreated sewage leaks a danger to your health, but they could potentially also damage the structure of your home.

If there is a break in the sewer lines behind your walls, it could increase humidity and mold growth. When sewer pipes have extremely deteriorated, it could cause cracks in the foundation or sinkholes.

Sprinkler or Other Landscaping Issues

Sprinkler lines can also suffer cracks or damage that could lead to pooling in your yard. If this occurs, you will notice that your yard is full of pooling water after running your sprinkler system.

The soil of some yards can be compacted or rocky, which leads to poor drainage. Water can also pool in your yard if you have an issue with the grading. Ideally, your home will be graded so that any water drains away from your foundation.

<>Sometimes, tree roots will obstruct and break your outdoor plumbing pipes. Some common types of trees and bushes that may obstruct your piping include:

• Willow trees
• Magnolia trees
• Poplar trees
• Citrus trees (lemon, mango, orange, grapefruit)
• Birch trees
• Boxwood shrubs
• Holly bushes
• Ivy plants

In most cases, these plants will seek out moisture, especially when they are underwatered, meaning that they will move to the pipe system in your yard.

Increased Water Bill

Unsurprisingly, all the leaking from these sources will greatly increase your water bill. If you’ve ever noticed a huge spike in your bill and can’t pinpoint the cause, you should look at your lawn and seek out any other signs of a water leak.

Low Water Pressure

Whenever there is a leak or break in indoor and outdoor pipes, it causes low water pressure. Low water pressure can be caused by other issues as well, such as buildup in the pipes.

This is why it’s key to contact a professional who has the experience and knowledge to determine the exact cause of a pressure issue in your pipes. Even if you’re not dealing with a leak, having low water pressure from another cause can be inconvenient.

Professional plumbers can help you resolve your plumbing problems from start to finish. They’ll help you through the process when it comes to contacting local officials regarding a mainline issue and assessing and repairing any faulty plumbing.