Water/Sewer Service Pipes

Your Water Service Pipe

Your water service extends from its connection to the main in the street up to and including your meter. Yours is the only property being serviced by that line.  As the property owner, you are responsible for maintaining your water service in good working order at your expense. Even though it is your service, the city must perform any required work in order to maintain records not only for you, but also for any future owners.  When a service pipe leaks, it is essential that it be fixed properly.  The results of water service pipe leaks can be destructive as well as pose health risks.

Lead Service Line Inventory

The City is in the process of performing a lead service line inventory in accordance with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) requirements. The preliminary results of the inventory were submitted to MassDEP on October 10, 2024. For information about the program, click here.

Your Sewer Service Pipe

Each property is required to have a separate sewer service. Your service extends from its connection to the sewer main in the street to the plumbing in your house.  As the property owner you are responsible for maintaining your service in good working order at your expense.  The property owner is also responsible for expenses incurred in determining or relieving the cause of any blockage in the sewer service pipe from the building foundation to the connection to the City’s line.

Prohibited Connections

Connections of roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains, areaway drains or other sources of surface water, runoff, or groundwater to your sewer service are prohibited. Water from these sources is clean and can be discharged to a separate storm drain, to your yard, or other landscaped area. Disconnecting these sources of clean water from the sewer will help reduce combined sewer overflows.