Finding the leak
EPA WaterSense says broken heads are hard to spot because systems run overnight or early in the morning. Run each zone and look for heads that don't pop up fully or are tilted, and flag broken ones (EPA WaterSense). It also says to check in-ground systems each spring for frost or freeze damage (EPA WaterSense).
How much water it wastes
EPA WaterSense says a leak 1/32 of an inch across, about the thickness of a dime, can waste about 6,300 gallons a month (EPA WaterSense).
Who fixes it
Cobb County says the customer-owned line runs from the meter to the building or to the irrigation system, and the owner maintains it (Cobb County Water System). Gwinnett County lists irrigation systems among the owner's responsibilities (Gwinnett County). In Atlanta, the homeowner repairs from the meter to the house (Atlanta Watershed Management).
Georgia watering hours
Under the Georgia Water Stewardship Act, outdoor watering for landscapes is allowed daily only between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. Installing, maintaining or calibrating an irrigation system is allowed at any time (Georgia EPD). That means you can test a zone mid-day while looking for a leak.
Common questions
Can I get the leaked water off my bill?
Atlanta lists some customer-side leaks as eligible for adjustment with proof of repair (Atlanta Watershed Management). See high water bill leak adjustments.
- EPA WaterSense: Sprinkler Spruce-Up
- EPA WaterSense: Fix a Leak Week
- Cobb County Water System: service line inventory
- Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources: resident responsibility
- City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management: report a problem
- Georgia Environmental Protection Division: non-drought outdoor water use schedule
- City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management: account review and adjustments
This guide is general information, not legal, insurance or plumbing advice.