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What to do if…
water is bubbling up from the ground in your garden or driveway

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Keep people, pets, and vehicles away from the wet area because the ground may be unstable. If you can reach your home’s main water shutoff safely and already know how to use it, close it to try to limit the flow, then contact your local water utility and your landlord or property manager if you rent.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t walk or drive over soft, cracked, or visibly sinking ground.
  • Don’t start digging to look for the leak.
  • Don’t enter standing water if electrical equipment, outlets, or wiring may be involved.
  • Don’t enter a flooded meter pit, force a valve, or try to operate a utility-owned or unfamiliar curb-side control.
  • Don’t delay contacting the water utility if the water is flowing quickly or is near a street, sidewalk, alley, or curb.

What to do now

  1. Keep the area clear. Move people, pets, and vehicles away from the bubbling water and any nearby soft, cracked, or sinking ground. Block off the affected part of a driveway if you can do that from a stable surface.
  2. Call 911 for immediate danger. Use 911 if anyone is at risk, the ground is rapidly sinking, water is creating a serious electrical hazard, or the leak is creating an immediate traffic danger.
  3. Close your home’s main water shutoff only if it is safe. Do this only if you already know where the shutoff is, can reach it without crossing wet or unstable ground, and know how to use it. This may limit the flow, but it may not stop water emerging from an outdoor service-line or utility-side leak. Do not try to operate other valves. If you rent, notify your landlord or property manager promptly.
  4. Check the water meter only if it is safely accessible. With all indoor and outdoor water use off, including faucets, appliances, and irrigation, look for a changing meter reading or moving flow indicator. A change suggests there may be an active leak. Skip this step if the meter area is flooded, unstable, or difficult to reach.
  5. Report the leak to your local water utility. Describe where the water is appearing, whether it is near the street or sidewalk, whether the flow is increasing, and whether you can see cracking or sinking. Ask what they want you to do next and whether they want you to contact a plumber.
  6. Take photos from a safe position. Photograph the bubbling point, the surrounding wet area, any cracking or sinking, and its position relative to the home, driveway, sidewalk, or curb.
  7. Contact 811 before any excavation. Before anyone digs, call 811 or use your state 811 center’s website. Follow the ticket instructions, wait the required time for responses, and confirm that utilities have responded before digging begins.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide who is responsible for the pipe before reporting the leak.
  • You do not need to dig test holes or trace the buried line now.
  • You do not need to compare repair quotes or make insurance decisions until the immediate leak and safety concerns are under control.

Important reassurance

You do not need to diagnose the leak yourself. Keeping away from unstable ground, trying your home’s water shutoff if that is safely possible, and reporting the problem are useful first steps.

Scope note

These are first steps only. Later decisions may need help from your water utility, landlord, plumber, insurer, or another appropriate specialist.

Important note

This is general information, not plumbing, utility, electrical, insurance, legal, or other professional advice. Prioritize distance and emergency services if there is an immediate risk to people.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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