Water Main Installation Cost
House service water main installation costs $1,572 on average with most paying between $613 and $2,568. You’ll spend anywhere from $50 to $250 per linear foot, depending on length, material, depth and accessibility. You’ll need a city permit which varies in price from location to location.
In most places, it’s the main pipe in a system of pipes that distributes water throughout a municipality. It’s the one running under or next to a street on city property that then has feeder lines to homes. The line feeding your home is called a “private water service line” or “house service water main”, which is what we’ll discuss in this guide. Don’t confuse the two since you’re usually only responsible for the line until it hits your property line, after that, the city owns it and usually maintains it.
On This Page:
- Average Cost to Install or Replace a Water Line
- Cost Per Foot
- Cost to Replace Main Water Line
- Hook Up and Connection
- Labor Costs
- Cost Factors
- DIY vs. Hire a Pro
- FAQs
Water Main Installation Cost Per Foot
Water main installation costs an average of $50 to $150 per linear foot. However, some areas, and hard to access lines, might run up to $250 per linear foot. The type of material you choose also affects the price since copper costs 4 to 7 times that of PVC.
Whether it’s 15 or 500 feet, your private pipe connects your home to the city line and you’re responsible for it. At the property line, the city often takes over responsibility, but you can often get a permit for repairs to the main line.
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Cost to Replace Main Water Line
Replacing a water line costs anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 or more. You’ll spend anywhere from $50 to $250 per linear foot to replace the pipe.
The main difference comes from having to dig out and dispose of the old line. Old lines from the 1980s or earlier probably have little life left in them, requiring replacement or slip lining.
Trenchless Water Line Replacement Cost
Trenchless line replacement costs $50 to $250 per linear foot. It’s the current gold standard because it’s quick and doesn’t destroy landscaping or yards. There are two common methods:
- Pipe Lining: $100-$250 per linear foot. This method pushes an epoxy lining into the pipe which fills cracks and essentially creates a new pipe from the old one.
- Pipe Bursting: $50-$200 per linear foot. This method uses an auger to drill out and “burst” the old pipe in place while dragging in a new pipe to replace it.
Cost to Replace a Water Line from the Street to the House
Replacing a line from the street to your house, the private main water line, costs $600 to $2,500. However, you’ll need to determine who’s responsible – you or the city – for the portion that extends past your property line to the city’s supply.
Cost to Hook Up and Connect to City Water
Connecting to city water costs anywhere from $250 to $1,000 for permits and inspections.
- Inspection: $150-$500. Some cities offer this for free to make sure it all meets code requirements.
- Permit: $100-$500. Almost every municipality requires a permit. Check with your local building code enforcement agency for your local requirements. Usually, your contractor pulls these as part of the job’s budget.
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Cost to Run Water Line
Labor makes up 35% to 40% of the final cost of most installations. The rest comes from machinery, travel, overhead, permits and materials. However, trenchless projects take less time, but require specialized machines. In this case, labor can make up closer to 60% of the total price.
Water Main Replacement Cost Factors
While most of the time water main replacement costs remain constant from home to home, a few factors might make the price fluctuate a little, including:
- Any obstructions that make it difficult to reach the pipe, like trees or a concrete pad, increases time and price.
- The deeper you install it, the longer it takes to dig, increasing cost.
- Location and Material. You can’t use copper in some rare soil conditions, and you must bury it below the frost line to avoid it freezing and bursting.
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DIY vs. Hire a Water Main Installer
Always hire a professional for this job. Not only does the project require interacting with city owned water lines, but repair fees for a burst pipe can reach into the tens of thousands. In many places, municipalities require a licensed professional to do the work. Find a local plumber for a free consultation today.
FAQs
How much does it cost to connect to city sewage?
A city sewage connection costs anywhere from $500 to $20,000 depending on local regulations and how long of a sewer line you need. Rural connections might run up to $50,000. Septic tank installation costs $3,000 to $10,000, often far less than connecting to sewer.
How do you switch from well water to city water?
To switch from well to city water, you’ll need to run a private main service line from the nearest main city line to your home.