BedStuy Reno
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October 3, 2006
Lead Water Mains and You (And Us)
We knew we would have to replace our lead water main at some point. But we were hoping to do it later, in a year or two, after the bulk of our work was done, and our wallets had had a breather. But wouldn't you know it, the gods of Bed-Stuy had other plans in mind. The main started leaking inside our house - which in a way is lucky, as opposed to somewhere else undeground or inside the street where we might not have noticed it until it had gotten much worse - and suddenly became a priority.
Harris Water Main came highly recommended by multiple people. So we bit the bullet and called them. Big ticket item! At least now we will feel safer about drinking from the tap. Here they are breaking up our sidewalk to get access to the pipe. Typically the job takes a day.
Comments
This may be a dumb question, but is the water main your responsibility, and not that of the water company? At what point do you cease to be responsible for it? We also have a lead water main, but I assumed that if it was the main itself, rather than the plumbing inside the house, it would not be under our control.
Posted by: zil at October 3, 2006 4:46 PM
I wish it were true! So much. Turns out, you are responsible for the line running from the city's main to your house. And depending on which side of the street the city's line is, it will be more or less expensive for you. The companies who do this sort of work make it easy for you - other than turning over a chunk if change - in that they file the permits, they dig the holes, run the new line, get it inspected, and then put back whatever concrete and street they displace. All you have to do is pay them.
Posted by: Peter at October 3, 2006 4:55 PM
Thanks for the info! And sympathy for the "large chunk of change" you just handed over. Never fun...
Posted by: zil at October 3, 2006 7:12 PM
Yea, I tried to blame anyone I could, but ultimately the responsibility was on me. And big ticket item is an understatement. Especially when you weren't expecting it.
I'm so glad it didn't happen differently or it could have been a whole lot worse.
Posted by: NewStoner at October 4, 2006 10:55 AM
That is true! One of our neighbors told us how his pipe had burst somewhere between the city's line and his house, and he came down to his basement to find a foot of standing water, and a horizontal geyser rushing through his foundation wall.
Posted by: Peter at October 4, 2006 11:04 AM
Paying big bucks (cash only) for this makes you very aware of people driving or parking cars on your sidewalk--a prime cause of pipe failure.
Posted by: tom at October 4, 2006 5:08 PM
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