I spent $6000 Fixing a $7 Leak and I Have Thoughts

Leaks are a major source of waste in the U.S. but cheap water disincentivizes conservation. I was left feeling burned by my plumbing.

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My partner discovered the leak while winterizing the sprinklers. While draining the backflow device, she checked the water meter and saw the following exciting new icon on the display:

My flow meter with the leak indicator illuminated.

Our home had sprung a leak once before. Nine years prior, the house had an analog water meter — I only discovered the leak when the soil above the water main stayed wet after sixty days of sun. We spent six hours digging a 3-ft deep (1 m) exploratory trench in the mud so the plumber could locate and repair the faulty section of pipe.

This time, the upgraded digital flow meter detected the leak before we did. The leak started slow, about one shot-glass per minute. I can’t be sure exactly when it began, it had been about ten days since the last check.

We isolated the leak to the 50 ft (15 m) stretch of pipe between the house and the street, the same as the first leak. We agreed with the plumber’s recommendation to…