Water service line · Greeley, CO
Water service line replacement in Greeley, CO: the line from the street to your house
The water service line is the buried pipe that brings water from the city's main to your house. When it leaks, corrodes or is of unknown material, it may be repaired or replaced. This page covers water service line replacement in Greeley, CO: who owns which part, the signs of a failing line, the city's lead program, and the options. Call now to connect with a local plumber for water service line help in Greeley.
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Water service lineSigns, ownership and replacement
Whose line is it?
Water service line replacement starts with who owns what
The City of Greeley splits the water line in two. Where the split falls decides who you ask.
The city's side
- The water main under the street
- The connection up to the property line
The city says it owns the main to the property line.
Your side
- The line from the property line into the house
- This may include the curb stop and water meter
The city says the customer owns this line.
The city's page leaves some questions open. It does not say where the split falls on your lot, or whether you may operate the curb stop or meter. Ask the City of Greeley Water and Sewer department, a city department. Who repairs sewer and water lines in Greeley explains more.
Signs
Signs the water line may be failing
No one sign proves it. Together they are a reason to have the line looked at.
A wet or sunken yard
Soggy ground, pooling water or a dip in the lawn between the street and the house, with no rain or sprinkler to explain it.
Low pressure everywhere
Weak flow at every fixture, hot and cold. Water pressure problems sorts this from other causes.
A higher water bill
The bill rises and your habits did not change.
A moving meter
The dial keeps turning with every tap off. Leak detection shows the meter check.
Water that sputters or stops
Air in the lines, or a trickle where there was a steady flow.
An old or unknown line
You do not know what the line is made of, or when it went in.
Water coming up in the yard that you cannot stop? Close the main shutoff inside the house and see emergency plumber.
The city's lead program
Check the city's program before you pay for a new line
The City of Greeley keeps a service line inventory map and a self-inspection survey, and is replacing older service lines. It also says it has limited information on the material of the customer-owned portions.
So do not assume what your line is made of, and do not assume it is or is not lead. This page cannot tell you. The city's Lead Protection Program, a city department, is the place to ask.
Ask the city first. Its inventory and survey may tell you what is known about your line before you decide on a replacement.
Wet yard, weak flow or an old line? Call now to connect with a local plumber for water service line help in Greeley.
Call (970) 633-4799Repair or replace
When a repair is enough, and when it is not
A plumber decides this once the line has been located and looked at. These are the usual leanings.
Leans toward repair
- One leak at a joint or short section
- The rest of the line is sound
- The leak can be reached with limited digging
Leans toward replacement
- Repeated leaks along the line
- Corroded or damaged pipe over a long stretch
- A material you want out, or an unknown one
How it is done
Open trench or trenchless
These are the general options, and which fit depends on the line and the site.
Open trench
- The ground is dug along the line, and the old pipe is replaced with new.
- It gives the most direct access to the pipe.
- It disturbs the most surface, so restoration is a bigger part of the job.
Trenchless
- New pipe is placed from a few entry points instead of one long trench.
- It can disturb less lawn, driveway or sidewalk.
- It does not suit every line, and a plumber judges the fit.
Before anyone digs
Three things to settle before the work
Each one is easier to settle before the work starts than during it.
- 01
Have underground lines located
Colorado law says to contact the statewide utility-locate service (call 811 before digging) at least three business days before you dig, regardless of project size. Ask who will make the request.
- 02
Ask about a permit
The City of Greeley says an owner or authorized agent must first get a permit from the building official to alter or repair a building, and to install or modify plumbing systems that its code regulates. The city's page does not say how that applies to a water line. Have the contractor confirm permit details with the City's building inspection division.
- 03
Agree on the restoration
Digging disturbs the lawn, and possibly a driveway or walk. Ask what will be put back and what is left to you, and when the water will be off.
Outside or inside
This line, or the pipes inside?
The service line ends where the water enters the house. Pipe inside the house is a different job, and so is finding a leak you cannot place.
- Pipes inside the walls and floors: whole-house repiping
- A leak you have not located: leak detection
- Weak flow with no clear cause: water pressure problems
Tell the plumber
- Where the yard is wet or sunken
- Whether the meter moves with every tap off
- Whether pressure is low at every fixture
- What you know about the line's age or material
- Anything the city has told you about your line
FAQ
Water service line replacement: common questions
Who owns which part of the water line?
The City of Greeley says it owns the main up to the property line and the customer owns the line from the property line into the house, which may include the curb stop and water meter. The city's page does not say where the split falls on your lot. Who repairs sewer and water lines in Greeley
How do I find out if I have a lead service line?
Start with the city. The City of Greeley keeps a service line inventory map and a self-inspection survey, and says it has limited information on the material of the customer-owned portions. The Lead Protection Program is the place to ask. This site cannot say what your line is made of.
Should the line be repaired or replaced?
One leak in sound pipe may be a repair. Repeated leaks, corrosion over a long stretch, or a material you want out lean toward replacement. A plumber decides once the line has been located and looked at.
Does replacing the line mean trenching the yard?
Not always. An open trench digs along the whole line. Trenchless methods place new pipe from a few entry points and can disturb less surface, but they do not suit every line. Ask the plumber which apply to yours.
Do I need a locate before digging?
Colorado law says to contact the statewide utility-locate service (call 811 before digging) at least three business days before you dig, regardless of project size. Ask the plumber who will make the request.
What should I do while waiting for a plumber?
If water is coming up in the yard and you cannot stop it, close the main shutoff inside the house. Note where the water shows up, when the pressure changed, and any rusty or discoloured water.
Call about the water line
Say where the yard is wet, what the meter does, and what you know about the line.
Reviewed October 2026