Short answer: The clearest sign of a water service line leak is a meter that keeps moving when every fixture is off and the house main is closed. Other signs include a soggy or extra-green strip of lawn, water near the meter box, low pressure everywhere and a bill that climbs. The EPA suggests a two-hour meter test to confirm.
Your water service line is buried, so it can leak a long time before you see it. In Sarasota's sandy soil, water often drains straight down instead of puddling. Knowing the signs helps you catch a leak before the bill or the damage gets big. If you spot them, SRQ Leak Pros can connect you with a local pro for water service line leak repair.
9 signs of a water service line leak
1. The meter moves with all water off
Every water meter has a small flow indicator, a dial or triangle that spins when water passes. If it moves when nothing is running, water is leaving somewhere. This is the most reliable sign.
2. A higher bill with no change in use
A leak runs all day and night. The EPA says the average home's leaks waste more than 9,300 gallons a year. A slow service line leak can push your bill up month after month.
3. A soggy or extra-green strip of lawn
Water feeding the soil makes grass grow faster and greener. A strip running from the meter toward the house traces the pipe's path.
4. Water pooling near the meter box or driveway
Water seeping up at the edge of a driveway or around the meter box often comes from a nearby break.
5. Low water pressure at every fixture
If pressure drops in all faucets at once, the problem is likely on the main line, not one fixture.
6. Sinking soil or small sinkholes
Moving water can carry sand away. Soft spots or dips along the line's path are a warning.
7. Cracks in a driveway or walkway
Washed-out sand under concrete can let it crack or settle.
8. The sound of running water near the entry
With everything off, you may hear a hiss near where the line enters the house.
9. A utility notice about high use
Sarasota County alerts customers when usage is unusually high. County officials told ABC7 Sarasota in July 2026 that leak detection on private property is the owner's job.
Seeing these signs? Call to reach a local pro who can test your service line.
Call (941) 541-0938How do I confirm a service line leak?
Use this simple test. It takes about two hours.
- Turn off all water. Faucets, toilets, dishwasher, washing machine, ice maker and irrigation.
- Read the meter. Write down the numbers and note the flow indicator.
- Wait two hours. Use no water. The EPA uses this same two-hour test.
- Read it again. If the numbers changed, you have a leak.
- Close the house main and repeat. If the meter still moves with the main closed, the leak is in the service line between the meter and the house.
Signs that point elsewhere
Not every clue means a service line leak. Use this table to sort them out.
| Clue | More likely cause |
|---|---|
| Meter stops when the house main is closed | A leak inside the house, such as a toilet or slab |
| Meter stops when irrigation is off | A sprinkler line or valve leak |
| Warm spot on a floor | A hot water slab leak |
| Water bubbling inside the meter box | A leak on the utility's side |
| Wet spot only near the pool | Pool plumbing |
If the leak is under the floor, see what a slab leak is.
Why service lines leak in Sarasota
- Old pipe. Galvanized steel rusts. Polybutylene breaks down in chlorinated water.
- Sandy, shifting soil. Settling stresses joints and fittings.
- Roots. Trees and palms near the line can crack or crush it.
- Digging damage. Fence posts, new plantings and irrigation work can nick a line.
- High pressure. Pressure that is too high strains every joint.
What happens if you ignore it?
A small service line leak can grow. It wastes water and money, can wash out sand under concrete, and can let soil enter the pipe. A break may leave the house with low pressure or no water. Fixing it early usually means a smaller repair.
How to prevent service line leaks
- Read the meter once a month and compare.
- Keep heavy equipment and new plantings away from the line's path.
- Have a pro check water pressure, and add a pressure reducing valve if it's high.
- Replace polybutylene or galvanized lines before they fail.
- Call Sunshine 811 before you dig, as Florida law requires.
Local note: long front yards in North Port make the green-strip clue easier to spot. In Osprey, damp ground near the bay can hide a leak, so rely on the meter test. Owners on Longboat Key should check the meter when they return for the season.
Related reading: learn who is responsible for the water line from the street to the house before you call anyone. If the bill is your main clue, read why your water bill is so high. To narrow the spot down yourself, see how to find a water leak underground. Wet ground at the meter box? Read about a water meter leak. Concrete over the pipe? See finding a leak under the driveway.
When should you call a water line professional?
Call a pro when:
- The meter moves with your house main closed
- You see water, sinking soil or a green strip along the line
- Pressure has dropped everywhere
- You can't find or close your main shut-off
Meter still moving? Call (941) 541-0938 to reach a local water service line pro.
Call (941) 541-0938Frequently asked questions
How fast does a service line leak raise my bill?
It depends on the size of the leak and your rates. Even a small, steady leak runs all day, so it adds up over a billing cycle.
Can a service line leak cause foundation damage?
A leak near the house can wash out soil under walkways and the edge of a slab. It is worth fixing early.
Is a wet yard always a leak?
No. Rain, irrigation and a high water table can keep soil wet. The meter test tells you whether water is leaving your system.
Can I fix a service line leak myself?
You can do the meter tests. Repairs involve digging near other buried lines and pressure work, so most owners hire a licensed plumber.
