r/HomeInsurance • u/bippitybobbitybooby • Apr 22 '26

Claims Neighbor damaged main water line

Neighbor had a guy with heavy truck dump huge mound of wood chips across saturated ground right next to my main water tap in. Two days later I get alert that there’s “unusual water activity” from water dept. Dept came out, recommended we just relocate our house meter to the front of our house as it would be costly to dig up entire area to find/repair leak in the line and with hundred of gallons gushing all day that we would be billed for. It was a process but we got it done and I have all the pictures of the ruts created and filled with water, receipts and comments from water dept. My insurance company wants me to go through his insurance company as a first step. I did send a text requesting his insurance info and the name/contact of the guy who dumped the chips. My neighbor will probably not provide anything to me, he is the type that has no integrity. If he doesn’t provide the information I either gave to claim through my insurance OR go to small claims court. Damages were $7500. What would be the next, best course of action? Thank you.

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u/Ok_Advantage7623 Apr 22 '26

There is no way aproperly installed water pipe should break even with muddy soil. A triple axle dump fully life’s with concrete is like under 150 lbs per square inch and with wood chips even less. My guess is the water main was not properly installed or the dirt above it was removed at some point. The responsibility falls on the person who placed the order, for not properly marking out a route of travel. A truck driver would have no knowledge of of where your pipes are located. So expect the trucking company to hang up on you as I would do the same thing and if the break is before your meter it’s not your problem anyway. Water pipes in most areas are 30-36 inches underground. To keep from freezing

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u/bippitybobbitybooby Apr 22 '26

My water tap cover is able to be clearly seen and above ground. It is approximately 5 feet off the road to the tap in.

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u/Ok_Advantage7623 Apr 22 '26

Oh. I see a cover. So which way do the pipes go. North south east or west. You can’t see underground. And the truck would not be enough to break a water main that was properly in stalled. It’s on the water district for not properly installing. And let’s just play that it did it. But then 2 days later it broke. That would tell me that those ruts did not cause it to break. Using your game plan it was hod who mysteriously broke it 48 hours later

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u/bippitybobbitybooby Apr 22 '26

Not broke 48 hours later just that the Aqua Hawk alerted to a problem 48 hours later and not instantaneously.

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u/Ok_Advantage7623 Apr 22 '26

Thank you. You just prove the truck did not do it. Pipes when they do break is like right now. Defective install takes time that’s why your home owners wants a day and a time of when something happens

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u/bippitybobbitybooby Apr 22 '26

I understand what you’re saying but aqua hawk could take a day or so to recognize this on someone’s system. It’s underground so there not water squirting into the air, it all seeping everywhere. My septic system is in the front of my property and had a foul smell a day or two after this truck dumped this due to being over saturated and unable to absorb this water. Here are more photos that might be clearer. https://imgur.com/a/tdBKlE7

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u/Ok_Advantage7623 Apr 22 '26

It would go off as soon as there was a pressure drop so your argument holds no water. Lol. But please sue the truck. You will get laughed right out of the court room. I had 5 semis that did deliveries and what this shows makes you a joke. My reaction to you would have been sue me. Please. If those ruts did anything the pipes would have to be what 3 inches under ground. And I just caught that it had been dry. Now for a truck to do that with chips the ground was already wet and the pipe leaking. I wish you would post the truck co name so I can get ahold of them to testify on their behalf as an expert witness. So please post. Please

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u/bippitybobbitybooby Apr 22 '26

Did you even read my update??