Pressure dropped or the yard is wet: signs the service line is failing
Weak pressure everywhere
Every shower and tap runs weaker at once. That points to the line before the house branches, not a single clogged aerator.
A wet strip of lawn
A soft, green or sunken patch along the route from the street, with no rain, often sits above a leak.
Meter spinning with water off
If the dial moves when every fixture is closed, water is escaping past the meter.
Sputtering or discolored water
Air in the line or cloudy water after a pressure change can follow a break.
Sound near the meter
A hiss or rush at the point where the line enters the house is worth tracking down fast.
Low pressure that is limited to one fixture is a different problem. A clogged cartridge or a partly closed stop valve is more likely. If it is the whole house, check the main valve is fully open first, then call.
Service line leak at night: what to do first
A leaking buried line can wash out soil under a driveway, flood a basement window well or undermine a slab. Do not wait for daylight if water is surfacing or entering the house. We answer 24/7, offer same-day appointments when a crew is free and give you a clear price before any digging starts.
Before the plumber arrives
Close the main valve
Find it where the line enters the house. Turn it fully clockwise. If it will not turn, do not force it. Tell dispatch.
Keep clear of the water
Flooded ground can hide a washout. Keep children and pets away from soft soil near the break.
Stay out of wet electrical areas
If water is in a basement with a panel, leave the area and call the utility or 911.
Know your meter
Note the reading and take a photo of the meter and the wet area. It helps the utility and your insurer.
Who owns which part of the line
Water service in Farmington is not provided by one utility. Connecticut Water's Unionville and Avon systems and its Chimney Hill system serve different parts of town, and Chimney Hill buys its water from the MDC. Your bill shows which system you are on, and Connecticut Water's customer line is 1-800-286-5700.
Where the utility's responsibility ends and yours begins is a question for the utility. Ask before you hire anyone to dig, because it decides who pays and who may excavate.
A lead line check you can do online
Connecticut Water says it finished an initial service line inventory in 2024 and publishes it on a lookup portal at ctwater.com/serviceline. If your line is made of lead or is unknown, a repair or replacement is a good time to discuss it. DPH says boiling does not reduce lead and advises flushing a tap unused for six hours until the water runs colder, usually about 15 to 30 seconds.
The 2025 Unionville System report lists a lead 90th percentile of 2.0 ppb against the 15 ppb action level, with none of 36 samples above it. It lists the typical source as corrosion of household plumbing. Ask your utility for the report that covers your address.
Buried line leaks: how they are found and fixed
Finding the break comes before digging. Acoustic listening follows the sound along the route, and pressure testing confirms the line is losing water. Once the spot is marked, 811 must be called before mechanized digging. Per state rules the notice goes in at least two full business days before the work.
Open trench
- Exposes the pipe so it can be seen and repaired directly
- Works for short runs, a single fitting or a spot repair
- Needs lawn, driveway or garden restoration afterward
Trenchless
- Pulls or bursts a new line through the old route with two small pits
- Leaves lawns and driveways largely intact on a long run
- Needs a clear route and is not right for every layout
Farmington's online permitting lists obstruction and excavation permits, so ask the town whether your job touches a street or a right of way. For work near the street, the water utility has a say too. Plumbers working on this type of line should hold the right Connecticut license, and a P-1 or the limited sewer, storm and water contractor class covers it. Check on eLicense.
Which license covers the water line
The Department of Consumer Protection lists a P-7 limited sewer, storm and water contractor license for piping from the utility's point of responsibility to a point immediately inside a structure, and an unlimited P-1 contractor can do all plumbing work. Call 811 before any digging so buried utilities are marked. Repairs follow the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) adopted through the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code.
Is it the service line?
If the whole house lost pressure or a wet patch is spreading in the yard, describe it to dispatch and get a same-day visit when a crew is free.
Whole-house pressure: line, valve or utility?
| Pattern | Likely cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| One fixture only | Clogged aerator or cartridge | Clean the fixture or see faucet repair |
| Hot water only | Water heater side issue | Check water heater repair |
| Whole house, sudden | Closed main or a service line leak | Check the main valve, then call |
| Whole house, gradual | Corroded or partially blocked line | Plumber inspection |
| Neighbors affected too | Utility main or supply issue | Call the water utility |
New lines and new construction connections
A service line is also installed for a new house, an addition or a detached garage. The same planning applies: call 811, ask the utility for its connection rules and ask the town building department which permits apply. Connecticut's code requires an application before you install or replace a regulated plumbing system. Also see plumbing installation.
How the price of a water line repair is built
What drives the number
A water line job can range from a single fitting to a long replacement, and the surface above the pipe is a big part of the price.