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What causes water leaks in the street?

Water leaks can be caused by ground movement, pipe corrosion, soil conditions, or pipes damaged by contractors working underground.  

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What is EBMUD’s responsibility regarding repairing leaks at a water meter?

EBMUD is responsible for the repair of leaks on the street side of the meter and on the meter itself, including the meter threads on the customer's side of the meter. Any pipe repairs on the customer's side of the meter are the responsibility of the customer.  

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What happens after a water leak is reported to EBMUD? 

The EBMUD representative will dispatch an investigator to the leak location based on the information given by the caller. Our investigators attempt to respond within one hour of the call; however, higher priority leaks may delay response. During the investigation, our representative may use electronic or manual sounding devices to find the origin of the leak and whether or not it is coming from an EBMUD pipe.  

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Will my water be turned off when the repair crews work on the water lines?

In some cases it may be necessary to turn your water off while repairs are being performed. EBMUD attempts to notify customers if a shutdown is planned.  For most emergencies, EBMUD is unable to notify occupants.  

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How are leaks scheduled for repairs?

Leak repairs are prioritized based on many factors including severity of the leak, impacts to public safety and/or the environment, probability of property damage, unsafe traffic conditions, or other issues specific to the situation.  Large leaks causing water outages and those that might impact public safety/environment or cause property damage are typically repaired as soon as possible.  Staff is available 24 hours a day to make emergency repairs.  If the leak is small, the repair order is held to allow for notification of customers and other utilities and to schedule the work. The Underground Service Alert requires 48 hours notice for planned repairs to allow cities and agencies to locate and mark their utilities such as gas, electricity, sewer, etc.  

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How long will repairs take?

The majority of pipeline repairs can be completed in six hours or less. Larger jobs may require more time.  

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How late/early will EBMUD work to repair a leak?

EBMUD responds to emergencies and conducts emergency maintenance repairs twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. Non-emergency planned maintenance is usually scheduled during normal business hours. In some cases non-emergency jobs may be done after hours for traffic, business, or other considerations.  

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Can EBMUD show me how to repair a leak in my home plumbing?

No, EBMUD employees are not allowed to advise you on repairs to your home plumbing system.  

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Can EBMUD recommend specific plumbers to call?

No, EBMUD cannot provide recommendations for specific plumbers.  

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If my neighbor has a leak on his/her property, should I call EBMUD to turn off their water?

You should first attempt to contact your neighbor and inform them about their leak.  If you are unable to contact your neighbor and you feel the leak may cause damage to your property or to the property of others, then you should call EBMUD and request that your neighbor’s meter be turned off. If it is determined that the leak is severe or may cause damage, and your neighbor is unaware of the leak or cannot be contacted, we will turn off the water and leave a note informing them of the action taken.  

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How does EBMUD protect creeks and other waterways from the disinfection chemicals in the leaking water?

EBMUD uses chloramine, a mix of chlorine and ammonia, to disinfect its drinking water. Chloramines are necessary for delivering water that is safe for humans, but they are not good for fish. EBMUD uses fabric mats with treatment tablets to remove chloramine from water released from pipe breaks and broken hydrants before it reaches storm drains, nearby streams or the Bay.