Who handles which part of the line
The water main in the street and the meter are the utility's equipment, so contact the Westborough Water Department about anything on that side. Our work is the pipe on your side, running toward the house, plus the shutoff valves and fittings inside.
If you are not sure which side the problem is on, start with the shutoff test. Close the main valve inside your house and look at the meter. If the dial stops, the leak is inside. If it keeps moving, the loss is on the line before the valve, and a locating visit will pinpoint the spot.
Signs that the line under the yard is failing
Service line problems rarely start dramatically. They show up in small ways first, and catching them early limits the digging. Watch for any of these changes over a few days.
- Water pressure falls at every fixture, not just one faucet.
- The meter runs when all taps are closed.
- A patch of lawn is soggy or unusually green in dry weather.
- You hear running water near the entry point of the house when nothing is on.
- The water bill rises with no change in how you live.
- Water looks cloudy or brown for a stretch after pressure drops.
The line breaks and the water stops: the first steps
If water is pooling on your property or you have lost service, close the main valve inside the house to keep a break from flooding the basement. Open one faucet to relieve pressure. Do not run the dishwasher, washing machine or water heater with no water, since dry heating elements and pumps can burn out.
Keep people and pets away from a wet driveway that may have a hidden void underneath. Then call our 24/7 line at call (508) 389-4045. Tell us where the line enters the house and whether any wet spots have appeared outside.
Locating the break before anyone digs
A water line can run across a lawn, under a walkway or beneath a driveway, and guessing wrong turns a small repair into a trench across the yard. We find the exact point first. Ground microphones pick up the sound of escaping water, and a pressure test confirms the line is the one losing pressure.
Once the break is marked, digging begins only after 811 has been called so buried gas, electric and communication lines are located. We dig a small hole to the pipe rather than a long trench, unless the pipe is failing along its whole length.
Repair, partial replacement or a whole new line
The choice depends on where the break is, what the line is made of and how old it is. A single clean break in good pipe can be repaired with a coupling. A line with several leaks, heavy corrosion or a shape that has collapsed is better replaced.
| Situation | Typical approach | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| One clean break in sound pipe | Spot repair with a coupling | Small excavation, short interruption. |
| Repeated leaks along one stretch | Replace that section | Longer trench, new pipe and fittings. |
| Corroded or very old line | Replace the line to the house | Connection to the shutoff and a full pressure test. |
| Frost damage near the entry point | Replace the exposed run and add support | Pipe set at the right depth and bedded properly. |
Low water pressure that is not the fixtures
Weak flow at every tap points upstream of the fixtures. Common causes are a partly closed main valve, a failing pressure regulator, a corroded or restricted section of the service line, or a leak that bleeds off pressure before it reaches the house. Fixture aerators and showerheads clog from mineral buildup, but they affect single outlets, not the whole house.
We measure pressure with a gauge at the outdoor spigot or a laundry connection and compare it against the pressure at an upper floor. A large drop between those points says the restriction is inside the house. A low reading at the first tap points to the line or the utility side.
Water quality, lead and what your supply line is made of
Pipes older than the federal lead solder ban of 1986 may contain lead solder, and some older service lines were made of lead. The only way to know is to check, not to assume. A licensed plumber can identify the material at the point where the line enters the house, and a certified lab can test your tap water.
Neighboring towns publish their own results. Northborough, which received 100 percent of its water from the MWRA in 2021, reported lead tap testing at 15 homes with a 90th percentile of 1.56 parts per billion, below the 15 ppb action level. Those figures describe sampled homes, not yours, so request your own test. Southborough residents can read a similar story on our Southborough emergency plumber page.
Westborough sources and why your line matters to them
Westborough water comes from nine wells and the Westboro Reservoir according to a MassDEP source water assessment, and the Westborough Water Department adds fluoride and uses corrosion control. A leaking service line wastes treated water that the town has already paid to pump and treat, which is one reason a long unnoticed leak is worth fixing fast.
On your side, a leak also raises your own bill and can undermine soil beneath a driveway or garage slab. If the cause of a repeated leak is not obvious, we compare notes with the current annual water quality report and look for patterns in the pipe.
Planned replacement versus waiting for a failure
Replacing a service line on your schedule is cheaper and calmer than replacing it at midnight in January. If you know your line is old, has leaked before, or is made of a material you do not trust, plan the work for a dry week. We can compare trench options, discuss restoring a lawn or driveway, and handle the connection at the shutoff.
If you are also planning interior pipe changes, think about doing them together. Our page on whole-house repiping explains how supply lines inside the house are replaced.
What shapes the price of a water line repair
We give a clear price before work starts. These are the factors that move it.
Standard homeowner policies often exclude underground service line failures from wear and tear, though some insurers sell a service line endorsement. Check your policy before work starts, because it may require documentation of the failure.
Describe what you are seeing when you call, and we will explain what the first visit includes.
A service line is out of sight until it fails, which is why locating comes first. We find the break, explain the options in plain terms and give a clear price before the shovel goes in.
Code and standards note. The water service line from the street is regulated through 248 CMR 10.00 and your water utility's own rules. Call 811 Dig Safe before excavation, and ask the Westborough Building Department and Water Department what each requires.
Water Line Repair questions from Westborough homeowners
Yes. Dispatch is open 24 hours a day, every day. If you have lost water or a line is flooding a yard or basement, close the main valve, call, and a licensed plumber is sent to your address.
Close the main valve inside the house and watch the meter. If it stops, the leak is on your plumbing. If it keeps moving, ask the Westborough Water Department about the part of the system they handle and us about your line.
No. We locate the break first and dig a targeted hole. Long trenches happen only when a line is failing along most of its length, and we explain that before starting.
Yes, digging requires 811 notification so buried utilities are marked. We make the call as part of planning the excavation.
A licensed plumber can identify the pipe material where the line enters the house. For water quality, use a certified laboratory to test a sample from your tap.
Check that the main valve is fully open, then look for a failing pressure regulator or a hidden leak on the service line. Gauge readings at the first tap and at an upper floor show where to look.
A spot repair can be done in a day. A longer replacement may take more than one day depending on length, ground conditions and surface restoration. We tell you what to expect after locating the break.
Have a problem right now and want a plumber assigned? Call (508) 389-4045
Water Line Repair in Westborough, any hour
Describe the problem to dispatch and you get a clear price before work starts.