Yard Water Clues

Notes for homeowners

Water showing up in the yard? Start with what changed.

Was it wet before the sprinklers ran? Did the patch appear after rain? A few details about timing and location can help you explain the problem when you call your utility or a local professional.

A useful first check. These pages help you record what you see and decide who may be able to assess it.

Choose the closest observation

What changed first?

Select a card to see the most useful first check. If more than one fits, begin with the clearest timing clue.

Three places to trace

Simple schematic showing roof runoff, an irrigation line, and surface water collecting in a yard. It does not show the source of a real leak.

Illustrative pathways, not a property assessment.

Before you call

Four notes that make the next conversation easier.

  1. 01 Last rainfall and the time water appeared.
  2. 02 Sprinkler schedule and affected zone, if any.
  3. 03 Exact location, size and whether it grows.
  4. 04 Water-bill or utility leak alert changes.

A photograph and dates are useful. Do not dig to verify a suspected buried line.