Leak Detection in Pottstown, PA

Pottstown’s lead service line work, and what it means for leaks

In 2021 the Pottstown Borough Authority sought $6.7 million in state money to replace about 700 lead water service lines, and PENNVEST approved a $3.71 million grant that October. Lines that old are also leak prone. If you live on an older block, the material of your line matters for both safety and leaks.

The Mercury reported, as summarized by the Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative, that the Authority published a legal notice in July 2021 seeking state funding for roughly 700 lead service lines, to be replaced with copper. Streets named as being in critical condition included Willow, North Hanover, Spruce, North Evans and Beech streets and Lincoln Avenue.

On October 21, 2021, State Rep. Joe Ciresi announced that PENNVEST approved a $3.71 million grant for the Authority’s 2021 Lead Service Replacement Project, covering about 8,400 linear feet of lead service lines and 700 linear feet of curb stops.

Why old service lines leak

• Lead pipe is soft. It dents, kinks and cracks where it bends into the foundation.
• Galvanized steel rusts from the inside, and threaded joints fail first.
• Old curb stops and fittings corrode, which is why the grant also covered curb stop footage.
• Repairs over the decades often mix metals, and those joints corrode faster.

If your line is old and you have a leak, ask the Pottstown Borough Authority whether your address is in a replacement area before paying for a private repair. Pennsylvania law (Act 120 of 2018) lets PUC-regulated utilities replace customer-owned lead lines, per a Morgan Lewis summary; the Pottstown Borough Authority is a municipal authority, so its own program terms apply.

We could not confirm the Authority’s exact service line ownership split from its own published rules. Call the Authority to confirm where its responsibility ends at your property before work starts.

Why homes in Pottstown leak

Pottstown is one of the oldest boroughs in Pennsylvania, laid out as Pottsgrove in 1752 and 1753 and incorporated in 1815. Its historic districts along High Street and in Old Pottstown hold some of the oldest plumbing in the county. Age, river flooding and freeze cycles do most of the damage.

Founded by ironmaster John Potts, Pottstown was the second borough in Pennsylvania after Norristown, per its profile. The High Street and Old Pottstown historic districts, Pottsgrove Mansion and the Grubb Mansion are all on the National Register.

Pennsylvania’s median home was built in 1964 and about a quarter of homes predate 1940, according to Pennsylvania Realtors. A borough this old carries a larger share of those older homes, especially near downtown.

The state picture is not better. ASCE’s 2022 report card gave Pennsylvania drinking water a D, with a $10.2 billion ten year funding gap.

Signs of a hidden leak in a Pottstown home

Common signs are a water bill that jumps with no change in use, a meter that moves with everything off, damp basement walls, stained ceilings and a soft or green strip of lawn over the service line. In older Pottstown homes the first sign is often a stone basement wall that will not dry.

The EPA estimates household leaks waste nearly 10,000 gallons a year on average, and 10 percent of homes have leaks wasting 90 gallons or more a day.

How a Pottstown leak detection visit works

The technician reads the meter, closes valves to separate the service line, the house supply and any buried lines, then tests each one. Once the leaking section is known, acoustic, thermal or tracer gas tools pinpoint the spot. You get it marked and a written report with readings and photos.

In the written report

• Meter readings and leak rate
• Leaking section and location, with approximate depth
• Pipe material where visible, useful for lead line questions
• Photos and thermal images

Before any excavation, the repair contractor must notify PA811 at least three business days ahead.

Pottstown ZIP codes, neighborhoods and local notes

Pottstown uses ZIP codes 19464 and 19465. The borough covers about 4.94 square miles along the Schuylkill River. Reference points include High Street, the Old Pottstown historic district, Pottsgrove Mansion and the Manatawny Creek on the west side.

Pottstown had 23,433 residents and 10,689 housing units at the 2020 census, with 8.6 percent vacant, per its profile. QuickFacts shows 55.1 percent of homes owner occupied and a median owner home value of $195,400, which Census Reporter also lists.

Quick checks before you call

Three checks take about 20 minutes and tell you whether to call: watch the meter with everything off, dye test each toilet, and walk the line from the curb to the house. If something is spraying, close the main valve first.

1. Turn off every faucet, appliance and ice maker. Watch the meter or its leak indicator for 15 minutes.
2. Put a few drops of food coloring in each toilet tank. Color in the bowl within 10 minutes means a leak, per the EPA.
3. Walk from the curb to the foundation looking for soft ground, a green stripe or a damp patch by the wall.
4. Check under sinks, behind the washer and around the water heater.
5. If water is actively spraying, close the main shutoff and call us any hour.

If the meter is still and every toilet passes, the higher bill may be usage or a meter question for the Authority rather than a leak.

Leak Detection Services in Pottstown, PA

Every leak detection service below is available in Pottstown, 24 hours a day. Each link explains the testing method, what goes in the written report and the repair options; the sections above cover what is different about Pottstown. See the full services list for a side by side overview.

Frequently Asked Questions