The Golden Estates Mobile Home Community, located just outside Atlanta, received a $27,000 water bill in January 2011 when Manager Crissy King said she “just wanted to cry.” Instead, she decided to investigate what happened. Although she suspected a massive water leak, there was little evidence to prove it- no water bubbled from the pavement and their gutters ran dry. The community used 850,000 gallons of water in one month, 34 times their average, and it had to be going somewhere.
King contacted two plumbers to investigate potential leaks, but neither discovered the source. After researching American Leak Detection of Atlanta through the Better Business Bureau, she decided to hire them. Now, four service calls and seven leaks later, the dilemma is solved.
The 50-acre mobile home community in Douglasville includes 234 lots. Although the property owner is responsible for maintaining the underground water lines, each home has its own sub-meter. Technicians shut off each lot’s sub-meter, concluding the main meter was still leaking 25 gallons of water per minute. It was finally determined the leaks were caused by aging pipes located 7 feet beneath the surface.
“We expect to save more than $100,000 every year on our water bills,” King said. “So, as you can imagine, my bosses are very happy the staff has been proactive in tackling this problem. Where other companies had failed us, American Leak Detection came through.”
To maintain their current usage of 25,000 gallons of water per month, King said the owner plans to repair all future leaks once they are found. The property received a $20,000 credit from the local water authority in 2011.
