Gwinnett County took over the City of Norcross water and sewer system in 2013, and Gwinnett DWR now maintains the meter and the small pipe from the main to it. Everything on the customer's side of the meter, including the private water service line, is the property owner's to repair. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Norcross.
Norcross is a historic 1870 railroad town in southwest Gwinnett. When the county took over the city's system, it replaced the old city meters with county meters and moved all billing to Gwinnett. The median home was built in 1990, and about 18% predate 1980, mostly near the downtown square. Lines in the older core may be galvanized or patched, while those in the subdivisions off Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Buford Highway are usually plastic or copper that fails at a joint or where later work disturbed it. Either way, the county's responsibility ends at the meter.
Immediate steps
- Close the main valve at the house if water is surfacing quickly.
- Look in the meter box. Water there belongs to Gwinnett DWR; call 678-376-7000.
- Run a meter check with all water off to confirm a leak on your side.
- Mark the area and note how fast it's spreading.
- Check the record. Gwinnett's service line inventory at GwinnettCounty.com/ServiceLines shows what's recorded for your address.
Symptoms
| What you notice | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Wet ground between the meter and house | Leak on the private service line |
| Water in the meter box | Gwinnett's side of the connection |
| Weak pressure everywhere | Underground leak or regulator failure |
| Damp floor where the pipe enters | Failed fitting at the house |
| Steadily higher Gwinnett bill | Hidden leak underground |
Cost factors
- Lot layout. Older downtown lots are small; newer subdivisions can have longer runs.
- Pipe age. Lines near the historic core may need replacement rather than a splice.
- Surface. Driveways, sidewalks and trees.
- Method. Repair in place, trench or bore.
- Permit. The City of Norcross issues trade permits for plumbing, and plumbing work that alters piping requires one; documents are uploaded to the city's ePlan portal.
Gwinnett water comes from Lake Lanier through the Shoal Creek and Lanier plants and is disinfected with chlorine. The source doesn't affect your private line, but Gwinnett's rule does: everything past the meter, and any backflow preventer, is the owner's. When you call, you'll reach a referral service, not a plumbing company, connecting you with an independent local plumber who serves Norcross. Tell them where the water is surfacing, whether the meter moves with the house quiet and whether anyone has dug near the line recently.
Water Line Repair questions in Norcross
How do I tell which water system serves my address?
What should I shut off first if the line breaks?
Is a permit needed to repair or replace a water service line here?
Does weak pressure at every faucet point to the service line?
More plumbing services in Norcross
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