If the repair is yours to pay
Get more than one quote before you agree to a price, and ask the contractor to confirm where the property line and the public side begin.
Compare licensed plumbers on AngiGet more than one quote before a sewer, water-line, or drain repair.
See what a home warranty covers (Choice)Read the coverage and exclusions before you buy; not every repair qualifies.
Partner link. Who Pays the Repair? may earn a commission if you request a quote or sign up, at no cost to you. It never changes who we say pays.
Default rule and exceptions
Citizens Energy Group says the customer owns the full length of the water service line, but leak repair cost splits at the right-of-way line: leaks outside the ROW (on the customer's property) are repaired at the customer's expense, while leaks within the ROW are repaired by Citizens at the utility's expense.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Owns the full length of the water service line; pays for repair of any leak outside the right-of-way (on the customer's property) using a licensed and bonded plumber, and maintains the water meter pit. |
| City / utility | Citizens Energy Group repairs, at its own expense, any leak within the right-of-way, and maintains the water meter. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 24, 2026.
Owns the full length of the water service line, with shared maintenance responsibility as listed below: All leaks outside the right-of-way (on the customer's property) shall be repaired by a licensed and bonded plumber at the customer's expense. All leaks in the right-of-way (not on the customer's property) shall be repaired by Citizens Energy Group (Citizens) at the utility's expense.
The property owner is responsible for maintaining the water meter pit and all the related materials. Citizens is responsible for maintaining the water meter.
City rules rest on state law. Read Indiana's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for water service line in Indianapolis, IN?
Responsibility is shared. Owns the full length of the water service line; pays for repair of any leak outside the right-of-way (on the customer's property) using a licensed and bonded plumber, and maintains the water meter pit.
What is this based on for Indianapolis, IN?
This verdict is sourced to Water Meter & Service Line Responsibility and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Water Meter & Service Line Responsibilityofficial-guide · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
- Your Customer Rights & Responsibilitiesofficial-guide · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
Spot an error? Challenge this record
Found an out-of-date code section, a wrong verdict, or a better primary source? Tell us. Corrections that check out are applied, with the change shown in history. That is our standing policy.