Water Service Line Break: Who Repairs It and What to Do
A water service line carries water from the public main to your building. When it breaks, the first question is usually who is responsible. On many St. Louis-area commercial properties, much of that line belongs to the property owner. Kuesel excavates and repairs or replaces broken service lines for property owners and facility managers. Emergency calls answered 24/7.
Who usually owns what
General guidance only. Rules vary by water provider, so confirm with yours.
- Water main: the main in the street or easement belongs to the water utility.
- Missouri American Water (St. Louis County): Missouri American Water maintains and, if needed, replaces the section from the main to the curb stop or meter box, for residential and non-residential lines. The section from the curb stop or meter box to the building is the property owner's.
- City of St. Louis Water Division: the city states that the property owner owns the entire service line. Its Service Line Repair Program covers certain repairs for eligible residential accounts, so commercial owners should confirm with the Water Division who repairs a given leak.
- Other providers (St. Charles County cities, public water supply districts, Jefferson City): rules differ. Ask your provider where its responsibility ends.
- Fire service lines: if your site has a separate fire line, ask your utility and your fire protection contractor who owns and maintains it.
What to do first
- 1. Close the building's main shutoff valve if you can do it safely. If the leak is before that valve, call your water provider's emergency line to shut off at the curb.
- 2. Keep people and vehicles off soft, wet or sunken pavement.
- 3. Don't dig. Utility locates (811) are required before excavation.
- 4. If the fire line or sprinkler supply is affected, notify your fire protection contractor.
- 5. Take photos and note where the water is surfacing.
- 6. Call Kuesel at (636) 978-3478.
What Kuesel does
- Locate and expose the line, using our own hydrovac trucks where appropriate
- Coordinate the shutoff with the water provider and utility locates
- Repair or replace the damaged section of service line
- Test and flush as the water provider requires
- Backfill, compact and restore the surface as needed
For plumbing inside the building, Legacy Plumbing, our sister company under Kuesel Holding Company, works with us as one team.
If the break is on a water main rather than a service line, see water main break repair.
FAQ
- Is the service line my responsibility or the water company's?
- Often it is split: the utility up to the curb stop or meter box, and the owner from there to the building. In the City of St. Louis, the owner owns the whole line. Confirm with your water provider.
- Will the water company fix the leak on my side?
- Generally the owner's section is the owner's to repair. Missouri American Water says it is the customer's responsibility to identify and fix leaks on their property.
- Do you work with the water utility?
- Yes. We coordinate shutoffs and utility locates before we excavate.
- Do you answer emergency calls after hours?
- Yes. Emergency calls answered 24/7 at (636) 978-3478. Normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Sources: Missouri American Water service line tariff summary · Missouri American Water rights & responsibilities · City of St. Louis Water Division Service Line Repair Program
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