Austin, TX
Water line leaks in Austin
Updated · Editorial team; not yet technically reviewed
Short answer
Austin Water owns and maintains the public side of the service line, under the curb and sidewalk to the meter box near the property line. Everything past the meter, the service line to the house and the plumbing inside, is the owner's. Report leaks on the city side to Austin Water Dispatch at 512-972-1000, any hour.
What's different in Austin
Austin Water maintains and repairs water mains; property owners are responsible for service lines past the meter and internal plumbing. [1]
The public-side service line runs under the curb, through the right-of-way and beneath the sidewalk, owned and maintained by Austin Water up to a ground-level meter box near the property line. [1]
Leaks not already reported can be called in to Austin Water Dispatch at 512-972-1000, 24 hours a day. [1]
Which side is leaking?
| Where you see water | Usually whose |
|---|---|
| Street, curb or sidewalk | Austin Water: call 512-972-1000 |
| Inside the meter box, before the meter | Austin Water |
| Yard between meter and house | Owner |
| Inside the house or under the slab | Owner |
Austin soils and pipe stress
East of MoPac, expansive Blackland clay swells and shrinks with rain and drought, which stresses service lines and slab plumbing; west, shallow soil over limestone makes digging slow. Both push toward pinpointing leaks before excavating; see leak detection and signs of a slab leak.
What Austin homeowners usually check next
- SymptomSigns of a hidden leak
- SymptomWater bill suddenly high
- SymptomNo water in the house
Common questions
Who owns the water line between the street and my Austin meter?
Austin Water, up to the meter box near the property line.
Who fixes a leak between my Austin meter and house?
The property owner; service lines past the meter are private.
What's Austin Water's leak number?
Austin Water Dispatch, 512-972-1000, 24/7.
Where is the water meter on an Austin property?
Usually in a ground-level box near the sidewalk, just before the property line.
Is a leak inside the Austin meter box mine?
If it's on the street side of the meter, report it to Austin Water.
Why do Austin water lines crack?
Expansive clay shrinks and swells with drought and rain, stressing buried pipe.
Is digging harder west of Austin?
Shallow soil over limestone makes excavation slower, so pinpointing the leak first matters.
Should I report a leak someone else already reported?
Austin asks for reports of leaks that haven't already been reported.
Can a slab leak be on Austin Water's side?
No. Plumbing under your slab is past the meter and private.
Does Austin Water repair water mains?
Yes, mains are Austin Water's to maintain and repair.
More plumbing help in Austin
- Backflow Testing in AustinAustin Water's backflow testing rules: who may test, the 5-day report deadline, online filing, and the irrigation rebates that pair with an upgrade.
- Water Line Repair: the full guideSigns the water service line from the meter to your house is leaking, who owns it, repair vs. replacement, lead lines, and trenchless options.
- Plumbing in AustinLocal water, housing and climate conditions, and the calls Austin homes need most.
How other cities handle it
- 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.
- Lead service line replacement in MilwaukeeHow Milwaukee's lead service line rules work: when full replacement is required, what homeowners pay, how to look up your address, and what to do while you wait.
- Lead service line replacement in CincinnatiHow Greater Cincinnati Water Works replaces private lead service lines: who pays, who gets priority, how long the program runs, and how to get started.
- Lead service line replacement in PittsburghPittsburgh Water lead line programs: neighborhood replacements, free income-qualified replacement, plumber reimbursement, and how to apply.
- Lead service line replacement in BostonHow Boston Water and Sewer Commission's free lead service replacement works: free inspection, free replacement, how to check your address, and what to expect.
- Lead service line replacement in ClevelandWhen Cleveland Water replaces your side of a lead line for free, how galvanized pipe is handled, yearly targets, and what to do next.
- Lead service line replacement in St. LouisSt. Louis lead service lines: the city's inventory, why rates can't pay for the private side, grant and loan help, and what owners can do now.
- Lead service line replacement in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia lead service lines: owner responsibility, free replacement during main work, the free ZIP-code pilot, and 0% HELP loans.
- Water and sewer service line repair in New York CityNYC owners own their water and sewer service lines: DEP 3-day and 30-day notices, the licensed master plumber rule, permits and the $1,000 shutoff fee.
- Water and sewer line repair in New OrleansWho pays for water and sewer service connections in New Orleans: Sewerage and Water Board rules, owner responsibility on post-1954 lots, and Board-caused damage.
- Water service line repair in Kansas CityKC Water service line rules: the City maintains mains to the curb box, owners repair from the curb stop to the house under Ordinance 78-22, and warranty options.
- Lead water service line replacement in Washington, DCLead service lines in Washington, DC: who pays for each side, Block-by-Block replacement of the private side at no cost, and what to do before your block comes up.
- Lead service line replacement in ProvidenceLead service lines in Providence: Providence Water's free private-side replacement for eligible customers, 10-year 0% loans, and the free public-side match.
- Lead service line replacement in Des MoinesLead service lines in Des Moines: Des Moines Water Works' free replacement funded by a $52.6M state loan, the Drake first phase, and how to check your line.
- Water line leaks in Phoenix: the meter decides who paysWater line leaks in Phoenix: the city repairs the street side of the meter, the owner the rest, and city code makes customers pay for water lost past the meter.
- Water and sewer service lines in CharlotteCharlotte water and sewer service lines: Charlotte Water handles mains to the curb, owners handle the laterals from curb to home, and what that means for leaks.
- Water service line leaks in BuffaloBuffalo water service lines: the line from the city main to the house is private, the owner keeps up the curb box and valve, and what Buffalo Water will do for free.
- Lead service lines in Newark after the replacement programNewark replaced its 18,720-plus lead service lines at no cost to residents, funded by city and Essex County bonds. What's left to check in an older Newark home.
- Lead service line replacement in Jersey CityJersey City's Lead Free JC: about 16,000 lead lines to replace by June 2031 at no direct cost, JCMUA contractors or your own with a credit, and the inventory lookup.
- Water service line repair in SeattleSeattle water lines: owners install and maintain the private line from the city union to the house, and how SPU's leak adjustments treat city-side and.
- Water service lines in Fort WorthFort Worth service lines: the city owns the line to and including the meter, owners own the rest, the lead inventory shows no lead lines.
- Houston water service lines: the inventory and 'unknown material' lettersHouston's service line inventory: no lead lines found so far, most lines still listed as unknown, the notices sent to customers, and how to check yours.
- Dallas water service lines and the service line inventoryDallas Water Utilities' service line inventory: how materials were identified, letters to 225,000 unknown lines, and the GIS lookup.
- Water service lines in Los Angeles: no lead foundLADWP's service line inventory found no lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement lines, including customer-owned ones. What that means for LA water line repairs.
- Water service lines in San Antonio: SAWS inventory and free inspectionsSAWS's service line inventory: over half of 600,000 lines unidentified, yearly letters to unknown, lead or galvanized lines, and free inspections for pre-1989 homes.
Sources (1)
- Austin Water, Water leaks · checked 2026-10-03