For renewing or requesting a new water service, the property owner must first submit a water service application to the Utilities Division, located at the water billing office at City Hall. Once application is submitted, the Utilities Division (617-796-1640) will then generate a cost estimate for you. This estimate includes the cost of labor and materials for the Utilities Division to lay the new copper water service, and this includes tapping the water main and laying the pipe into the foundation to connect to the water meter. Once this estimate is paid, it is the responsibility of a private utility contractor of your choice, and paid by the property owner, to coordinate with the Utilities Division and excavate the trench for the water service. Your contractor is also responsible to backfill and restore the trench in the roadway and on your private property. The utility contractor must obtain an Engineering Permit to do this work and have it inspected by the Engineering Division. Once the work is inspected and signed off by the assigned construction inspector, the water service is considered complete.

For renewing a sewer service in its existing location, the Engineering Division requires a permit application to be submitted by a bonded and insured utility contractor. The contractor hired by the property owner is responsible to excavate the trench, install the new sewer service, and to backfill and restore the trench. This can be the same contractor that excavated for the water service. If this is the case, then the sewer permit can be consolidated on the same permit application as the water service. If there are two separate contractors, then two separate permit applications are required. Once the contractor is issued the permit to renew the sewer service, he can then coordinate a start date and inspections with his construction inspector to receive sign-offs. Just like a water service, once our construction inspector is satisfied with the work, they will then sign off on the renewed sewer service indicating it has been completed to city standards. 

Sewer Lining can be considered for renewing a sewer service, however there are certain conditions that must be met.

1. The existing sewer service must be inspected using CCTV with an Engineering Inspector present to view the pre-construction condition of the existing service.
2. The existing sewer service must be deemed a candidate for lining by the Engineering Inspector.
3. The lining contractor must then submit a permit application for the work to commence.
4. The sewer service must be inspected using CCTV with an Engineering Inspector present to view the post-construction condition of the lined sewer service.
5. After these steps have been taken the Engineering Inspector will sign off on the lined sewer service, indicating that the work has been performed to our standards.