One of our rental houses was previously on a community well with six other houses. We put in our own well six years ago. One person is still on the original well. The pipe runs across our backyard and down the street to her house.

Tenant called to tell us that there is flooding in the yard.Upon investigating, it appears that there is a leak in the well line where it crosses our property.

We contacted the neighbor by placing a note on her door and sending a letter with return receipt. She emailed to say she had the leak fixed last month. However, that was a different leak at the end of the street. We explained that and requested that she get the new leak repaired immediately. She has not responded and is now ignoring us.

Next step?

We already called the local municipality and they said it is not their problem - it's a civil issue.

Hire an attorney? Ok, but still don't think that will resolve anything quickly. Meanwhile, the yard is turning into a swamp.

Pay to get it repaired ourselves and then try to get money from the neighbor?

Turn off the power to the pump? That might get her attention! (It is an old pit well and we could climb down to shut off the power.)

Our tenants are being understanding so far, but I know they don't want a lake in their yard.

Any other ideas? When we were on the community well, this woman was very difficult - always late in paying her portion of the electrical bill and constantly avoiding notices.

You need to create a paper trail.

1) Proof of contacting the neighbor who is doing nothing.

You can have the police, a building inspector or some go with

you to the neighbor and tell her she must get it fixed now!

2) You can get an estimate from a plumbing/well contractor. If the pipe has had many leaks, it needs to be replaced. Also get an estimate to repair the damage to your yard.

3) You can protect your property either by court order or cap off the line so she will get no water. This can only be done after you put her on notice and she does nothing AND you property is at risk.

I've had a neighbor divert the natural flow of water from her back yard that ran down her driveway to the street -- instead onto my rental property. I gave her warnings. I contacted her son, a lawyer. They would do nothing. So I build a concrete wall along the property line on my side. And when it rained, all of the water from her yard went under her house, flooding her furnace and causing damage to her foundation.

That owner filed a claim with her insurance saying it was my fault. The law states here that you can not divert the natural flow of water. So when her insurance company filed a claim with my insurance company, I provided proof that I have no less than five conversations with the owner and two with her son. I sent letters, got a return receipt and a proof of mailing. I also posted a large notice on her door. So her insurance company finally denied her claim. She had to put but the natural flow of the water and do repairs to her house -- costing over $100,000.