If I have a coolant leak, and it isn't at either of the hoses visible at the front, but there is coolant near the water pump, is it safe to say it is leaking from the water pump's gasket?

Is my only option then to replace the water pump and or the water pump gasket? Just wanting to be sure before I buy all the necessary parts and tools.

 

Also it may be worth noting, and I am not sure if it is related, but my car had a hard time starting ONCE after the heating problems started. Actually, I say hard time but it would NOT start until I opened my door and turned on the interior light. I don't really understand why that happened. I suspect it might be a bad alternator or maybe some of the coolant got on the alternator? I don't know.

 

Probably time for a water pump. The gasket doesn't usually leak. The shaft seal is what leaks and it comes out of a weep hole. You can probably spot the weep hole from below to verify.

 

I took it in to see a mechanic and you are right. That is what needed done.