Zz Yzx wrote:

Hi all;

I just discovered a leak in my water service lateral between the meter
and the shut-0ff valve where the pipe enters the house. It looks like
the buried pipe makes a straight shot from the meter to the valve, as
the leak is right where you'd expect if so. It'sa fair-sized leak
too, probably 1 or 1.5 gallons per minute.

BUT, the soil around the leak is saturated with water, and the holes
I've dug to expose the pipe are full of muddy water with nowhere to
drain. I can't find the pipe or be exactly sure where the leak is.

I've called some plumbers but none are immediately available. Is
there anyway to find the pipe and leak aside from digging up the whole
planter?

Thanks a heap,
-Zz

A pump is really, really useful. Ideally a "trash pump", but with some
screaning you could fake it with a sump pump. (make sure you have a gfci
somewhere in the circuit).
Rent a pump if you don't have or want to buy one.

Once you find the leak, you most likely will have to shut off the
water to repair it.