Where does homeowner’s responsibility start regarding water from city?
Hello – I have a depression in the concrete on the street in front of my house. I was told that it’s not in danger of caving in anytime soon but at some point in the future it could be. I called the city and they sent someone out and he said that it is possible that it is my responsibility to get this fixed and pay for it. The man that came out (a very nice person btw) indicated that if the cause of the depression is from water line on my property and not from the main line, it is my responsibility. In other words, only the main line would be covered by the city. He said that he’ll be sending out a colleague to send in a scope to take pictures to see what the cause is. I’m reading “For Pros by Pros Plumbing”. This book is copyrighted 2006 so perhaps what I’m about to quote has changed since then, but this hasn’t been an easy thing for me to obtain information on in other locations (b/c I’m a major newbie with this). In the book it indicates that “the responsibility of the owner starts on the house side of the water meter. The owner must arrange to fix – and pay for – any repairs to this side of the water system”. It shows a drawing of the main water line at street connected to a water meter, indicating that this is the utility’s responsibility, and then the water line to the house and to the main water shutoff is the home owner’s responsibility. The link below hopefully shows what I’m referring to. https://books.google.com/books?id=FoYCFHHK_UgC&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=%22the+responsibility+of+the+owner+starts+on+the+house+side+of+the+water+meter%22&source=bl&ots=e-BWE1z3RB&sig=15ZSTlY5HA44y_RBuGypfEEiU_M&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiW0IXA2OfMAhVEnRoKHZUFDIkQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q=%22the%20responsibility%20of%20the%20owner%20starts%20on%20the%20house%20side%20of%20the%20water%20meter%22&f=false My water meter is in my house in my basement, right below the main water shutoff of my house. I’m not sure if there is an additional water meter that’s separate from this and closer to the main water line at the street. So, I’m asking for people with knowledge in this area to provide me with a little assistance. Do you believe (assuming I am quoting him properly above) I received correct information from the city worker? This is stuff that I really don’t understand at all so I’m hoping for some help. It’s also something that can get really really expensive if they indicate that it’s my responsibility. Thank you for reading and replying.
Replies
Pulper
In NW Ohio to my knowledge, the city's responsibility regarding the water line ends at the your connection to the city's "water box" containing the shutoff at or near the main. ------------------------ From that shutoff to and into your house it's yours with only the meter itself being the property of and responsibility of the city. --------------------- The actual connection to the shutoff at the main might be up for debate. ---------------------- As to damage caused by a leak from your part of the line, beats me.
Here in Minnesota the city's
Here in Minnesota the city's responsibility ends at the "curb stop", a valve about 5 feet from the edge of the street.
The image you reference shows the water meter being about where the curb stop would be here. (If they put the meter there they'd have to dig through a foot of snow to read it.)
What city, what state ?
You should also have a buried shutoff by the street (little round 5" cast iron cover, get to valve via a long rod).
Your being responsible for repairing the street is a new one on me, sounds like BS.
thanks for your replies! i now have more information for when i talk to the city. i really appreciate it.
Yeah tell them a bunch of guys on the internet told them to Firetruck off.
That outta do it!
But I don't disagree with what I have seen here in that I have always understood you own/maintain to the streetside shutoff and the city/utility owns from the shutoff to the main.
There is the touchy case where the "curb stop" is actually out in the street. This is not common, but I have seen it a few times.