Close the main valve
If water is flowing into the yard or basement, close the main valve inside the building. The utility can close the curb valve at the meter.
Main water line leaking, or water pressure suddenly low?
The main water line brings water from the meter or well into the building. A leak can soak the yard, lower pressure throughout the building and raise the water bill. Call 833-877-1717. RepairNowUSA connects the request. An independent plumber does the repair.
Am I in the right place?Yes for wet or sinking spots in the yard, water bubbling up outside, low pressure everywhere, or no water to the building.
Is this urgent?Urgent if there is no water, water is flowing into the yard or basement, or the line burst.
What do I do next?Call 833-877-1717 with the ZIP code. If the leak is between the meter and the street, call the water utility too.
Leak under the floor: slab leak. Low pressure at only one fixture: water pressure repair.
RepairNowUSA editorial review · Last substantively reviewed October 13, 2026 · Review standards
First steps
Call the utility if needed
Leaks between the street and the meter are usually the utility’s responsibility.
Store some water
Fill a few containers before the water is turned off for repair.
Digging near utilities
Never dig to find a water line without having buried utilities marked. In the U.S., call 811 before any digging. The plumber or contractor normally arranges this.
Main line problems
Leak in the yard
Soggy ground, sinkholes or bubbling water along the line route.
Low pressure everywhere
A leak, a corroded old line or a failing pressure regulator.
Burst line
Freezing, ground movement or age. Close the valve and call.
Old galvanized or polybutylene pipe
Prone to failure; replacement is often recommended.
What to have ready when you call
- Property ZIP code, home or business
- Symptoms: yard water, low pressure, no water
- Whether you have city water or a well
- Location of the meter and main valve
- Driveways or landscaping over the line
- Age of the building
What happens when you call RepairNowUSA
- Describe what is happening in plain words and give the property ZIP code. You do not need to know which trade to ask for.
- RepairNowUSA checks for a participating independent provider who handles main water line repair in that area.
- If one is available, you are connected. The provider confirms timing, access, scope and price with you before any work.
- The provider, not RepairNowUSA, diagnoses and performs the repair.
RepairNowUSA is a referral and connection service. Provider availability and response times vary by location, time and demand, and are not guaranteed. Before you approve work, ask what was found, the price, the timing and what is not included.
Call 833-877-1717Main water line questions
Who is responsible for the water line?
Usually the utility owns the line to the meter and the owner is responsible from the meter to the building. Local rules vary.
Can I call about a water line break at night?
Yes. You can call 833-877-1717 at any time, including nights, weekends and holidays. Whether an independent provider can come out right away depends on your ZIP code, the time and provider capacity, so availability is not guaranteed.
Do I need to call 811 before repair?
Yes, any digging requires underground utilities to be marked. The contractor usually handles this.
Can the line be replaced without trenching the whole yard?
Often. Trenchless methods can pull or bore a new line between two small pits.
Authoritative references
These public sources give general safety context. They do not replace an on-site evaluation, and RepairNowUSA does not perform the work.