Short answer: the water service line is the pipe from the main in the street to your house. A failing one usually shows up as ground that stays wet when it has no reason to, a water bill that jumped without explanation, or pressure that has slowly faded. Whether it needs a repair or a full replacement depends on why it failed.
Most people find out they own the water service the day it fails. A service line leak underground makes no sound, and it often does not produce a pressure complaint worth calling about. That is why the signs below matter.
Signs the service line may be failing
- Wet ground with no reason. One area of the yard stays soft through a dry spell while everything around it dries out. This is the most reliable sign.
- A bill that jumped. A water bill that rose without a change in use is worth checking against the line.
- Pressure that has faded. Pressure that has fallen off gradually, rather than suddenly.
- Greener grass in one strip. A band of grass that is noticeably greener than the rest can follow the path of a leak.
- Snow or frost that will not form. In winter, an area that stays clear of snow or frost while the rest of the yard does not.
A wet spot in the yard can have three different causes: the water line, a septic system, or groundwater. Our article on wet spots that never dry walks through how to tell them apart. We locate the leak before opening the ground, so you are not paying to dig up a guess.
Repair or replace
The question is why the line failed. A line that failed for a specific reason, such as dig damage or one bad section, can often be repaired. A line that failed because of what it is, such as an old line, an unrecorded or wrong material, or a pipe that was never bedded properly, will fail again. The conditions that caused the failure have not gone anywhere. Our copper vs poly comparison covers the materials side.
What the job involves
Water service lines in our area are standard at 42 inches of cover, and we dig the trench to at least 46 inches so there is a sand bed under the pipe to keep it off sharp stone. Your water utility sets the required depth for your address, so confirm it with them.
Under a driveway, the line is often bored rather than dug. A pneumatic missile can shoot 45 to 48 feet in one pass, and a directional drill reaches further. An open cut is needed if there is an existing utility in the path, since New Jersey requires a marked line to be exposed by hand, or if a bore meets rock and rides up. We price the open cut as a separate line item before starting.
Plumbing work in New Jersey has to be done by someone licensed to do it, with one exception for a homeowner working on their own single-family home. The digging is excavation work and the connection is plumbing work, so we bring in a licensed plumber and work alongside them.
Most residential services are a one to two day job once the markout is back. New Jersey's One Call system requires notice not less than three business days and not more than ten before excavation, and business days exclude weekends and holidays.
For cost, see our water service replacement cost page. If you think your line may be lead or galvanized, see lead service line replacement and the NJ water line survey article.
Common questions
Who owns the water line from the street to the house? Usually the homeowner. The pipe from the main to your house is your property and your bill when it fails. Where responsibility changes hands is set by your municipality or water utility, so it varies. Some condo and HOA communities carry it through the association, so check the governing documents.
Can you replace a water line without digging up my driveway? Often yes, by boring underneath. An open cut is needed if there is an existing utility in the path or the bore meets rock.
Do I need a plumber or an excavator? Both. The digging is excavation and the connection is plumbing, and New Jersey requires licensed plumbing work. We bring in a licensed plumber.
How deep does a water service line have to be in NJ? The standard we build to is 42 inches to the pipe, and we dig to at least 46 inches for a sand bed. Your water utility sets the required depth for your address.
Should I repair the leak or replace the whole line? Repair if the line failed for a specific reason, such as dig damage or one bad section. Replace if it failed because of its age, its material, or how it was installed, since those conditions will cause the next failure.
Still not sure how this applies to your property? That is what a free on-site estimate is for. Call 862-268-2510 or tell us what is going on, and we will give you a straight answer, including when the answer is that you do not need us.
