Water out. Water back on.

Common signs of a failing water service line include unexplained puddles or soft spots in the yard even in dry weather, a sudden drop in water pressure throughout the house, a spike in water bills with no change in usage, rust or discoloration in water, and visible damp patches on the foundation or basement walls. An active break often shows as water bubbling up in the yard or street near the service line path. Any of these symptoms should be investigated promptly since small leaks become large ones and every hour of undetected water loss shows up on the meter.

The water service line runs from the municipal main under the street to the meter near or in the house. The public side is typically from the main to the curb stop at the property line and is owned and maintained by the water authority. The private side runs from the curb stop through the yard into the structure and is the homeowner's responsibility. Some municipalities own the line all the way to the meter. Detroit, Warren, Dearborn, and most Metro Detroit water authorities publish service line ownership maps that show exactly where responsibility changes. Liora Works works on the private side with coordination on the public-side tie-in when needed.

Lead service lines were installed in older Metro Detroit homes through approximately 1945. Under Michigan's updated Lead and Copper Rule, water authorities are identifying and replacing lead service lines across the state. Homeowners with confirmed lead service lines often qualify for municipal or state-funded replacement programs. You can check your line by scratching it with a key: lead is soft and dull gray, copper is hard and bright. Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, and parts of older first-ring suburbs have the highest concentration of remaining lead lines. Your water authority can confirm the line material on record.

Residential water service line replacement in Metro Detroit typically runs $2,500 to $8,000 depending on line length, depth, access, and material. Standard single-family replacements most commonly fall in the $3,500 to $5,500 range for a copper line from meter to structure. Lead line replacements may qualify for municipal cost-sharing programs that reduce homeowner cost substantially. Emergency repair of an active break is typically less expensive than full replacement if the line is otherwise sound, running $1,500 to $3,500 depending on location and depth. Commercial water service work is quoted per project.

Active water line breaks are treated as emergencies by Liora Works. On-site response for confirmed breaks is typically within 4 to 8 hours during standard business days and same-day or next-morning for off-hours calls, depending on crew availability and travel distance. Utility shut-off at the curb stop is the first priority to stop water loss. Excavation and repair typically runs 4 to 8 hours of on-site work once crew is mobilized. Emergency replacements of the full line take 1 to 2 days start to finish depending on permit approval, which is often expedited for confirmed active breaks.

Residential water service line replacement most commonly uses Type K soft copper or high-density polyethylene (HDPE, also called blue poly). Type K copper is the traditional choice, rated for direct burial with a long service life, but costs more and requires careful handling to avoid kinks during installation. HDPE is corrosion-resistant, flexible through natural ground movement, and typically 30 to 40 percent cheaper than copper for the same job. Some older homes use galvanized steel, which is no longer code-compliant for new work. Municipal code specifies acceptable materials; most Metro Detroit municipalities accept both Type K copper and HDPE for residential water service lines.