Service line leak: the urgent version
A service line that has broken can push water to the surface or erode soil beneath a driveway or patio. Shut off the main valve inside the house, which stops flow past that point, and call.
The valve at the meter is usually the utility's, so do not operate it. Tell the dispatcher what you see, since a wet lawn, a loud meter or a sudden drop in pressure each narrow down where the break is.
How we diagnose and repair a service line
We begin by confirming the leak is on the line and not inside the house, using a meter test and pressure check. Listening equipment then traces the pipe underground to the leak, and we mark the location before any digging.
Repair options depend on the line's condition and path. A spot repair works for a single failure in sound pipe, and replacement by trench or by trenchless methods suits a line with repeated breaks, corrosion or poor material.
| Option | Best when | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | One break in a sound line | Needs a small excavation |
| Trenchless replacement | Old line that must be replaced without tearing up landscaping | Needs entry and exit pits and a clear path |
| Open trench replacement | Short run or a line that cannot be threaded | Most surface restoration |
| Reroute | Line passes under a structure | New path, new permits and locates |
Wet yard or a meter that will not stop?
Shut off the house main and call. The 24/7 line is open.
What Wilsonville says about service lines and pressure
In October 2024 the city reported inspecting 367 private service lines built before 1986 and finding no lead, and its summer 2024 lead and copper testing came in below the action levels. The city also notes that it cannot control the plumbing inside homes, so ask the utility where its responsibility ends and yours begins.
Low pressure at every fixture can come from a leak or a failing pressure reducing valve. The city's billing FAQ says the valve usually sits after the meter, often in a plastic or concrete box between the meter and the house, and that the city will check for a leak on request.
Call 811 before any digging so underground utilities are marked. Permits for this kind of work run through the city's online portal, so ask the building division how it applies to your job.
Signs of a failing service line
- A meter that moves when every fixture is off.
- A wet, soft or unusually green patch of lawn between the meter and the house.
- A sudden drop in pressure or water that sputters.
- Water that comes out discolored after a repair or a pressure change.
- A water bill that jumps with no change in use.
What affects the price of service line work
A clear price comes before work starts. These are the main details.
Related plumbing services
Finding the break is a job for leak detection, and when the failure is inside the house it becomes burst pipe repair. We also repair service lines in Sherwood and across the corridor, and a line that keeps failing may lead to repiping.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. A broken service line is dispatched on the 24/7 line, and the dispatcher will tell you how to shut off water at the house.
It depends on where the utility's responsibility ends, so ask the utility. Typically the meter marks the handoff, and the pipe on the house side is the owner's.
If your meter runs with all fixtures off, your lawn is wet, or pressure drops, the line may be leaking. A meter test confirms whether the leak is on the line.
Often yes, with trenchless methods, but they need entry and exit pits and a clear path.
A leak, a failing pressure reducing valve, a partly closed valve or a corroded line can all cause it. We check each in turn.
Permit rules vary by job, so ask the Wilsonville building division.