Pipe burst outside the house: who fixes it?

Who owns what

• Atlanta: the city repairs the line from the main to the meter; the homeowner repairs the line from the meter to the house (Atlanta Watershed Management).
• DeKalb: the county owns the line from the main to the meter, including the meter; the owner is responsible from the meter to the home's plumbing (DeKalb County).
• Cobb: the county maintains the line from the main to the meter; the owner maintains the line from the meter to the building or irrigation system (Cobb County Water System).
• Gwinnett: everything on the customer's side of the meter is the owner's to maintain, repair or replace (Gwinnett County).

Shutting it off

For a break on your side, your main valve inside the house may not help if the break is before it. ATL311 says that for an emergency shut-off because of a burst pipe on private property, contact a licensed plumber or call ATL311 at 404-546-0311 (ATL311). Don't turn city service back on yourself afterward; ATL311 says that is illegal (ATL311).

Hose bibs and irrigation

An outside faucet or sprinkler line is also on your side. The City of Atlanta reminds residents to disconnect and drain outdoor hoses in cold weather (City of Atlanta). For sprinkler systems, see irrigation line leaks.

Insurance

The Georgia Attorney General's consumer office says many homeowner policies do not cover the water line from the street to the house (Georgia Consumer Ed). Ask your agent before work begins.

Common questions

Can I get the extra water taken off my bill?

Atlanta may adjust bills for some customer-side leaks with proof of repair (Atlanta Watershed Management). See high water bill leak adjustments.