Leak Detection in Brookhaven, GA

Who do I call: DeKalb or a plumber?

It depends where the water is. DeKalb County Watershed Management owns and operates the water and sewer systems in Brookhaven, including mains, valves, hydrants and meters, and it is responsible for the service line from the main to the meter. Water leaks in the street and sewer spills go to DWM at 770.270.6243. The line from the meter to your house, and every pipe inside, is the owner's responsibility. A meter that moves while the house is silent and the street is dry means a plumber's job.

Are Brookhaven's older homes more prone to leaks?

Brookhaven's housing is a mix. The median home was built in 1994, but roughly 30% went up before 1980, including about 9% from the 1950s, mostly in neighborhoods like Historic Brookhaven and Lynwood Park. In those older houses, the usual leak points are original galvanized or early copper runs, worn shutoffs and joints where remodels tied new pipe into old. Newer townhomes and infill houses tend to leak at fittings, supply hoses and shower valves instead. DeKalb's inventory found no known lead pipe in the county-owned system, but private-side line material is listed as unknown, and the county asks owners to identify it.

Does fixing a leak need a Brookhaven permit?

It can. The City of Brookhaven's permit FAQ says swapping a fixture in the same location needs no permit, but changes to plumbing lines do, and a water heater replacement requires a permit and inspections. If finding the leak leads to rerouting a supply line or replacing the service line, plan on a city permit, applied for through Brookhaven's online portal.

What the visit looks like

An independent plumber who works in Brookhaven will usually start at the meter, then close the house valve to see whether the loss is in the yard or indoors. From there it is a matter of isolating branches and listening, so that any opening in a wall or floor is small and in the right place. Have recent bills handy and note where you have seen damp spots.

Irrigation and quiet leaks

Homes with a separate irrigation tap need a backflow prevention assembly tested every year under DeKalb's program. A sprinkler lateral that cracked under a driveway can run for weeks without a puddle, so test the meter with the controller off and again during a cycle.