If water is bubbling up in your yard, your meter will not stop turning or your pressure has collapsed, call right away. Emergency water line repair in Holly Springs means a licensed plumber finds the break in the line between the meter and your house, explains the repair choices and tells you the price before work starts. Dispatch is open 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays.
The first question on most of these calls is who owns the part that broke. That decides who fixes it, so the section below sorts it out.
Who owns which part of the water line
If your water bill comes from the Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority (CCWSA), ownership splits at the meter. CCWSA publishes an address-searchable service line inventory, and its customer service line is 770-479-1813.
| Section of pipe | Who owns it | Who repairs it | What you can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water main in the street to the meter | CCWSA | CCWSA | Call customer service and report the leak |
| Meter and meter box | CCWSA | CCWSA | Report a leaking box or a stuck meter, do not repair it yourself |
| Meter to the building | The customer | A plumber you hire | Call dispatch for a licensed plumber |
| Pipes inside the building | The customer | A plumber you hire | Shut the main valve and call dispatch |
| If your bill is from another utility | Ask your utility | Depends on their rules | Look at your bill or call the number on it |
Signs of a leaking service line, and when it becomes an emergency
A buried line leak seldom looks dramatic at first. These are the clues that a break is growing.
Wet or sunken ground between the meter and the house
Water follows the path of least resistance and surfaces in low spots. A strip of lawn that stays soft in dry weather is a strong clue.
A meter that moves with every tap off
Run the same two-minute test from our leak detection page. If the flow indicator turns after the main valve at the house is closed, the leak is outside.
Sudden weak pressure at every fixture
A large break on the service line leaves little water to reach the house. If pressure falls fast, treat it as an emergency and close the main.
Muddy, cloudy or discolored water
A break lets dirt and air into the line when pressure drops. CCWSA notes that hydrant work and air in lines also cause cloudy or rusty water, so check with a neighbor and run cold taps before assuming a break.
A bill that rises with no new water use
A slow leak adds up month after month. A line leaking in sandy soil may never show a wet patch.
Tell dispatch what the ground and the meter are doing. We will explain the visit and the price before any digging starts.
What to do while you wait for the plumber
Water in the yard is not just a mess. It can undermine a driveway, a walkway or a foundation edge.
- Close the main shutoff valve at the house. If the yard is flooding and the house valve does not stop it, call CCWSA about the meter side.
- Keep people and pets away from soft or sinking ground, which can collapse around a washed-out pipe.
- Mark the wet area with flags or a stake, and leave the ground undisturbed until the plumber looks.
- Call 811 before any digging. Buried gas, electric and communication lines share the same yard.
- Fill a few containers with water for drinking and toilet flushing if the shutoff will last hours.
- Photograph the wet area and the meter reading before and after you close the valve.
Open trench versus trenchless water line repair
Both methods replace a failed line. They differ in how much of your yard you give up and which conditions allow each.
Open trench digging
- Works almost anywhere the line can be reached
- Lets the plumber see and replace the full pipe
- Tears up lawn, landscaping or pavement along the line
- Usually the right call for a short run or a single repair
Trenchless replacement
- Pulls a new line through a small pit at each end
- Leaves most of the lawn, drive and walkway in place
- Needs workable soil and a straight-enough path
- Not suitable for every site, so we confirm before promising it
Low water pressure that is not a leak
A leak is one of several reasons for weak flow. A failing pressure regulator, a partly closed valve, a clogged aerator or old galvanized pipe that has narrowed inside can all do the same thing. The test is simple. If the pressure is low at every fixture, suspect the line or the regulator. If it is low at one faucet, suspect the faucet.
Home water pressure is commonly kept somewhere between about 40 and 80 psi by a regulator that sits where the line enters the house. A gauge on an outdoor spigot reads it in a minute. A regulator that has failed can swing too high, which stresses pipes and water heaters, or too low, which starves the shower.
We test the pressure at the house, check the regulator and look at the shutoff valve before we blame the buried line. If the line is narrowed by corrosion inside, our repiping page explains replacement choices.
New lines for additions, new builds and moved fixtures
Not every water line job is a repair. Adding a bathroom, a garage sink, a detached building or a new house means running new supply lines from the meter and sizing them for the fixtures on the other end. A line that is too small starves a shower when someone runs the washer.
We install new supply plumbing for additions and renovations, and we coordinate with your builder on new construction. Plan on inspections, because permit rules vary, so ask the City of Holly Springs at 770-345-5536. In unincorporated areas the Cherokee County Development Service Center at 770-721-7810 issues plumbing permits to state-licensed technicians.
What affects the price of a water line repair
We give a clear price before work starts. A water line job is priced by how much digging and pipe it takes, which a first visit can usually estimate. Homeowner insurance often does not cover the cost of repairing or replacing the line itself, though some policies add optional service line coverage. Check your policy or ask your agent.
Length of the run
A short line from a meter near the house costs less than a long run across a deep lot.
What is on top of it
Lawn is simple to restore. A concrete drive, a mature tree or a paved walkway adds work.
Repair versus replacement
A single clean break can be repaired. An old line with several leaks is usually better replaced.
Dig versus trenchless
The method changes labor, equipment and how much has to be restored afterward.
Time of day
Pricing can depend on when the visit happens, and we tell you the number before work starts.
Want your real number? Describe the leak to dispatch and we will walk you through the visit before anyone is sent.
Older homes, lead and what to ask
CCWSA says it has no known public lead service laterals and has not used or detected lead in its system. It also notes that local building standards have required lead-free plumbing materials since 1992, so homes built before then could have some lead plumbing components such as fixtures or solder.
If your house predates 1992 and a plumber is opening the line anyway, ask about the materials we find. Tell the plumber if you have young children, and ask CCWSA at 770-479-1813 or a certified testing lab how to test your tap water. We replace old fittings and valves with lead-free ones during repairs.
Digging near buried utilities
Never dig to chase a wet spot without calling 811 first. A shovel through a gas or electric line is far worse than a leak. If you smell gas anywhere, leave the building and call the gas utility or 911 before you call a plumber.
Serving the towns around Holly Springs
We repair water lines across the area. In Canton, the city runs its own water and sewer department, so the utility to call about the meter side depends on your address. Check the bill to find out who sends it.
Water line questions
Do you handle water line emergencies at night or on weekends in Holly Springs?
Yes. Dispatch is open 24/7. If water is flooding a yard, close the main valve at the house and call. Tell the dispatcher where the water is surfacing and what the meter is doing, and they will arrange the earliest appointment available. You hear the price before work starts.
Who is responsible for a leak in the line to my house?
If your bill comes from CCWSA, the authority owns the line from its main to the meter, and the customer owns the line from the meter to the building. For a different utility, ask them. Leaks on your side are repaired by a licensed plumber you hire.
Can you replace a water line without digging up my whole yard?
Sometimes. Trenchless replacement pulls a new line through small pits at each end and spares most of the yard. It works only with the right soil and path, and we tell you if it will not fit your property.
Why is my water pressure suddenly low?
Low pressure at every fixture points to the line, the pressure regulator or a partly closed valve. Low pressure at one fixture points to that fixture. A gauge at an outdoor spigot gives a number for the plumber.
Do you install plumbing for additions and new construction?
Yes, supply plumbing for additions, remodels and new builds. We size the lines, set the fixtures and arrange the required inspections with the right office.
My home was built before 1992. Does the water line contain lead?
CCWSA says it has no known public lead service laterals, but homes built before 1992 could have lead in fixtures or solder. A water test is the only way to know what reaches your tap. We can replace old parts when we are working on the line.