# Water Line Replacement NYC | Type K Copper Service | NYC Repipe & Repair > Water line replacement in NYC: the service pipe from the street main to your meter replaced in Type K copper, with DEP and DOT permits. Free estimates. URL: https://nycrepipe.com/water-line-replacement/ # Water Line Replacement in NYC The service pipe from the street to your meter, whether leaking, lead, galvanized or too small, replaced in Type K copper with DEP and DOT permits. Get a free estimate → [☎ Call (929) 659-6658](tel:+19296596658) By NYC Repipe & Repair · Last reviewed October 19 A new Type K copper service line enters a rowhouse cellar beside the water meter. Illustrative. [NYC Repipe & Repair](https://nycrepipe.com/) replaces the water service line in New York City houses and small buildings: the pipe that runs from the city main in the street, under the sidewalk, to the meter in your cellar. Water line replacement is needed when that pipe leaks, is lead or galvanized, or is too narrow to carry the flow the house needs. DEP is clear that the property owner owns the whole line, so a water line repair or replacement is the owner's job, done by a NYC Licensed Master Plumber with DEP and DOT permits. ## What happens on the first visit 1. The service line checked where it enters the cellar: material (lead, galvanized or copper), size and the condition of the meter valves. 2. Flow and pressure read at the meter to see whether the line itself is limiting the house. 3. Your address checked against DEP's service line records and, if you have a DEP letter, the free replacement program. 4. A written price covering the trench, sidewalk restoration and DEP and DOT permits, before anything is booked. ## Your “water main” is the service line Homeowners often call it the water main, but the main is DEP’s pipe under the street. The pipe that runs from that main, under the sidewalk, to the meter in your cellar is the **water service line**, and [DEP states](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/water/water-shut-off-notices.page) that property owners own it and are responsible for it. Water main replacement or water main repair on the private side is the owner’s job. There are four common reasons to replace it: - **Lead.** Lead service lines were legal in NYC until 1961, and lead patch repairs were allowed until 2009. DEP’s [lead service line replacement plan](https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dep/downloads/pdf/water/water-monitoring/monitoring-for-lead/lead-service-line-replacement-plan.pdf) counts about **121,000 lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement lines** and about 118,000 of unknown material. - **Galvanized steel** that has rusted down to a narrow bore, causing [low water pressure](https://nycrepipe.com/low-water-pressure/) throughout the house. - **A leak.** If DEP suspects one on your line, it can issue a notice giving you **three days** to hire a Licensed Master Plumber. After that, the water is shut off and a **$1,000 fee** applies. - **Undersized pipe** that can’t feed a house with more bathrooms than it was built with. [How to tell if you have lead pipes](https://nycrepipe.com/answers/do-i-have-lead-pipes-nyc/) shows how to check the line where it enters the cellar. ## How a service line is replaced A water service line in NYC involves more agencies than interior plumbing. Under PC 106.6, the work needs a DEP permit for the water connection and a DOT permit for opening the sidewalk or street, and the Licensed Master Plumber obtains both before the work starts. The service pipe must meet DEP’s standards (PC 605.3). Underground water pipe under Table 605.4.1 is limited to Type K copper, brass, ductile iron and stainless steel, and for a house-size line that means **Type K copper**. The job runs in this order: permits, then a trench from the curb to the foundation, then the new copper line through the wall to new valves at the meter. The line is pressure-tested before the trench is backfilled and the sidewalk restored. Stoops, areaways and street trees can change the route, so they’re checked on the first visit. Water is off while the new line is connected, so the day is planned in advance. ## What drives the cost One NYC price guide puts a main water service line, building to street, at **$8,000–$25,000** ([Handyman NYC price guide](https://handyman-new-york-city.com/guides/cost/pipe-replacement-costs-nyc/)). DEP’s plan puts a privately hired lead service line replacement at **$5,000–$10,000**. Where a job falls depends on: - the length of the run and the depth of the main; - sidewalk, curb and street restoration; - obstructions such as stoops, vaults and tree pits; - the connection inside, including any new valves and the tie-in to the house piping. Some owners don’t pay at all. DEP’s free replacement program covers lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement lines, but only for owners who get a DEP letter or are contacted by DDC during main work. It started in [the Bronx](https://nycrepipe.com/boroughs/bronx/), with Flushing in [Queens](https://nycrepipe.com/boroughs/queens/) and Borough Park as later phases. [Free lead pipe replacement in NYC](https://nycrepipe.com/answers/free-lead-pipe-replacement-nyc/) covers eligibility, and the [lead service line cost guide](https://nycrepipe.com/answers/lead-service-line-replacement-cost-nyc/) covers the private route. Repairs may also be covered by homeowners insurance or by DEP’s Service Line Protection Program if you’re enrolled. ## When the service line is only half the job A new copper service line carries full flow to the meter. If the pipe beyond it is still rusted galvanized or lead, the house won’t get the benefit. Pressure upstairs stays weak, and brown water still comes out after the taps sit. And where the old service line was lead, older lead or galvanized pipe inside the house can still be a concern after the new line goes in. That’s why the service line and the interior piping are often priced together. [Lead service line replacement](https://nycrepipe.com/lead-service-line-replacement/) covers lead lines specifically. [Galvanized pipe replacement](https://nycrepipe.com/galvanized-pipe-replacement/) swaps the steel inside the house, and [whole house repiping](https://nycrepipe.com/whole-house-repiping/) replaces every supply line from the meter to the fixtures in Type L copper. Doing both at once means one plan, one set of openings and full pressure from the street to the top floor. ## What's included - New service line in Type K copper - DEP permit for the water connection - DOT sidewalk or street-opening permit - New valves at the meter - Tie-in to the house piping in copper or brass - Trench backfill and sidewalk restoration - Pressure test before the trench is closed - Old lead or galvanized line removed or capped > Weak pressure in every room, or a DEP letter about your service line? A check at the meter shows what the line is made of. [(929) 659-6658](tel:+19296596658) Typical NYC price $8,000–$25,000 per service line, building to street. Published range, not a quote. Sources: [Handyman NYC price guide](https://handyman-new-york-city.com/guides/cost/pipe-replacement-costs-nyc/) Calls answered 24/7 Leak right now? Shut the main valve by the meter, then call. [☎ (929) 659-6658](tel:+19296596658) Get a free estimate Spec
MaterialType L copper
CodeNYC PC T.605.4
Lead-freeNSF/ANSI 372
TransitionsASSE 1079
PermitDOB NOW · LAA
[Free tool Repipe cost estimator → Your house, your number, in under a minute.](https://nycrepipe.com/tools/repipe-cost-estimator/) The permit trail ## What a legal NYC repipe *leaves on the record* Every permitted repipe produces the same paper trail at the Department of Buildings. It's what a buyer's attorney, a co-op board or a lender will look for later. 1. DOB NOW: Build Filed Limited Alteration Application Filed by the Licensed Master Plumber, with the scope and the job cost. 2. DOB Issued Work permit Issued in real time for most repipes, and posted at the job. 3. On site Installed Type L copper in Run alongside the old pipe and switched over section by section. 4. Plumbing Code §108 Tested Pressure test The whole new system holds under test before walls close. 5. DOB Signed off Inspection and sign-off The job closes cleanly on the building's DOB record. Three ways it gets done ## Patch, cheap repipe, or permitted copper Three ways NYC pipe work gets done. Only one survives a co-op board, a refinance and the next winter. | What matters | DIY patch | Cheap operator | Permitted copper job | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Pipe material | Whatever the hardware store sells, often PEX | PEX or thin Type M copper to save money | Type L copper, listed in NYC Plumbing Code Table 605.4 | | Fittings | Push-fit connectors (prohibited, PC 605.9) | Mixed: some push-fit, some solder | Soldered or permanent press joints; dielectric unions at steel | | Who may legally do it | Not the owner: