Leak Detection in Winston, GA

Who handles which part of the line?

WSA describes itself as Douglas County's sole water provider, and that includes Winston. It owns the meter and the lines in the road right-of-way. The water and sewer lines on your property, from the meter to the house, are the customer's. If water is surfacing at the meter or in the road, call WSA at 770-949-7617 on weekdays or its after-hours emergency line, 770-942-6633. If the meter keeps turning with everything off and the road side is dry, the leak is on your property.

What is different about Winston homes?

Winston is a small former town along I-20 between Douglasville and Villa Rica, with a more rural feel than the east side of the county. Housing figures for the area, which likely reflect the 30187 ZIP, put the median build year at 1994 and about 23% before 1980. Lots tend to be larger, so the private line from the meter to the house can be long, and a leak in it may show only as a soft strip of ground or a slow rise in the bill. Sewer availability here has not been confirmed, and WSA notes that properties not on municipal sewer in the Dog River drainage basin must keep their private onsite wastewater systems properly maintained as a condition of water service. If your home is on one of those systems, a wet yard is not always a supply leak, so tell the plumber.

Who issues the permit for a repair?

Winston is unincorporated, so Douglas County Building Permits and Inspections handles plumbing permits for new or renovation work, including lawn irrigation. If a leak search leads to replacing the service line, expect a county permit.

Gas service note

Both Atlanta Gas Light (877.427.4321) and Austell Gas System (770-948-1841, option 1) are listed as gas operators in Douglas County, and which one serves a Winston address was not verified. Your gas bill shows the pipe utility. Some homes in the area also use tank gas. For any gas smell, leave the house and call 911 and your utility from outside. Before a water leak visit, take two meter readings an hour apart with nothing running and note how long the line from the meter is.