By Stephen Jordan, CEO & Founder of SMJ Plumbing Services, Slidell, Louisiana
Howdy y’all,
Stephen Jordan here—CEO and founder of SMJ Plumbing Services, and a man who’s seen more than a few innocent gardening projects turn into full-blown water emergencies. It usually starts real wholesome: a shovel, a sunny afternoon, and plans to plant something pretty. Next thing you know, whoosh—you’ve accidentally installed a surprise geyser in your yard.
Believe it or not, hitting a water line while gardening is more common than you’d think. Many homes around Slidell have water lines running just a foot or two underground, especially older properties. All it takes is one enthusiastic dig, and suddenly you’re wondering why your flower bed sounds like it’s running a bath.
First things first—don’t panic. Shut off your main water valve as quick as you can. The faster the water stops, the less mess you’ll have to deal with. And while duct tape, flex seal, or a prayer might seem tempting, this isn’t the time for DIY heroics. Underground water lines need proper repairs to keep small damage from turning into big trouble later.
A cracked or punctured line can lead to soil erosion, foundation issues, sky-high water bills, and muddy yards that never quite dry out. And trust me—mud tracked through the house is how you lose arguments you didn’t even start.
At SMJ Plumbing Services, we handle these situations all the time. We’ll locate the damaged line, repair or replace it properly, and make sure everything’s buried and protected the right way. No judgment here—we’ve all underestimated a shovel at some point.
So if your weekend gardening turns into an unexpected water show, give us a holler. We’ll get things fixed up faster than you can say, “Well… that ain’t supposed to be there.”
—Stephen Jordan
SMJ Plumbing Services, Slidell, LA