Water Line Repair and Replacement in Rockville

The water service line is the pipe that carries water from the meter at the street into your house. It is buried, so problems are easy to miss until the water bill jumps, the pressure drops or a soggy patch appears in the front yard. In older Rockville neighborhoods, some of these lines have been in the ground for sixty years or more.

Signs of a Water Line Problem

• A wet, sunken or unusually green strip of lawn between the street and the house
• The meter moving when all water in the house is off
• A sudden or gradual drop in pressure at every fixture
• Rusty or cloudy water at the first draw of the day
• Water seeping through the basement wall where the line enters

Repair or Full Replacement

A single break in an otherwise sound copper line can often be dug out and repaired. Galvanized steel or old lines with multiple leaks are usually better replaced end to end, typically with modern copper or plastic pipe rated for buried water service. Where conditions allow, a new line can be pulled through with less digging than a full open trench.

Who Handles What

Depending on your street, your water comes from either the City of Rockville or WSSC Water. The utility looks after the main and the meter; the line on your side is generally yours. We coordinate with the utility when the meter or curb stop is involved, and every dig starts with a Miss Utility request so buried gas, electric and cable lines are marked first.

Low pressure inside the house that isn't coming from the service line is often a sign of corroded interior pipe, which our repiping service addresses.