In the heart of St. Petersburg, Florida, where charming brick roads and oak-lined neighborhoods meet the turquoise waters of Tampa Bay, one homeowner recently found themselves facing a nightmare: a water bill showing 290,000 gallons of usage in just over a month. 😱
They weren’t overwatering their lawn in Snell Isle, weren’t filling up a backyard pool in Jungle Terrace, and weren’t hosting any wild water slide parties in Historic Kenwood. So what happened?
They got a visit from the city — a printed notice taped to their door confirmed what they feared: their water meter was racing, but there was no sign of a leak inside the home.
Lost in the Jungle… Literally 🌿🌊
Desperate for answers and not wanting to gamble thousands of dollars on guesswork, the homeowner called I Find Leaks — the highest-rated leak detection company in Pinellas County, serving all of St. Pete and nearby neighborhoods like Shore Acres, Allendale, Old Northeast, and Greater Pinellas Point.
When Jeremy, one of our top techs, arrived at the property near Crescent Lake Park, things got interesting fast.
Outside the home, Jeremy immediately noticed a strange gray-painted PVC pipe with a brass valve disappearing into the ground. Nobody in the house knew what it was for. Suspicious? Very.
But what really shocked us was what we found in the backyard…
Behind the house was a scene straight out of a jungle safari — a homemade wooden bridge stretching over a gully surrounded by thick Florida foliage. It felt more like Costa Rica than Central Avenue.
Huge oak trees with branches touching the ground, dead limbs scattered everywhere, and an ecosystem of plants so overgrown you couldn’t see more than five feet ahead.
The further Jeremy walked, the deeper into the jungle he went — navigating through elephant ear plants the size of umbrellas and deck pieces hidden under vines.
Among the mess sat an old chair and a pile of random boards leaning against a black tarp. You’d never expect a water leak to be hiding in a place like this. But Jeremy had a hunch.
Using pressure testing, years of experience, and tools that most plumbers don’t even carry, he honed in on a small spot surrounded by roots and overgrowth. Then he moved a single piece of wood…
Boom. 💥 Water sprayed straight up from the ground. The leak had been found.
Tightly wrapped in roots and buried beneath layers of plant matter, this pipe was silently gushing water underground. And the homeowner? Completely unaware — until now.
The Bigger Problem in St. Petersburg 🚨
This story isn’t unique. Dozens of homes across St. Pete Beach, Gulfport, Treasure Island, and even into South Pasadena are experiencing high utility bills with no clear explanation.
Bay News 9 recently covered the trend, citing the growing number of residents caught off guard by bills in the thousands.
The truth? Many of these homeowners don’t have access to the right kind of help. They call restoration companies, plumbers, or even roofers — but very few have the experience and tech to locate a hidden slab or underground leak without tearing up the property.
At I Find Leaks, that’s exactly what we do — and only what we do. We’ve worked with homes near Tropicana Field, condos in Downtown St. Pete, and waterfront estates in Coquina Key. Whether it’s under concrete, hidden in irrigation lines, or buried in root systems, we find it.
Not sure if you have a leak? Check out our guide for high water bills with no leaks — it helps homeowners understand when it’s worth calling us.
And if you’re not ready to book yet but want more help, visit our High Water Bill Help page or contact the city here to submit documentation using the Pinellas County water bill dispute form.
Final Thoughts + How to Get Help ✅
This homeowner could’ve easily spent $5,000+ on excavation, guesswork, and wasted time. Instead, they got the job done fast, with surgical accuracy, and saved themselves from an even bigger disaster.
If your bill has spiked and you’re not sure why, don’t wait.
📱 Call or Text I Find Leaks at 727-409-2815
🌐 Or visit us online at ifindleaks.com
We have over 500 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google Reviews and are trusted across Pinellas County for one reason:
We find leaks. And we don’t stop until we do.
