Boston · Suffolk County
Water Line Repair and Replacement in Boston, MA
Many Boston homes built before about 1950 were connected with lead water service lines. The Boston Water and Sewer Commission owns the public portion; the property owner owns the private portion from the property line to the building. The commission runs a program to help owners replace their part, so check your address with it first.
- Independent local pros
- Free referral, no obligation
- You approve the price before work starts
What is different about water line repair and replacement in Boston?
The commission keeps records of service line materials by address. If yours is listed as lead or unknown, confirm at the pipe where it enters the basement: lead is dull gray, soft enough to scratch shiny, and a magnet will not stick. Replacing the private side on its own, while lead remains on the public side, is discouraged, so ask how the two can be done together.
Dense streets and old infrastructure make the excavation here slower than in a suburb: narrow sidewalks, granite curbs, other utilities close by, and frost depth that puts the line well below grade. New lines are often pulled through the old path to limit digging. The work must be done by a licensed plumber with a permit.
From the Boston plumbing guide
Lead service lines
The private side of a lead service line belongs to the property owner. Check the Boston Water and Sewer Commission's records and replacement incentives for your address.
What to check and ask before work starts in Boston
- Look up your address in the Boston Water and Sewer Commission's lead service records
- Ask the commission what its replacement program covers and how to apply
- Ask whether the public and private sides can be replaced at the same time
- Ask the plumber for their Massachusetts license number and who files the permit
Licensing and permits for water line repair and replacement in Boston
Massachusetts licenses plumbers and gas fitters through the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters. State rules require a permit for nearly all plumbing work and do not allow unlicensed people, including homeowners, to perform it. Permits in Boston are issued by the Inspectional Services Department.
Keystream Plumbing is a referral service. We do not perform plumbing work or hold a contractor license. The independent plumber you are connected with is responsible for licensing, permits and the work itself.
What the job usually involves
The steps are the same in Boston as anywhere; the local conditions above change how each one is done.
- Confirm and locate
- Mark utilities
- Repair or replace
- Test and restore
Water Line Repair and Replacement questions from Boston
Does Boston help pay for lead service line replacement?
The Boston Water and Sewer Commission offers a program to help property owners replace the private portion of a lead service line. Terms change, so contact the commission for the current details for your address.
Which part of the water service line do I own in Boston?
The property owner owns the private portion, from the property line to the building. The Boston Water and Sewer Commission owns the public portion from the main to the property line.
Sources
- Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Lead service lines, US Environmental Protection Agency
Local information reviewed October 1, 2026. Rules and programs change; confirm details with the agency before you rely on them.
More plumbing help in Boston
Water Line Repair and Replacement in other cities
Ownership rules, soil, water and pipe materials make this a different job from one city to the next.
Related guides: Low Water Pressure: Causes and Fixes.
Need water line repair and replacement in Boston?
Call (833) 520-4758. Same-day service is often available; call to check timing.