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Default rule and exceptions
Split at the meter. Seattle Public Utilities frames the water meter as the divide between the customer’s side and the City’s side; the customer owns the customer-side pipes.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Seattle Public Utilities (Director’s Rule CS-325) treats a leak "on either the customer’s side or the City side of the water meter," with the customer responsible for customer-owned pipes. |
| City / public agency | Seattle Public Utilities is responsible for the City side of the water meter. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 10, 2026.
This Director’s Rule establishes the requirements and process for Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) customers to request adjustments to water and sewer charges when a leak occurs in the water system on either the customer’s side or the City side of the water meter.
City rules rest on state law. Read Washington's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for water service line in Seattle, WA?
Responsibility is shared. Seattle Public Utilities (Director’s Rule CS-325) treats a leak "on either the customer’s side or the City side of the water meter," with the customer responsible for customer-owned pipes.
What is this based on for Seattle, WA?
This verdict is sourced to Director’s Rule CS-325: leak adjustments (retail customers) and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Director’s Rule CS-325: leak adjustments (retail customers)official · verified-official · accessed 2026-09-10
- Seattle Public Utilitiesofficial · verified-official · accessed 2026-09-10
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Found an out-of-date code section, a wrong verdict, or a better primary source?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.