AT&T Destroyed my water main and plumbing

AT&T came to bury our wire. Ripped out my water main on Thursday 5/16/24 and it is now Sunday 5/19/24 with still no resolution. Plumber says an entire new line needs to be done through my attic and down my walls. 

How could a contractor with a hand shovel rip out your Main water line? It would appear that your Main water line was not installed to code. General specs call for installation of not less than 6 inches (152 mm) below the frost line and not less than 12 inches (305 mm) below grade. How does that map up to your attic and down your walls?

More specific details would help. Please note that this is a public forum to discuss topics and not a formal AT&T Support Tool.

Dave

They used a ditchwitch to dig the trench. The trench was over 24’ long. No they did not do it by shovel? 

When they ripped out the line it blew sediment back into my house under my concrete slabs. They can’t even run a temp line. 

I understand this is a public forum to discuss topics. I’m here to discuss this since no one at AT&T wants to help. 

Thanks. 

The length of the trench is not important, how deep was your Main water line? Anything below 1-2 inches by and normally requires a marking service like 811 to mark all utilities before any digging is performed.

The contractor burying your Fiber drop is required to be licensed and bonded to work in your local area. First thing tomorrow call your local building office, city or county and they will be able to provide you a direct contact for the Contractor.

I am still stuck on how you get from underground to the attic and down your walls.

Dave

They were out here with digsafe 2 weeks ago marking up my yard. I’m not really sure how they screwed this up. The pipes are 1 1/2- 2’ in the ground. The house was build in 02’. 

I’m not sure how you’re confused but I’ll try to explain again. My original lines go around the right side of my house but they are destroyed. They are backed up under my concrete slab therefore they cannot be replaced. The plumber is saying the only way to now get water to my fixtures to run a complete new line in the opposite direction, up through my attic since they can’t go under my house, down my walls to all my fixtures. 

I can see how if your main water line was cut the water pressure could blow dirt back into the line to the house as it would no longer be under pressure. I don't buy your plumbers theory that everything has to be redone and refeed from a different direction. Unless this was cut right up against the slab, so they have no access to clean pipe to repair it. The existing lines can be back flushed to clean them out prior to repairing the main line. If calling 800-288-2020 and saying property damage, doesn't get you any satisfaction file an FCC complaint, and do get a second opinion on repairs, they don't have to destroy your house to repair it. 

They were out here with digsafe 2 weeks ago marking up my yard. I’m not really sure how they screwed this up. The pipes are 1 1/2- 2’ in the ground. 

So you should have Blue paint / flags marking the Water line from the water meter or the utility easement to the exterior wall.

They are backed up under my concrete slab therefore they cannot be replaced. The plumber is saying the only way to now get water to my fixtures to run a complete new line in the opposite direction, up through my attic since they can’t go under my house...

You might get input from another plumber in your area. Many professional plumbers don't require re-routing just for an exterior water line repair. They can clear the line if truly blocked and make a trench repair in the yard. There should only be (1) main water line and not multiple water lines into your foundation.

Dave

So, you're saying more than just your main line was cut? Never heard of feeder lines off a main line being outside the slab. They're either under the slab or through the attic. 

@spoom2 

... never heard of feeder lines off a main line being outside the slab. They're either under the slab or through the attic. 

It really sounds like a plumber trying to make major money by rerouting the water supply line and refeeding all interior fixtures. A main supply line is always repairable by trenching outside and repairing the main line as long as the break is not in the Slab.

Here they use a Fiber optic camera and scope the line and use suction and back pressure to clear any blockages. I still can't figure out how the contractor hit a marked utility line. There must be more to this story.

Dave

I know for sure I need a second opinion but they are saying they don’t have someone to call (at&t). They told me to call my own plumber, pay them out of pocket and be reimbursed… I’m 25 in my first house- I can’t afford that. I wish I could show you all the pictures, part of the problem is my original lines for sure. There was on my life, 2 water lines and my plumber said in his 30 years he’s seen nothing like it. I’m for sure that there was no irrigation on property either. I’m no expert but I know that wasn’t right at all. 

thanks for the info, I appreciate it 

I wouldn't think a plumber would charge you for a bid on a job or an estimate of cost. You can post pictures by using the image icon on the bottom, by the thing that looks kind'a like a paper clip. Got a handy friend or relative that can look at it?