Slab Leak Repair in Brookhaven, GA

Can the City of Brookhaven fix a leak in my line?

No. Brookhaven doesn't run water or sewer at all. DeKalb County Watershed Management owns and operates the system, including mains, service laterals, valves, hydrants and meters, and the city says it can't maintain or repair those assets. DeKalb is responsible from the main in the street to the meter; the owner is responsible from the meter to the home's plumbing. The city also states that homeowners are responsible for the systems on their property.

So if the leak is at the meter or in the street, call DeKalb's water operations line. If it's under your floor, it's a plumber job.

Are older Brookhaven homes more likely to leak under the slab?

Generally, yes. Census survey figures via Point2Homes put the median year built at 1994, but about 30% of homes were built before 1980, including roughly 9% from the 1950s. Historic Brookhaven and Lynwood Park have older houses alongside newer infill. In mid-century homes, original copper under a slab or addition is the most common source of a hidden leak. In newer infill and townhomes, leaks tend to come from fittings or pipe damaged during construction.

Does Brookhaven require a permit for this work?

The city's FAQ says swapping fixtures in the same location doesn't need a permit, but changes to plumbing lines do. A reroute that replaces a buried supply line with a new line through walls or the attic is a change to plumbing lines, so expect a city permit, applied for and tracked through the online portal. A plumber can confirm what your specific repair needs.

One Brookhaven detail

DeKalb's service line inventory found no known lead pipes in the county-owned system, but the material of private, customer-side lines is listed as unknown, and owners are asked to identify it. If a plumber is already opening walls or the slab for a leak, it's a good time to note what your service line is made of.

On repair choices: a leak in pipe that otherwise tests sound can usually be fixed through one small opening in the floor. If the house is from the 1950s or 1960s and the buried copper is original, ask the plumber about a reroute instead, which leaves the old line capped in the slab and runs new pipe where it can be reached later.