It`s all done, as good as new and the contractors were a pleasure.
It was wear and tear rather than earthquake damage so I doubt I`ll get anything from the insurance. The other downside is because it`s wear and tear it could happen again in another place. If it does, the contractor would not want to undertake a similar repair but would advise replacing the whole system.
They found the stop tap, which is in the garage so at least I now know where it is. All previous plumbers have failed to find it and turned the water off at the meter on the pavement.
I can`t believe how tired I am from the worry of this. It wasn`t just the cost, it was seeing the water seeping out for nearly a week and getting reliable people to complete the repair . It was also a threat to feeling safe and secure in the home.
Thank you all for understanding.