Once EBMUD receives notice about a leak in the street, we:
- Dispatch an investigator to the location of the leak. EBMUD investigators will control the leak to reduce the risk to public safety, and private and public property by finding and closing valves to isolate the leaking water main. Investigators do their best to respond within one hour, but higher priority leaks may take precedence.
- Contact other utilities to make sure that EBMUD crews can dig safely without damaging other utility lines or endangering the public.
- Locate the leak location using electronic or manual sounding devices to find the origin of the leak and we will determine if the leak is from an EBMUD pipe.
- Repair the water main. Depending on the type of break, we may apply a repair clamp or replace a section of the pipe.
- Open valves to turn the water main back on, flush the water main and sample water quality.
- Backfill to temporarily resurface the excavated area.
- Return to permanently resurface the excavated area.