Staff photo by Clay Schuldt KayLeigh Maurer stands in her yard next to the flags and blue striping marking the water line that will need to be replaced.

NEW ULM– A few weeks ago, KayLiegh Maurer return to her home on South Washington Street for lunch and learned a leak had been detected in the water main leading to her house.

Maurer learned this information, not from any visible sign of a leak, but from employees of the Westrum Leak Detection Company. This company was working for the New Ulm Water Department, using the latest leak detection correlation technology to pinpoint suspected leakage. This study was done in conjunction with the hydrant flushing conducted around New Ulm. The leak detection involved using sound to listen for potential leaks at hydrants.

In all, 14 leaks were detected through this method in New Ulm. Maurer learned on her lunch break that one of these leaks was on her property. She was also informed city regulations require that unless the leak was fixed in 10 days, water to the property would be shut off.

This was a lot of information for Maurer to take in during a lunch break. One of her first calls was to her insurance company. Fortunately, her policy included a deductible for water line repair. This was great news since a quote Maurer obtain placed the cost was around $5,750.

However, before insurance would cut a check, documentation of the leak was required. This is where things got a bit complicated.

Maurer attempted to obtain documentation about the leak from the water department, but utilities were unable to provide documentation.

New Ulm Utilities Director Kris Manderfeld later explained part of the problem was a miscommunication. Since the leak was detected by a consulting company and not regular utility workers, the city could not provide a report. Westrum Leak Detection Company would need to provide the city with the report and then provide it to Maurer.

Part of the concern was this process would take longer than 10 days after which her water would be shut off.

Manderfeld gave assurances that the city would not shut the water off to the property. Maurer was told as long as she was working with the city to fix the issue, the water would stay on.

Manderfeld the utilities do have regulations to enforce repairs, but in general, the city will not shut the water off for a leak. Especially since 10 days is usually not enough to make repairs. Water service regulations do require owners to repair services if leaks are detected, but water shutoff is not the penalty. Generally, customers are only charged for the daily rate of water lost.

A brief copy of Westrum Leak Detection’s report was emailed to Maurer on Thursday. Maurer believed this report would be sufficient for her insurance company.

Hydrant flushing and leak detection are a necessity in New Ulm. Many leaks cannot be visibly detected. The leaks are sometimes small and the water might not come to the surface, depending on the soil. These types of leaks can be caused by ground shifting from the seasonal freeze and thaw.

Manderfeld confirmed 14 leaks were detected this year, but she could not say if this was higher than average. Less than half of the leaks detected were on customer service lines. Most were identified on city property.

Maurer’s property was one of the few homeowners in New Ulm to have a leak identified. She was also the only homeowner to request documentation, but Manderfeld confirmed Maurer was in her right to request it. Any residents facing a similar water line repair are advised to do the same.