Something doesn't smell right. Follow the paper trail and get a good lawyer. There is some accountability on the part of the city...they put it in, they designed it (did they design it right?)....they can't abandon it to you near its end of life then expect you to replace it.

There are companies that install water service to homes. Contact them. My pops once inquired to get city water to his house that is on a well. The hydrant was insight and the run of pipe must have been 300-400 feet. IIRC the estimate was less than $4K.

I wouldn't repair the leak if you can't line it as Sammy recommended. I would run a new line parrallel to the old line and tap into the old line at the tap valve. (is that tap valve under the road? Is it next to the sidewalk? Under the road will be very expensive.

I had a contractor run over 700 feet of 1.5" plastic pipe to connect water to our guest house...it was $3000 with valves at both ends and a teed to feed my barn.

Do it the best and most economical, then sent the bill to the city.

This is the house in Kenbridge Va.

I have looked online for information on the town code and ordinances but haven't found any.

That leak belongs to the city. I would make damn sure they know about it too. If they insist on it being yours then you should have the option to ignore it and let it undermine the road.

Before the meter is about the same as them saying YOU are responsible for the leak 5 houses down.

In that case, do nothing. There will eventually be a sinkhole. Let the county fix that.

And p911dad is right, imo.

You could always start writing to politicians and news outlets.

Unfortunately, "doesn't seem right", "not fair", and "tell them to pound sand..." all sound good but aren't justification for avoiding your legal responsibility. In most communities, you have a responsibility to maintain sidewalks that are in front of but not on your property. If you doubt that, ask a homeowners insurance agent how many claims are paid by HO insurance for accidents on the sidewalk...
The township does have the legal right to say you have to pay. Some do, some only hold you liable once the pipe crosses onto your personal property. What throws a lot of folks off is when the sidewalk is in the easement area. You own it and pay taxes on it but have no control over it. The best you can hope for is that they don't have this claim that it is your responsibility in concrete (pardon the pun) written legal terms.
Sure, you can try saying "no". In return they can shut off your water and deny a request to tap into the main for your property.

FYI to those who don't know, there are companies that sell warranties for your water service line. If something leaks or breaks, you pay nothing other than the premiums for the plan. Good insurance.

You could ask them how do they know it's your water line? Tell them if they dig it up and prove it's your line, you will pay to fill the hole in. :)

Peppy, call at least five recommended plumbers and ask them if what you've been told is correct. And while you're at it, ask them if they've used any creative ideas to do the job such as the ones mentioned in sammy's post #24.

Either way, get a local TV station involved if you think it might prove fruitful.

This is America isn't it? Sue the guy who drove the truck down the road that ruptured your water pipe ;)

now your talkin'!!!;)

Update
 

The leak was at the valve and was located under the grass between the sidewalk and the road. My plumber BIL will run a new line from the valve under the sidewalk to the meter.

We have been having pressure and flow issues with this house for 40 years and never could fix it. Well the second picture shows what was in the water meter. My BIL said it was a piece from where the tap was place in the main line.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1375476332.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1375476334.jpg

Peppy, after all that, you need a hug.

How did he get the main shut off?

He didn't. The town will not turn the water off for you to do these repairs. The valve in the picture did stop the flow but had to be replaced under pressure.

:D:D

Ding ding ding, we have a winner!

What a stupid ordonance they passed.
Don't they worry about amateurs might pollute or contaminate the water when trying to fix it?
Over here, if you're not from the watercompany, you are not touching it, even if it's flooding your home.
Same goes for gaspipes...

Okay, I gotta ask. If I understand this correctly, a line from the valve in the picture to your meter had to be replaced, and so did the valve itself. Just how did the valve get replaced with the line feeding it from the main still pressurized? Is it like trying to screw on a hose nozzle while the hose is turned on full-blast--only worse? How did you do it?

You get muddy, that's how. If the valve is open it can be done.

This whole thing sounds really screwy to me.

(Sorry)

But the biggest question is why do you eat artificially flavored icecream?
I still say that is not your issue, you are a good man for doing that repair.

The lines have to stay pressurized to prevent back flow. Open the valve and screw it off and then screw on the new one with the valve open. My bil said up to 1 inch is not too bad.

Sometimes it's about volume not quality.

The good news is my water pressure issues are now fixed. I had a few neighbors stop buy and they where also unaware of our responsibly for the water lines and they all have water pressure issues.