If water is gushing in the yard, the street or the basement where the line enters, close the main valve inside and call (617) 752-0573. Dispatch is open 24/7. Keep clear of any flooded electrical panel, and do not dig around a line you cannot see.
Water service line repair covers the pipe that carries water from the Town's main in the street, through a shut-off at the sidewalk, to your meter and main valve. It fails from age, corrosion, shifting soil and sometimes a nearby dig. Knowing which part of the line is yours decides who calls whom, and that is where this page starts.
Town side and owner side of the line
Brookline's Water and Sewer Division runs the local system, and MWRA supplies the water. According to the Town's water FAQ, the homeowner is responsible for the service line from the sidewalk shut-off valve to the building. The public main in the street is the Town's.
That split matters during an emergency. A break between the sidewalk and your house is yours to repair. A break in the street is the Town's, and Brookline's Water and Sewer emergency number is 617-730-2175 (24/7). If you are not sure which side you have, call us and we will help sort it out before anyone digs.
Water in the yard or cellar?
Close the main inside, then call (617) 752-0573.
Service line leak: what to do first
Close the inside main
Turn the main valve in the basement clockwise to cut the flow into the house.
Protect the electrical panel
If water is reaching the panel or outlets, stay out and call us.
Do not dig
A shovel can hit gas, electric or the line itself. Wait for 811 marking.
Check which side
Water in the street may be a Town main problem, so ask 617-730-2175 if unsure.
Signs the service line is failing
- Meter moving with taps closed. If it stops when you shut the main valve inside, the leak is in the house. If it keeps turning, suspect the line.
- Low or uneven pressure. Pressure that drops through the whole building, not just one fixture, points toward the supply line.
- Wet or sunken ground. A soggy strip or small sinkhole between the sidewalk and the foundation.
- Sound at the meter. Hissing or running water near the entry point at night.
- Discolored water. Rusty or cloudy water after the line was disturbed or worked on.
Many leak calls begin with the meter or the bill, so see leak detection for the step-by-step meter test before deciding the line is the culprit.
Lead service lines and the Town's replacement program
Lead service lines were common before 1940. According to Brookline's 2025 water quality report, no lead service lines had been identified at the end of 2025, and 29 private-side lines were still classified as unknown. The report states that if any lead lines are found on the private side, the Town will replace them at no cost to the customer.
The Town's inventory page says pre-1940 homes are the most likely to have one and describes simple magnet and scratch tests. Call the billing office at 617-730-2170 to ask about your address. If you suspect lead, do not start work yourself, because replacing it through the Town's program is the route that matters.
Repair, replace or reline: what fits
A buried leak often needs the location pinned first, which is where our acoustic and thermal tools come in. If an older house also has leaking branch pipes, a repipe can be planned together with the service line.
| Option | When it makes sense | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | One clean break in sound pipe | Quick, but the rest of the old pipe may fail next |
| Full replacement | Corroded, lead or repeatedly leaking line | Needs excavation and permits, but ends the problem |
| Trenchless replacement | Walkways, driveways and landscaping in the way | Less digging, but needs suitable ground and access pits |
| Interior reroute | Short run inside a basement | Avoids the yard, but the new pipe is visible |
Which option is available depends on depth, soil, access and the Town's rules.
Dig Safe, permits and the street side
Massachusetts law requires you to call 811 before digging. Per the state's Dig Safe materials, the call must come at least three days before starting. The statute counts 72 hours exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, so a Friday call may not clear until Wednesday.
Plumbing permits in Brookline are issued only to licensed plumbers, and the Building Department reviews them in about three days. Ask the Water and Sewer Division who is allowed to excavate on the public side of your line. In an emergency we can stop the leak, shut and cap the line, and set the plan while the 811 marking is pending.
What drives the cost of a service line repair
A short spot repair and a full replacement are very different jobs. These are the factors.
- Length of the runA short line from a nearby sidewalk valve costs less labor than a long run from the street to a rear unit.
- Pipe materialOld galvanized and lead lines may need full replacement, while copper or plastic may allow a spot repair.
- Digging conditionsPavement, tree roots, utilities and tight lots change how long excavation takes.
- Permits and markingUtility marking and permit timing affect when the job can begin.
- Emergency timingA flooded basement at night is handled differently from a planned replacement.
Standard homeowner policies often cover sudden water damage inside but may treat buried line wear as maintenance. Some insurers sell separate line coverage. Read your policy to see what applies, and ask before you start.
Want your real number? Call (617) 752-0573.
Service lines in Newton and Boston
The ownership split can be different outside Brookline. In Newton, water is run by the city's DPW Utilities Division, and in Boston neighborhoods like Brighton it comes through the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, which offers its own program for private lead lines. We check each utility's rules before we plan the job.
Water service line questions
Yes. Dispatch answers 24/7. For a line that is flooding a yard or basement we stop the water first, and same-day appointments are available when the schedule allows. Expect planned digging to wait on utility marking.
Per the Town's FAQ, the homeowner is responsible for the line from the sidewalk shut-off valve to the building. The Town handles the public main. Lead lines on the private side are covered by the Town's program as quoted in its 2025 report.
The Town's 2025 water quality report says that if any lead lines are found on the private side, the Town will replace them at no cost to the customer. Call 617-730-2170 to ask how it applies to your address.
Yes, if the work involves digging. Call 811 at least three days before starting, and the statute counts 72 hours excluding weekends and legal holidays. We plan around that.
Shut the main valve inside. If the meter keeps moving, the loss is on the line between the meter and the street. Our leak detection service can confirm the spot.
Sometimes. Trenchless methods dig two access pits instead of a long trench, but they need workable soil, depth and clear paths. We tell you if your site suits it.
Know your side of the line
Call (617) 752-0573 any hour. Same-day appointments when available.