How to Replace a Leaking Water Main in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens & Bronx

Both commercial and residential water main breaks occur throughout NYC on a daily basis. In most cases, the water line leak is a complete surprise and the average property owner is scrambling to find a solution. It is also a major misconception that the city is responsible for all water main and sewer piping under the public sidewalk and roadway, this is not the case.

When such an unexpected event occurs, it is important to understand all details, from obtaining all required permits, to the actual pipe installation.

The first step in replacing a leaking water line is to make sure all of the proper permits have been secured with DEP (Department of Environmental Protection), DOT (Department of Transportation) and The NYC Parks Department if required. In order for a plumbing contractor to legally perform this type of plumbing work, the company must be licensed, bonded with NYC and hold the required insurance coverage to open the roadway/sidewalk. In most cases a leaking water main is an emergency situation where the contractor can obtain a DOT permit to perform work in a matter of minutes. If the water line repair is a non-emergency, there is a protocol that the plumber must follow with NYC to obtain all permits.

Safety signage

Flagman

Now that permits have been secured, the water main contractor can begin working in the street to replace the leaking water main. It is important for the contractor to abide by all DOT safety regulations and make sure that the proper signage is present on the jobsite to notify pedestrians. The safety regulations may include signs such as “Men at work”, “bike lane closed”, flagmen to direct traffic etc. Once the jobsite is setup, the contractor can begin opening the roadway to turn off the leaking water line at the tap connection. The tap is a valve that controls the water flow from the city main, to the private water pipe which feeds water into the house or building.

Once the water is turned off at the tap, the onsite crew can start digging additional holes in the roadway, sidewalk and property that may be required for the new installation. If the leak has occurred in the location of the tap, a water pump is setup to remove all water while the technicians are digging. Digging to beat the water can be challenging at times pending the severity of each leak.

Opening roadway

Tap connection

After all of the holes have been dug, the technicians will begin using compressed air to blow underground tunnels. Tunnels are made from one hole to the next, before the new pipe is installed. There are two common methods used to install a new water main, the pipe can either be connected to a chain which is pulled from one hole to the next or the pipe may be pushed through from one hole to the next.

Water main tunnel

Pipe ready for install

Now the new pipe has been installed from the city main, to inside the building and must be connected. Using special flaring tools and fittings, the pipe is connected to the water main tap in the roadway and to the meter on the inside of the house.