‘Rain or shine, it’s nonstop’: Mystery water leak plagues Summit couple

Gerard and Penelope Garcia say that water has been running into the basement of their Summit home for years and that the leak has gotten worse over the last few months.

News 12 Staff

Mar 21, 2019, 10:04 PM

Updated 1,855 days ago

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‘Rain or shine, it’s nonstop’: Mystery water leak plagues Summit couple
A mystery water leak has a Union County couple at their wit's end.
Gerard and Penelope Garcia say that water has been running into the basement of their Summit home for years and that the leak has gotten worse over the last few months.
“24/7, rain or shine. Doesn’t make any difference. It’s nonstop,” says Gerard.
The Garcias say that no one, not American Water or the city of Summit or private experts have been able to figure out where the water is coming from or how to stop it. Two sump pumps are constantly pumping water out of the basement and out on to the street.
"We just have been pleading - literally using that word – ‘Somebody, find the source of this water and try to stop it,’” Penelope says.
The Garcias bought the home a few years ago as a retirement home. They say that the previous owners had installed a sump pump and that they added a second one. They say that the running water has gotten worse since the fall.
“Come November, it started at the rate it's at right now,” says Penelope.
The Garcias say that 2.5 gallons of water come out of the home every minute. They say that they are fearful that the sump pumps will fail and that the water will flood their home.
“We’re retired. This is our savings, our investment,” says Penelope. “We want the water stopped. It’s not coming from our property. We don't know where it's coming from."
American Water representatives tell News 12 New Jersey that they have determined through testing that the water is not coming from their pipes, so they say that there isn't anything they can do.
The mayor of Summit says the town is doing more inspections, with the goal of getting information to find a solution or some answers about what to do next.


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