Erie runs its own town water system, and a leak on the buried line between the meter and your house is generally a private plumbing repair. The town's plumbing permit types include water line repair, so expect a permit from the Erie Building Division. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Erie.
Erie's water system and your line
The Town of Erie owns its water system, with roughly 13,228 water taps. Most of the water is Colorado-Big Thompson supply piped from Carter Lake and treated at the Lynn R. Morgan Water Treatment Facility in town. Connections with Lafayette and Lefthand are for emergencies only, so practically every Erie customer is on town water.
The town's published pages don't say exactly where its pipe ends and the owner's begins. In many metro systems the owner is responsible on the house side of the meter or curb stop, but if water is surfacing at the meter itself, contact the town before digging; Utility Billing is 303-926-2700 on weekdays. Erie keeps a service line inventory that classifies line materials as required, and the water division can provide a copy.
Erie is a former coal-mining town, settled in 1867, that straddles the Boulder-Weld county line and has grown fast. Homes near Old Town on Briggs Street may have older service lines, while the large newer subdivisions tend to have plastic or copper lines that fail at fittings or where later landscaping, fencing or decks disturbed them. Erie's Building Division at 645 Holbrook Street (303-926-2780) lists water line repair as one of its plumbing permit subtypes.
Repair or replace
| Approach | Typical case | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Fix one section | A single break on a newer line | Quick and contained |
| Trench a new line | Older line or repeated leaks, open yard | Clean start; lawn and sprinklers need repair |
| Bore or pull a new line | Driveway, patio or trees over the route | Less digging; depends on soil |
Signs of trouble
- A wet or sunken patch between the meter and the house
- Pressure loss at every fixture
- The meter moving with no water in use
- A town utility bill higher than usual
Timing through the year
Northern Front Range winters bring hard freezes and quick thaws, and soil settling in newer subdivisions can add stress to joints. Leaks often show up when sprinklers start in spring. Small leaks can be scheduled, but water flowing into the yard or the basement means closing the main shutoff and getting help right away.
Water Line Repair questions in Erie
Do I need a permit to repair or replace my water service line?
What material is my service line likely made of?
Should I call the water provider or a plumber first?
Will Colorado 811 mark my private water line?
More plumbing services in Erie
Water Line Repair nearby
Sources
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