Water leakage

Dear All,
I have a problem which I am unable to find a solution and need some urgent and desperate help. We are carrying out renovation work involving house raising and subdivision work for a new dwelling at the back of the house. We had a new water meter installed and the site cut for the construction work. What we noted after this work is the water is seeping from the nature strip into the property to a point it has caused a small puddle. This water is also finding its way into the neighbors property for which they are not happy about. We made it clear to the neighbor that we have no services connected and are not sure where the water is coming from. Their argument is that the water started to leak after the work has commenced. We have reported this to Queensland Urban Utilities. According to them after through investigation, the water is not from the water supply line nor it is from sewer. They have now said it is not their responsibility.

Now what I want to know is how do I resolve this matter. Whom should I report this problem to, Who is responsible to fix this problem, what could be the source of the water.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

Is there any detectable increase in the meter reading overnight? That would indicate a leak on the consumer side of the meter.

Put it back on the plumber who did the meter work.

 

Thank you your response. It has been investigated for 8 months by various departments including our plumber. Ther eis no leak from the water line in the whole street. People who installed the water meter were involved along with QUU department. They finally gave up today and wants me to find my way!!

 

Nature strip is surely council problem not yours? However after we built a house in a semi rural area many years ago we did have a small spring under the house

 

Thank you Islay. I know it is councils responsibility but do not know the channel to lodge the complaint as the water and sewer people wash off their hands but did not say where I should go next.
I was told by one of the plumber that there could be a spring but how can this be detect and who deals with this kind of problem. Your information may help solve this mystery

 

where i live we would go online to our council web site and report the problem. It is their problem to solve. Springs (if that is what it is) can be traced to their source and sealed. Maybe your neighbour could report it too

 

Thank you. The property is located in East Brisbane. Neighbor is very unhappy about it and insists I am responsible for it and need to fix it and he does not have time for it. Any suggestion based on the property location

 

Seems like its your cost to find and fix the issue. Plumbers are good at finding leaks. After all it can only be from a water supply line....maybe....

Could also be stormwater (?) If some numb nuts parked on nature strip and the stormwater runs through pipe under nature strip to gutter - it could be due to crushed pipe driven on by vehicle. Will only happen after rain...No water will flow out to gutter but will make lawn boggy.

If its not that its water supply.

 

Actually aren't water supply and sewage service the responsibility of the land owner from the main connection to the property these days ? (not from the meter)

How did they test to determine it is not town water ?

Go to Bunnings, buy a shovel, start digging (the ground will be soft at least )

 

As Indicated this problem was taken to the highest level at QUU. They have done water test and water was not from the water supply line, dug a hole near the water meter which was dry, Sewer people came and tested water and ruled it not to be sewer water.
This problem has been consistent for clost to 10 months. How would it be owners responsibility if the water is seeping from the nature strip and we do not even know what the origin of this water is. If it is got to do with the underground water or a spring, who would be involved to investigate this problem.

 

How much water are we talking about? Would it be possible to put in a gravel trap and pump the water into a storage tank for use on the garden......if you aren't being billed for it.....then could be a bonus for your landscape?

 

Water can be fun to chase! The leak could be 100m up the road and since the digging work the water is now coming out at your property

First I'd check your water meter and the neighbors. Check if it's ticking over, make sure no water being used obviously. If your meter isn't ticking over it is not your problem. Leak likely outside your properties

Now the fun part. It could be a leak on the main up the street or out could even be a private leak at another property. Water leaks will follow the easiest path, sometimes up to the surface at the fault (90% of the time) or down hill following the trench line of the pipe and other disturbed areas. It can also follow inside telstra conduits and pits.

You need a good plumber from quu to come and know what to look for. Not just a guy that will come out kick some dirt and have a few ciggies!

You can also start checking up your street and look for other wet patches in the nature strip or front yards. Also check water meters if anyone has a leak up from you. I've worked with a council plumber as a labourer and luckily I got to work with the guru so we often got the tricky ones like you have. So keep on council as it is not your leak. I've seen similar issues where there was water and found a leak at a property (leak inside boundary) 10 doors up the road. They had no idea there was a leak and couldn't work out why their water bill was so high

Do you know where the water main is?
Are you at the bottom of a hill or on a slope?
Is it a swampy area or near water course(could be ground water)

 

Thank you for your message
As indicated QUU undertook investigation for about 3 months. They checked the water meter for each and every house in the street and found no leak. They dug up near the water meter where we have leak and found no dampness.
If I trust their investigation, then the souce of this water is not from water supply line or sewer.
I do not think anyone investigate the stormwater line. In Brisbane which department is responsible for storm water maintainence?
Our house is at the bottom of the street and this water seepage was detected in my house and the neighbour next door. Interstingly the neighbours house is higher up but he blames it on us to fix it.
Have a look at the photos to understand what is happening.

 

How deep is the water table? Get out a 6" auger and hand bore a hole down 1-1.5m to see if it is filling up and how far down the hole it is entering.

 

I have just received an email from Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Water Services who said that the underground water table in this area is very shallow and that the development work can result in modifying the flow of groundwater and redirecting it to the surface. However, they say it is upto me to have this fixed and they would not be involved in it! The suggestion given was to engage a hydrogeologist in order to determine possible works to rectify the situation
Any suggestions on this proposal.

 

Spearpoint dewatering, lowering the water table, artesian bore or contact a hydrogeologist who can advise.

 

Thanks Scott. Would any hydrogeologist be able to understand this problem or there is any other specialist for this type of problems. Any idea if what you had suggested be an expensive exercise? We are well and truly over the budget by about $100k already. Why would not the Govt department help in this kind of situation

 

I'm not clear with the location of the water - you have water on the nature strip (in front of existing residence?), and in the new cut (behind existing residence), and uphill on the neighbouring property - but where?

Also you have no services connected, so water is shut off at the meter (which presumably is at the front of the property)?

 

So the problem water is occurring where you cut into the higher land. How are you going to retain this dirt? If the work was to build a retaining wall just put some drainage behind it. Make sure you use geo cloth and aggregate. Make sure you include weep hole and a spoon drain in front of the retaining wall. then run all the water of into the storm water system. Neighbour's problem fixed as you are draining the water away.