Who Owns Which Part of the Water Line in Columbus?
The short answer
It depends on where the break is. A water service runs from the city's main through a curb stop and the service line to the meter and the house piping. The City of Columbus sets where its responsibility ends and the property owner's begins, so confirm the boundary with City of Columbus Water & Power before work starts.
The parts of a water service
- 1 The water main: the public pipe under the street.
- 2 The connection from the main to the service line.
- 3 The curb stop: a shutoff valve, usually near the property line, reached through a curb box.
- 4 The service line: the buried pipe from the curb stop to the house.
- 5 The meter and the main shutoff where the line enters the house.
- 6 The house piping beyond the meter.
Why the location of the break matters
Responsibility for a repair depends on which part has failed. The city decides where its side ends. We don't give a general rule here, because getting it wrong could send you to the wrong party for the repair.
If the problem turns out to be on your side of the line, we can assess it and explain the repair options.
Before work starts
- Contact City of Columbus Water & Power to confirm where your responsibility begins.
- If the line is lead or galvanized, the Columbus full-replacement rule applies.
- Ask whether the work needs a street or right-of-way permit. We pull the required permits for our work.
Outside Columbus
Each community sets its own rules. If you're in one of the suburbs we serve, check with that community's water provider.
Services on this topic
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