NYC requires a Licensed Master Plumber | Often unlicensed, or a licence borrowed for the filing | A NYC Licensed Master Plumber, or a crew under one | | Permit | None | Often skipped (penalties start at $520, or $6,000 in 3+ family buildings) | Filed in DOB NOW and signed off | | Pressure test | None | Rarely | Whole system tested before walls close | | Co-op or condo board | Will not approve | Usually rejected at the insurance-certificate stage | Meets typical alteration-agreement requirements | | At sale or refinance | Unpermitted work can surface in inspection | Open DOB issues can delay closing | A clean DOB record for the job | Sources: [2022 NYC Plumbing Code, Chapter 6](https://www.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/codes-pdf/cons_codes_2022/2022PC_Chapter6_WaterSupplyWBwm.pdf); NYC DOB LAA fee and penalty charts ([1–3 family](https://www.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/pdf/laa_category_2_fee_chart_1-2-3_family.pdf), [other buildings](https://www.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/pdf/laa_fee_chart_other.pdf)). From the field ## What water line replacement looks like in an NYC house Illustrative photographs of typical conditions and the copper that replaces them. Answered ## Water Line Replacement, answered Who is responsible for the water line from the street to my house in NYC? The property owner. DEP states that owners own and are responsible for their water service line, which connects the building to the city main in the street; the main itself is DEP's. If DEP suspects a leak on your line, it can issue a notice giving you three days to hire a Licensed Master Plumber before the water is shut off and a $1,000 fee applies. How much does water line replacement cost in NYC? One NYC price guide puts a main water service line, building to street, at $8,000–$25,000 (Handyman NYC). DEP's own plan puts a privately hired lead service line replacement at $5,000–$10,000. Where a job falls depends on the length of the run, the depth of the main, sidewalk and street restoration, and whether a stoop, vault or tree pit is in the way. Can I get my lead service line replaced for free? Possibly. DEP runs a free replacement program for lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines, but only owners who receive a DEP letter, or who are contacted by DDC during water main work, are eligible. It started in the Bronx, with Flushing and Borough Park as later phases. Everyone else replaces the line privately, which DEP puts at $5,000–$10,000. What pipe is used for a new NYC water service line? Copper. Underground water pipe under Table 605.4.1 of the 2022 NYC Plumbing Code is limited to Type K copper, brass, ductile iron and stainless steel, and the service pipe must also meet DEP's standards (PC 605.3). For a house-size line, Type K copper is the standard choice. PEX and other plastic pipe are not used for NYC water service. Who actually does the plumbing work? In New York City, permitted plumbing work must be performed by a NYC Licensed Master Plumber or by workers under an LMP's direct supervision, and the LMP files the permit in DOB NOW. Ask any contractor for the LMP's licence number before work starts, and check it on the DOB's public licence search. Further reading ## Related answers - [Can I Get Free Lead Pipe Replacement in NYC?](https://nycrepipe.com/answers/free-lead-pipe-replacement-nyc/) - [What Is the NYC Lead Service Line Replacement Cost?](https://nycrepipe.com/answers/lead-service-line-replacement-cost-nyc/) - [How to Tell If You Have Lead Pipes in NYC](https://nycrepipe.com/answers/do-i-have-lead-pipes-nyc/) - [Why Is There Low Water Pressure in NYC Apartment Buildings?](https://nycrepipe.com/answers/low-water-pressure-nyc-apartment/) Related work - [Lead Service Line ReplacementLead pipe from the street main to the meter, replaced in Type K copper. Includes how the free DEP program fits in.](https://nycrepipe.com/lead-service-line-replacement/) - [Low Water PressureWeak showers on the top floor, a trickle at the kitchen tap. Diagnosed at the meter, the service line and the house piping.](https://nycrepipe.com/low-water-pressure/) - [Whole House RepipingEvery supply line from the meter to each fixture, replaced in Type L copper for 1–3 family houses, brownstones and rowhouses.](https://nycrepipe.com/whole-house-repiping/) Get your water line replacement priced in writing Pressure measured, pipe identified, an itemized price including the DOB permit.