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North Seattle plumbing / guide 18

Rainwater or plumbing leak in North Seattle: what to record

Water that appears during rain may come from exterior drainage, an opening, a private drain, or plumbing that happened to be used at the same time. Weather timing narrows the record but does not establish the route.

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Observe first. Let the responsible party identify the cause.
Season and setting

SPU distinguishes public drainage from private-property drainage. Public ponding, street flow, and a wet interior surface may require different contacts and documentation.

Decision path

Record rainfall timing, the first visible indoor or outdoor point, nearby roof or surface flow, fixture and appliance use, and whether water continues after the weather changes.

Prepare for the visit

Stay away from unstable slopes, flooded electrical areas, contaminated water, roofs, and unsafe crawlspaces. Do not redirect water onto another property.

What to observe now

Five details that make this plumbing question clearer

Keep the notes factual. A visible clue can direct an inspection without proving what is hidden.

01

Rain clock

Write when precipitation began, intensified, eased, and ended relative to the first water.

02

Entry edge

Mark the earliest visible interior or exterior wet point from a safe location.

03

Household use

List showers, toilets, sinks, laundry, or dishwashing active in the same window.

04

Public surface

Photograph street ponding or a blocked public inlet only when safely accessible.

05

Dry-weather check

Record whether the condition returns without rain instead of forcing a new test.

Responsibility

Keep household, provider, and public decisions separate

Closeout record

Keep enough detail for the next household decision

Keep the provider's plumbing finding, drainage assessment, SPU reference, drying boundary, repair scope, and exterior restoration as separate closeout lines.

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Current primary sources

Check the official page before acting

Public procedures and status can change. Use the source that owns the decision.

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