Underground Water Leak Signs Lanzarote | Leakbusters

Here at Leakbusters Lanzarote, our team of leak detection specialists shares their expertise.

Why Underground Leaks Behave Differently on Volcanic Terrain

Lanzarote's volcanic foundation creates unique conditions for both causing and hiding underground water leaks. Unlike clay or sandy soils found elsewhere, our island's basalt and lapilli (picón) layers drain and disperse water in unpredictable ways.

Understanding how leaks behave beneath our terrain helps you spot problems faster and avoid the expensive damage that prolonged underground water loss creates.

The Warning Signs Specific to Lanzarote Properties

Unexplained Wet Areas in Dry Ground

Our island receives barely 112mm of rainfall annually. When you find persistently damp or muddy patches in your garden during months without rain, water is coming from somewhere.

Pay particular attention to:

Areas near the property boundary where the main supply line enters your land. These pipes, often installed during original construction, experience the most pressure and ground movement stress.

Sections around swimming pools where circulation pipes run beneath paving or landscaping. Pool plumbing operates under higher pressure than domestic supply, making failures more dramatic.

Zones below terraces and patios where hidden drain pipes or irrigation lines may have cracked.

Changes in Vegetation Patterns

Lanzarote's typical garden plants — oleanders, palm species, and native succulents — are adapted to minimal water. When one section of your garden appears notably greener or more lush than surroundings, investigate why.

This effect is particularly obvious in picón-covered areas where moisture shouldn't accumulate. A leak nearby keeps roots continuously supplied, creating an oasis effect that's hard to miss once you're looking for it.

Conversely, areas immediately above a leak may show:

Root rot in plants that prefer dry conditions

Mineral deposits appearing at the surface

Unusual algae or moss growth in normally arid spots

The Midnight Meter Method

This simple test reveals hidden consumption:

Ensure all water-using appliances are off (including pool pumps, ice makers, irrigation)

Record your meter reading precisely, including any small dials

Wait 2-3 hours without any water use

Read the meter again

Any movement indicates water flowing somewhere in your system. For properties with pools, repeat the test with the pool isolated to determine whether domestic or pool plumbing is responsible.

Pressure Variations

Underground pipe failures rarely announce themselves dramatically. More often, you'll notice:

Gradual pressure reduction across all fixtures, suggesting a significant breach in the main supply line.

Intermittent pressure drops that worsen during peak usage times, indicating a pipe that's partially failed.

Air spurting from taps when first opened, showing that air is entering the system through a breach.

Sound Evidence

Lanzarote nights are quiet. Use this to your advantage:

Walk your property after midnight when background noise disappears. Listen for:

Hissing sounds near ground level

Rushing water beneath hard surfaces

Bubbling or gurgling in areas without visible water features

These sounds travel surprisingly well through volcanic rock, sometimes making leaks audible metres from their actual location.

Structural Indicators

Long-term underground leaks undermine building foundations and hardscaping. Watch for:

Paving settlement: Flagstones or tiles that have suddenly dropped, creating trip hazards or pooling points.

Wall cracking: New fractures in boundary walls or building structures, particularly in diagonal patterns.

Door and window alignment: Frames that have begun sticking or showing uneven gaps.

Water escaping underground washes away the fine volcanic particles that support structures, causing gradual subsidence that accelerates as voids grow.

Pool-Specific Underground Signs

Pools with underground plumbing present additional monitoring points:

Suction-side failures (between pool and pump) may draw air into the system, causing pump priming problems, cavitation noises, or visible bubbles from return jets.

Pressure-side failures (after the pump) force water out under pressure, often creating distinct wet zones between equipment pad and pool.

Main drain and skimmer lines running beneath decking deserve particular attention, as they're often the first to fail on older installations.

Why Lanzarote Properties Face Higher Risk

Geological Reality

Our volcanic substrate presents challenges that mainland construction rarely encounters:

Ground movement: Though major seismic events are rare, micro-shifts in volcanic terrain create cumulative stress on rigid pipe materials.

Sharp substrate: Broken basalt and consolidated ash contain edges that abrade pipe surfaces over decades.

Thermal expansion: Lanzarote's intense sun heats exposed ground significantly during summer days, then cools substantially at night. Pipes buried in this zone experience constant expansion and contraction.

Construction Era Factors

Properties built during the development boom (1975-1995) commonly feature:

Galvanised steel pipes that corrode from the inside, eventually perforating.

Rigid PVC that becomes brittle with age and temperature cycling.

Minimal bedding material around pipes, leaving them in direct contact with abrasive volcanic material.

Insufficient thrust blocks at directional changes, allowing joints to gradually separate.

Taking Action

Immediate Steps

If you identify potential underground leak signs:

Document everything with photographs, noting dates

Perform the midnight meter test multiple times for consistency

Monitor any wet areas to see if they expand

Check your most recent water bills for consumption trends

When Professional Detection Becomes Essential

Contact a leak detection specialist when:

Meter tests confirm unexplained water flow

Wet areas persist despite no obvious source

Water bills have increased across consecutive periods

You notice any foundation or structural changes

Modern Detection Methods

Professional underground leak detection employs:

Acoustic correlation: Sensors placed at access points detect and triangulate the sound of escaping water, pinpointing breaks to within centimetres.

Ground-penetrating radar: Creates subsurface images showing voids, moisture concentrations, and pipe locations.

Tracer gas: Hydrogen-nitrogen mixtures introduced into pipes escape through any breach and rise to the surface where sensitive detectors locate them.

Thermal imaging: Surface temperature variations can indicate moisture presence, particularly during temperature transitions at dawn and dusk.

These technologies locate leaks without excavation, allowing targeted repair rather than exploratory digging.

Protection Strategy

For Lanzarote property owners, proactive monitoring prevents costly surprises:

Check meter readings monthly, comparing to previous years

Walk your property regularly, looking for vegetation changes or wet spots

Listen for unusual sounds during quiet hours

Schedule professional plumbing inspections every 3-5 years for properties over 20 years old

Underground leaks worsen over time. Small breaches become large ones, minor water waste becomes major expense, and gradual ground erosion becomes structural damage. Early detection and repair saves both money and property value.