Plumbing service
Water line repair
Short answer
The water service line carries water from the meter or curb stop to your house. In most places the homeowner owns this line. Leaks show up as a meter that moves with everything off, wet or sunken ground along the line's path, or a drop in pressure. It's repaired at the leak or replaced, often by trenchless boring.
Updated · Editorial team; not yet technically reviewed
Water Line Repair at a glance
- Who owns it
- Usually the owner from the meter or curb stop to the house; check with your utility.
- Signs of a leak
- Meter moves with the main valve closed, soggy yard, pressure drop, higher bill.
- Repair options
- Spot repair at the leak, full replacement by trench, or trenchless boring or pulling.
- Lead lines
- Water utilities now keep service line inventories. Check yours.
Confirming a service line leak
Turn off every fixture and watch the meter's leak indicator. If it moves, close the main shutoff at the house. If the meter still moves with the house valve closed, the leak is between the meter and the house, which is the service line. The leak detection page covers the meter test in detail. A plumber can then pinpoint the spot acoustically or with tracer gas.
Repair or replace
| Option | Fits when | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | One leak on otherwise sound pipe | Least digging |
| Open-trench replacement | Old or failing line; clear path | Must meet frost depth where you live |
| Trenchless (boring or pulling) | Line runs under driveways, walks or landscaping | Small pits at each end |
Service line materials, including lead
Service lines may be copper, plastic (PE or PEX), galvanized steel, or in some older homes, lead. Under federal rules, water systems must maintain and publish inventories of service line materials, and many are replacing lead lines. Your utility can tell you what's recorded for your address. If a line is lead or galvanized, ask about coordinated replacement programs before paying for a repair.
Code points for a new line
- Buried below the local frost depth, which varies widely from the South to northern states.
- Correctly sized for the house's fixture demand and distance.
- Permit and inspection, plus a utility connection permit if work touches the curb stop or meter.
- 811 utility locates before digging.
What affects the cost
- Length of the line from the meter to the house
- Depth, which is set by local frost depth and is much deeper in northern states
- Whether it runs under a driveway, walkway or mature landscaping
- Trenchless boring vs. open trench
- Permits, utility connection fees and restoration of lawn or paving
We don't publish prices; they vary by market. Get a written quote first.
Problems that lead to water line repair
- Signs of a hidden leakThe signs of a leak you can't see, the water meter test that confirms it in minutes, and how to narrow it to a toilet, a wall, the slab or the yard.
- Water bill suddenly highWhat makes a water bill jump: running toilets, irrigation, hidden leaks, a billing estimate or a rate change. How to sort them out in under an hour.
- No water in the houseWhy water stops at every faucet: utility outages and main breaks, a closed valve, frozen pipes, a well pump failure or an unpaid shutoff. How to tell which.
Common questions
Can a water service line be replaced without digging up the yard?
Often, yes. Trenchless boring or pulling methods need only small pits at each end, which helps when the line runs under a driveway or landscaping.
Is the water line from the meter to my house my responsibility?
In most US water systems, yes. The utility typically owns the main and the meter, and the homeowner owns the service line to the house. Confirm with your water utility.
How do I know if my service line is lead?
Check your water utility's service line inventory, or look where the line enters the house: lead is dull gray, soft, and scratches to a shiny silver color. A plumber can confirm.
City programs for water line repair
- Lead service line replacement in ChicagoHow lead water service line replacement works in Chicago: free and fee-waived city programs, who qualifies, what state law requires, and what the job involves.
- Lead service line replacement in DetroitHow Detroit and Michigan law handle lead water service line replacement: who pays, full-line requirements, timelines, and what homeowners should do meanwhile.
- Lead service line replacement in DenverHow Denver Water replaces customer-owned lead service lines with copper at no direct cost, which homes are most likely affected, and what to do while you wait.