About this example

This scenario is fictional. It reflects a common situation in established neighborhoods, where an older buried service line runs beneath a driveway and near a mature street or yard tree.

Water where it should not be

Illustrative example. Not a real job or customer.

A homeowner notices water seeping from a crack in the driveway on a dry, sunny day. Pressure inside the house has dropped.

  1. They check the meter with all fixtures off and see it moving.
  2. They close the main shutoff at the house; the meter keeps moving, so the leak is before the house valve.
  3. Water is not coming up at the meter box itself, which suggests the break is on the property side of the meter.
  4. They close the curb valve at the meter to stop the loss, accept that the house is without water for now, and call a licensed plumber.

The plumber locates the break under the driveway near a tree whose roots have grown around the old line.

Sorting out who handles it

  • IfThe leak were at or before the meterThenThe homeowner would call the City of Fullerton water utility, since that side is usually theirs.
  • IfThe leak is between the meter and the house, as hereThenIt is typically the homeowner's line and a licensed plumber's job.
  • IfThere is any doubtThenCheck with the city before work begins.

Repair options presented

Cut the driveway and splice

  • Targets the single break
  • Concrete patch afterward
  • Roots and old pipe remain

Replace the line on a new route

  • Avoids the tree and the driveway section
  • Retires the old line
  • May need a permit; check with the city

Questions the homeowner asks

  1. What is the line made of, and what condition is it in beyond the break?
  2. Would a new route avoid the tree roots for good?
  3. Who patches the driveway or landscaping?
  4. Does this work need a City of Fullerton permit?

Common questions

Is this a real job?

No. It is an invented example for illustration.

Can tree roots damage water lines as well as sewer lines?

Yes. Roots can wrap and press on buried water lines, especially older ones, though they are best known for entering sewer laterals.

Is closing the curb valve allowed?

Practices vary. Check with the City of Fullerton water utility about using the curb valve.

General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.