Water Line Repair in Winston, GA

Winston is an unincorporated community in western Douglas County, served by the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority. WSA owns the meter and the lines in the road right-of-way, and the customer owns the water line on the property from the meter to the home; Douglas County issues the permit. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Winston.

Winston sits along I-20 between Douglasville and Villa Rica. It was a town until its charter was repealed in 1995, so there's no city government now. Water comes from WSA's Dog River Reservoir in western Douglas County. Housing figures for the area, which likely reflect the wider 30187 ZIP, show a median build year of 1994 and about 23% before 1980. Lots tend to be larger than in town, and many homes are not on municipal sewer; WSA requires properties in the Dog River basin to keep their private onsite wastewater systems properly maintained as a condition of water service.

Steps to take

Close the main valve at the house if water is coming up fast.
Look at the meter. Water there is WSA's; call 770-949-7617 on weekdays or 770-942-6633 after hours.
Confirm the leak by watching the meter with all water off.
Know where the onsite wastewater system is. The plumber needs to avoid its tank and field when digging.
Mark the wet area and note how quickly it's spreading.

Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Winston.

(404) 637-2993

Symptoms and likely causes

Symptom	Likely cause
Wet ground along the driveway	Leak on the service line under or beside it
Soggy area that's clear and odorless	Supply leak rather than wastewater
Pressure low throughout	Underground leak or regulator failure
Meter turning with taps off	A leak on your side
WSA bill rising	Hidden underground leak

Cost factors

Distance. Larger lots can put the house far from the meter.
Obstacles. Fences, trees, outbuildings and the onsite wastewater area.
Repair scope. One fitting versus a damaged section.
Locating the pipe. Private lines aren't marked by public locators.
Permit. Douglas County Building Permits & Inspections issues plumbing permits for unincorporated areas like Winston.

WSA's service line inventory found no lead service lines in its distribution system. When you call, you'll reach a referral service, not a plumbing company, connecting you with an independent local plumber who serves western Douglas County. Mention how far the house sits from the road, where the onsite wastewater tank and field are, and whether the meter moves with everything off. On long rural runs, the plumber traces the pipe from the meter rather than digging where the ground looks wettest, since water often travels along the trench before it surfaces.

Water Line Repair questions in Winston

Where does the utility's pipe end and mine begin?

WSA owns the meter and the lines in the road right-of-way. The water line on your property, from the meter to the house, is yours.

Why is one strip of my yard wet when it hasn't rained?

A strip that stays wet with no rain often sits on a leaking supply line. If the water is clear and has no odor, it's more likely the supply line than the onsite wastewater system.

Is a permit needed to repair or replace a water service line here?

Usually. Winston is unincorporated, so Douglas County Building Permits & Inspections issues plumbing permits for the work.

How can I use the water meter to check for a hidden leak?

Turn off all faucets, appliances and irrigation, then watch the WSA meter's leak indicator. If it moves, water is escaping somewhere on your side.