About Water Line Rules
Water Line Rules is a free, independent reference site published by Directory Assistance Group. We focus on one practical question: who is responsible for the water service line, and where that answer changes.
What this site covers
We track the usual split between homeowner and utility responsibility for the water service line from the water main to the house. That includes common handoff points like the curb stop, meter, meter pit, and the section of line on private property.
We also gather plain-English notes on leaks, emergency shutoffs, permits, repair rules, and assistance programs. Our goal is to help people ask better questions before they pay for excavation or call the wrong office.
How to use it well
Begin with your state guide for the broad pattern, then use city, county, utility, or ZIP search to narrow it down. If your property is older, has a lead service line, sits on a corner lot, shares a line, or has a meter vault or unusual easement, treat the local utility's official rule as the final word.
Who writes it
Water Line Rules is published by Directory Assistance Group, an independent publisher of free lookup tools and directories, and is written and maintained by a small editorial team. We are not lawyers, engineers, doctors, or government officials, and we do not claim to be. What we do is read the primary sources (statutes, agency guidance, university extension publications, and official court and health-department pages), turn them into plain steps, and link every claim back to where it came from.
How the site is paid for
The site is free to use and is supported by advertising, clearly labeled featured listings, and a few Amazon affiliate links. Advertisers do not choose or review our topics, and payment never changes what a guide says or the official details we list. Read our editorial standards for how we pick sources, correct mistakes, and keep ads separate from content.
Tell us what we got wrong
Rules change and local details vary. If you spot an error or an out-of-date figure, please send us a note with a link to the source. We read every correction and date-stamp the fix.