Water Line Replacement and Repair in Oshawa and Durham Region
Low pressure, a soggy strip of lawn or a lead pipe at the meter? We repair and replace the water service line on your side of the property line, with a written quote before work starts.
Water line replacement is the repair or renewal of the underground water service pipe that carries water from the municipal watermain into your home. In Durham Region that pipe is jointly owned: the Region of Durham looks after the section in the public right of way up to the property line, and the property owner is responsible for the section on private property. Hayes Plumbing repairs and replaces the private side of water service lines in Oshawa and across Durham Region, including lead pipe replacement in older homes. We identify what the existing pipe is made of, plan the locates and municipal plumbing permit the job needs, and give you a written quote before any work starts.
What this service includes
Water service line replacement from the property line to the house
Lead pipe replacement on the private side
Main water line repair for leaks and breaks
Main shut-off valve replacement
Locates requested before any digging
Municipal plumbing permit and inspection
Contractor agreement or invoice for the Region of Durham Lead Service Replacement Program
Copper or plastic service pipe of a type recognized by the Ontario Building Code
01Water pressure has dropped at every tap in the house, not just one.
02A strip of lawn between the street and the house stays wet or unusually green in dry weather.
03Your water bill has climbed and the flow indicator on the meter keeps moving with every tap off.
04Rusty or discoloured water does not clear after running the cold tap for 10 to 20 minutes.
05The pipe coming up to the meter is dull grey and soft, and turns bright silver when scratched, the Region's description of lead.
06The house was built before the mid-1950s and the service pipe has never been replaced.
07There is a leak at the main shut-off valve or where the pipe comes through the foundation.
Our water line repair & replacement process
01
Find the cause
We confirm whether the problem is the service line, the main shut-off or the plumbing inside, and identify the pipe material at the meter.
02
Locates, permit and shut-off
Locates go to Ontario Dig Authority (formerly Ontario One Call) at least 5 business days before digging, the plumbing permit comes from your municipality, and the Region shuts the water off at the service box (book 48 hours ahead; the Region charges a fee).
03
Repair or replace
The damaged section, or the whole private-side line, is replaced and connected at the property line and inside the house.
04
Test and inspect
The new line is checked for leaks under pressure, the municipal inspection is completed and the plumbing is flushed before normal use.
Trusted for water line repair & replacement across Durham Region.
Licensed plumbers, WSIB certified, BBB accredited and members of the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce.
Written pricing
Free in-home estimates and the price in writing before any work starts.
Local since 1961
Founded in Oshawa by Brian Hayes in 1961, with seven fully stocked service vehicles across Durham Region.
24/7 live operator
A real person answers emergency calls around the clock and dispatches from Oshawa.
What does water line repair & replacement cost in Durham Region?
Our 2026 Oshawa plumbing cost guide puts leak and drain line repair at $500 to $1,500 for spot repairs and $3,000 to $10,000 for a full line replacement, which is the planning range we use for water service lines. Length, depth, what sits on top of the line (lawn, driveway or landscaping) and the permit decide where a job falls. For a lead service, the Region of Durham replaces and pays for the Region-owned section under its Lead Service Replacement Program when you replace the private section, and the private-side cost is yours. We provide a free in-home estimate and a written quote before work starts.
Common questions about water line repair & replacement in Oshawa and Durham Region.
The pipe is shared. The Region of Durham repairs the water service connection within the public right of way, up to the property line, and the homeowner is responsible for the section on private property. Inside the house, the Region repairs leaks at the water meter and its fittings, but the shut-off valves on both sides of the meter are the homeowner's.
The Region of Durham says homes built before the mid-1950s may have one. Look at the pipe that connects to the water meter: lead is dull grey, soft and turns bright silver when scratched with a key or coin. The Region recommends having a licensed plumber confirm it, and it offers free lead testing of drinking water for homes on municipal water built before 1990.
Yes, for its own section. If you have a confirmed lead service and replace the private portion, the Region replaces the lead pipe on municipal property at its cost. You apply with a signed agreement from your contractor or an invoice showing the private side has been replaced. The private-side cost is not reimbursed. Health Canada and the Region both say replacing the full lead service is the best way to reduce lead exposure.
Our 2026 cost guide gives $3,000 to $10,000 for a full line replacement and $500 to $1,500 for a spot repair. Length, depth, paving or landscaping over the line and the permit move the price within that range, and we confirm it in writing after a free in-home estimate.
Plan on one. Local building departments list plumbing repair or replacement among work that needs a permit: Oshawa lists new plumbing systems including repair or replacement, Pickering lists any plumbing, and Clarington lists altering or adding any plumbing. The permit comes from your local municipality's building department.
The Ontario Building Code recognizes copper water tube, polyethylene water pipe (which it limits to water service use) and crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) tubing that meet the listed CSA or ASTM standards. On the municipal side, the Region of Durham's standard drawings for 19 mm and 25 mm residential services call for copper.
Sources
Local rules, programs and figures on this page come from these sources.
Find out whether low pressure is a single fixture or the whole house, the quick fixes you can try yourself, and the causes that need a licensed plumber.
Long-standing research shows that direct exposure to lead can be harmful to human health. The negative effects of lead exposure are particularly dangerous for young children and pregnant women. Even low levels of lead within the home can harm a child’s intellectual development, size and behaviour. It’s therefore important to prevent all sources of potential
