Service line or sprinkler line?
In Center Grove yards, the water service line and the sprinkler mainline often run close together, and both can leave a wet strip in the lawn. The meter tells them apart. With everything off, close the irrigation shutoff: if the meter stops, it was the sprinkler system. If it keeps moving, close the house main: if the meter still moves, the leak is in the service line.
If it was the sprinklers, see sprinkler leak detection in Center Grove.
Why plastic lines need tracer gas
Metal carries sound
On copper or steel, a ground microphone hears the leak clearly and the sound peaks over the break.
Plastic muffles it
PE and PVC absorb most of the sound, especially in damp clay. Listening alone can miss the spot by many feet.
Gas finds the gap
A safe mix of 5% hydrogen in nitrogen is pushed into the drained line. Hydrogen escapes at the leak, rises through the soil and is picked up by a sensor at the surface.
Think you have a leak? Call and tell us what you’re noticing in your Center Grove home.
(877) 729-0265Signs of a service line leak
- Meter moving with both the irrigation and house shutoffs closed.
- A soft, soggy or greener strip between the curb and the house.
- Lower pressure everywhere in the house.
- Water around the meter pit or curb box (call your utility first if it’s right at the meter).
- A higher bill in winter, when sprinklers are off and can’t be the cause.
How we find it
- ConfirmMeter tests with the irrigation and house shutoffs closed.
- TraceWe locate and mark the route of the line, which in newer neighborhoods may curve around driveways and landscaping.
- TestAcoustic listening on any metal sections; tracer gas along plastic lines.
- MarkThe leak is flagged or painted, with photos for the repair.
Whose line, and who to call
Depending on your address, Center Grove water comes from Indiana American Water or the Town of Bargersville water utility, which serves customers in White River and Union Townships. The utility owns its main and the line up to its shutoff near the curb; the homeowner owns the line from there to the house.
Before the line is dug up, Indiana law requires an Indiana 811 request at least two full working days ahead. Your plumber places it for the repair. See water line repair in Center Grove.
Water Line Leak Detection: questions from Center Grove homeowners
Why couldn’t anyone hear my water line leak?
Plastic service lines carry very little sound, especially in damp clay soil. Tracer gas, which escapes at the leak and is detected at the surface, finds leaks that listening misses.
Is tracer gas safe for my lawn and drinking water?
Yes. It’s a mix of 5% hydrogen in nitrogen, non-toxic and non-flammable at that concentration. The line is flushed afterwards.
How do I tell a service line leak from a sprinkler leak?
With everything off, close the irrigation shutoff. If the meter stops, it’s the sprinklers. If it keeps moving, close the house main; a meter that still moves means the service line is leaking.
Who owns the water line in Center Grove?
The utility owns the line up to its shutoff near the curb. The homeowner owns the line from there to the house.
Guides that go deeper
Sources: Indiana American Water; Town of Bargersville Water Utility; Indiana 811; Indiana Administrative Code, Title 327. Updated October 1, 2026.