Part of Transition Salt Spring’s Lighter Living Series

Sue Earle, a seasoned farmer on Salt Spring Island, received an alarming call from the North Salt Spring Waterworks District (NSSWD) early last December. Sue’s water meter reading had detected a significant, rapid flow, indicating a major leak somewhere on her property, which includes multiple greenhouses, irrigation systems, wash stations and her residence. Her first thought: “Had it been leaking for five days or five weeks?”

Sue launched into action! She started with a thorough inspection of her house and then began combing the property via a visual inspection, but searching for a leak by identifying “wet spots” in December proved challenging. This wasn’t her first leak incident. Having installed a shut-off valve near her water meter after a previous mishap, she was able to mitigate some of the loss by halting water flow to the farm when not actively searching for the leak or using water in the house. Thus began weeks of strictly limiting water use to a few hours each morning and evening, while combing her 13-acre property for the elusive leak.

NSSWD kindly provided a water leak detection kit for Sue’s use, but initial attempts with the equipment led to false leads and confusion. With the assistance of local friends and experts like Ron Patterson, known as “The Drain Guy,” and Paul Smith from Paul Smith Excavating, Sue initiated a methodical search. At one point, attention focused on a wet pothole in her driveway, suspecting a nearby water line issue. Despite cutting into pipes and using fish tapes to trace the line’s path, the culprit remained elusive, though they were tantalizingly close! Eventually, an unknown water box beside her driveway was discovered as the source of the leak, and the problem was promptly fixed.

The incident incurred costs exceeding $2,000, plus additional charges for excess water usage (at a significant discount from NSSWD). From NSSWD’s initial alert to the final resolution, the ordeal spanned over two months, during which Sue restricted water use to minimize further loss.

Reflecting on the experience, Sue emphasizes the importance of proactive measures. She recommends creating detailed maps during construction, irrigation set-up or any pipe laying, with clear labelling of valves wherever possible. Sue also highlights the need for real-time flow monitoring technology to detect leaks earlier.

For Sue, managing water conservation and leak detection on her farm remains crucial for both sustaining her livelihood and upholding environmental stewardship.

Water leaks aren’t confined to farms. Recently, we received an anxious call from a neighbour who had received a similar notification from NSSWD. Their water meter was showing an unusually high flow, yet they had been away for three weeks.

The neighbour asked if we could pop over to inspect the house for leaks. Once a thorough check of the house was completed, our attention turned to the outdoors, searching for telltale wet spots. It didn’t take long to identify the culprit. A malfunctioning automatic timer in the yard had allowed water to flow unimpeded via the irrigation system.

Fortunately, a clearly marked shut-off valve in the garage made it easy to halt the flow. However, $1,700 worth of water had already been distributed in the yard in addition to the November rainfall. Again, NSSWD generously reduced the water bill, but it wasn’t without consequences.

The lesson here is crystal clear. Water leaks happen, more often than one might think. They can’t always be prevented. However, there are precautions and preparedness steps to take to avoid catastrophe. Plan to turn your water off when you go away for longer than a week. If you can’t do this, contact NSSWD or your local water office to arrange shut-off and turn-on dates. Alternatively, ask a trusted neighbour to conduct regular, thorough checks. Whether a homeowner or a renter, everyone should locate the main valve that brings water into their home and ensure that it is clearly marked for other family members or house sitters to mitigate damage from an indoor leak.

Water leaks happen due to aging pipes, unfortunate mistakes, faulty electronics and a host of other reasons. They are almost always costly and wasteful, however, prevention and preparation can mitigate the worst results from occurring.