In Wilson, the city owns the service line up to the property line or meter pit and the customer owns the rest, so a leak on the private side is a homeowner repair. A plumber can test the system and find the leak before anything is torn out. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Wilson.
Wilson homes and water
Wilson's housing spans more than a century, from early-1900s homes in the historic districts to newer subdivisions in the northwest. About 46% of homes were built before 1980, and the median dates to 1983. The city owns the line from the water main to the property line or meter pit, and the customer owns the portion on private property.
The city's lead service line inventory covers homes built in 1986 or earlier, nearly 10,000 of them, and the city has offered a utility credit for reporting your pipe material. Wilson uses free chlorine rather than chloramine, per its 2022 water quality report. In the older neighborhoods, the more common culprits are galvanized pipe that has rusted through, original shutoff valves and crawl space plumbing that nobody checks. Newer homes are more likely to leak at fittings, supply hoses and irrigation.
What to do now
- Close the main shutoff if water is spreading inside.
- Run a meter test with all fixtures and irrigation off.
- Check the meter pit area for water. A leak on the city side should go to Wilson Water Resources.
- Dye test the toilets and look under sinks and around the water heater.
- Note your pipe material if you can see it where the line enters the house. It helps the plumber and the city's inventory.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Meter moves with the house quiet | Toilet, hidden supply leak or service line |
| Wet ground near the meter pit | Service line leak on the city or customer side |
| Stains on an interior wall | Supply fitting or drain connection inside |
| Rusty water from one faucet | Corroding galvanized pipe in an older home |
| Wet turf in one irrigation zone | Broken sprinkler line or head |
What affects the cost
- Location: wall, crawl space, slab or yard
- Pipe age and material near the leak
- How many detection methods it takes
- Same-visit repair or later
Split-tap lawn irrigation in Wilson needs a backflow assembly tested every year by a certified tester. Permits inside the city go through the Inspections Department at City Hall. Wilson Energy, the city's own gas system, handles natural gas.
Leak Detection questions in Wilson
Who is responsible for a leak between the meter and the house?
Does it matter what my service line is made of?
Can a plumber find a gas leak?
Do older homes have more hidden leaks?
More plumbing services in Wilson
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