Hayes Plumbing handles water line replacement in Pickering, from a spot repair on a leaking section to a new service pipe from the property line to the house. Pickering is at the west end of an area we serve from Newcastle to Pickering. The City of Pickering lists any plumbing among the projects that may require a building permit, and the Region of Durham, which owns the service pipe up to the property line, shuts the water off at the service box on request so the private section can be worked on. You see the full price in writing before any digging starts.
City of Pickering permit rules for water lines
Pickering's building permit page lists any plumbing, and installing or modifying plumbing systems, among the projects that may require a permit. Its examples of work that typically does not need one include a toilet or sink swapped for the same kind of CSA approved fixture, with no relocation and no pipe or plumbing work, and a hot water tank replacement; replacing a water service is pipe work, so plan on a permit. Replacing a water service is pipe work, so plan on a permit.
Questions go to the City's Building Services at 905-420-4631, and the City Development front counter at the Civic Centre, One The Esplanade, takes walk-in enquiries.
Signs your Pickering water line needs work
- Pressure is low at every fixture, and the Region has ruled out a watermain break and a main valve that is only partly open.
- The meter's flow indicator keeps moving with all water turned off, which the Region's leak guidance treats as a sign of a leak.
- Water stays rusty after running for 10 to 20 minutes, the point at which the Region asks residents to call it.
- The lawn over the line stays soggy, or greener than the rest of the yard, in dry weather.
- The pipe at the meter is dull grey and scratches to bright silver, which is how the Region describes lead.
Shut-off, locates and the Region's role
The Region of Durham runs an Ajax/Pickering Works depot on Salem Road, and Region crews shut off the water from the service box outside your home when you book it at least 48 hours ahead. There is a fee for the shut-off, added to your water bill, and emergency shut-offs outside normal working hours can also be arranged.
Digging waits for locates. A request to Ontario Dig Authority, which replaced the Ontario One Call name, has to go in at least 5 business days before the dig, and work starts only after every notified utility has responded.
Water line cost in Pickering
Our 2026 cost guide's figures for leak and drain line repair give $3,000 to $10,000 as the planning range for a full line replacement and $500 to $1,500 for a spot repair. In Pickering, the length of the run from the property line, any driveway or interlock over the pipe, and the City permit fee are the main variables. If the line is lead, the Region covers the cost of renewing its own section once yours is being replaced. A free in-home estimate and a written quote come first.
Related services in Pickering
- Leak Detection & Repair
- Burst & Frozen Pipe Repair
- Pipe Repair & Repiping
- Gas Line Installation & Repair