Water Main Break in Baltimore: How to Report It and Who Fixes What
Report a water main break, a leaking hydrant or water coming up in a street to Baltimore City 311. Baltimore City DPW says it maintains outdoor water lines up to and including the meter, while the line from the meter to the house and the plumbing inside are the property owner’s responsibility. This guide shows how to report a break, what to do inside your home first, who owns and pays for each part of the line in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, and what to do when service returns.
Water pouring into your home? Close the main valve inside first.
The short version
- Leak in the street or at a hydrant: report it to 311.
- Leave the meter and curb vault alone.
- Water inside your home: close the main valve there.
- Leak between the meter and the house: call a plumber.
- When water returns, run a tap until it is clear.
Step 1 of 5
Work out whether the water is on the street side or your side
A leak in the street, at a hydrant or in the meter vault is on the utility’s side; a leak between the meter and the house, or indoors, is the owner’s. DPW lists age, corrosion, soil conditions and ground settlement as the usual reasons mains break, and says freeze-thaw cycles in cold weather add to the stress.
A street-side problem often shows as water bubbling up from pavement or a lawn near the curb. If the meter keeps registering use with every tap off, the leak is on your side; DPW’s meter test for a hidden leak starts at the main valve inside the house.
Step 2 of 5
Report the break to Baltimore City 311
Call 311 to report a water main break, a leaking hydrant or an exterior water leak in Baltimore City. DPW’s Cold Weather Tips and Protect Your Water Service pages give 311 for all three, and its main break bulletin says City residents can report by phone, the 311 mobile app or online.
Give the nearest address or cross street and say whether water is reaching a building. A DPW inspector is dispatched to investigate, and DPW says the degree and severity of a break are not always known until crews are on site.
Baltimore City runs the regional water system, so Baltimore County addresses on it report to the same department. DPW’s own pages list different numbers for its County service area, so take the current one from DPW’s water emergencies guidance (baltimorecity.gov/publicworks) rather than from a number printed here.
Step 3 of 5
Close the main valve inside your home if water is coming in
If water is entering the house, or the leak is on your private line, close the main valve where the service line enters the building, the same valve DPW’s leak test starts with. Where that valve sits in Baltimore homes covers gate and ball valves. If the line has already burst indoors, the burst pipe steps cover power, photos and drying out.
Step 4 of 5
Leave the meter and curb vault alone
In Baltimore City the meter and the valves in the curb vault are City equipment. City Code § 21-6 bars anyone from connecting, disconnecting or tampering with valves belonging to the City, or with a meter, unless the law or a DPW permit allows it. DPW’s rules ask customers to notify it right away if a meter or vault is damaged or inaccessible, and DPW operates its own valves.
Step 5 of 5
Run a tap until the water is clear when service returns
DPW’s bulletin on main breaks tells customers who lost water to let it run through a sink or tub faucet until it runs clear once service returns, and says crews may open fire hydrants to clear the lines. DPW’s page says nothing about boil-water notices, so follow any notice issued for your address.
Who is responsible for the water line from the street to the house?
The utility maintains the main and the line up to the meter; the owner maintains the line from the meter to the house and everything inside. In Baltimore City that is DPW. DPW’s documents word the dividing point three ways, so treat the meter as the working boundary and ask DPW if a repair bill turns on the exact spot.
| Part of the system | Baltimore City address | Baltimore County address |
|---|---|---|
| Water main under the street | Baltimore City DPW | Baltimore City DPW for most addresses; the County owns five small systems serving about 140 properties |
| Service line from the main to the meter | DPW maintains outdoor lines up to and including the meter | The City and County describe the private part of a service line as the owner’s; confirm the exact point with DPW |
| Line from the meter to the house | Property owner | Property owner |
| Plumbing inside the house | Property owner | Property owner |
| Meter and curb vault valves | City equipment | Ask DPW before touching them |
DPW’s Rules and Regulations put the dividing point at the meter vault, or at the property line where there is no vault, and its Water Main Repair Program FAQ says the customer pays all costs to maintain the water service pipe on their property and that DPW is not responsible for repairs on private property. Meters and vaults are set at the curb line nearest the main, so where a vault exists at the curb, the owner’s stretch starts there and runs to the house.
Baltimore County’s water comes through the City system: the County’s Water Issues page says Baltimore City is responsible for the water service in Baltimore County. A 2023 City and County partnership statement adds that part of every residential service line on the regional system is privately owned. The meter-to-house ownership guide explains how the two documents fit together and how to get a bill credit after a repair.
What DPW does after a main break
DPW finds and closes the valve that feeds the broken main, marks nearby utilities, digs up the broken section, repairs or replaces it, then backfills and repaves. Its stated priority is restoring water to homes and businesses with no service.
DPW keeps an online map of active and recently completed water main repairs at baltimorecity.gov/publicworks/water-main-repairs-map, and tells residents to contact 311 for the status of a specific repair. Emergency repairs can happen outside the usual spring-to-fall construction season.
Fixing and paying for the private side of the line
The owner pays to repair the line from the meter to the house, and homeowners insurance usually does not cover it. Baltimore City DPW states that homeowners insurance plans do not typically cover repairs to exterior, underground lines.
Plumbing work in Baltimore City needs a permit, and the permit is issued to a City-licensed master plumber or gas fitter. City Code lets emergency work start before the permit as long as the City is notified promptly and the permit follows within a reasonable time. A dig in the street or sidewalk can also need a right-of-way permit from the Department of Transportation. Whoever you hire should show a Maryland license and proof of insurance; Speedy Plumbing Baltimore is a free referral service that connects homeowners with independent licensed contractors, so confirm both before work starts.
A repaired underground leak can earn a bill credit if you apply within 60 days, and the repair is the moment to confirm what the line is made of; see meter-to-house water line repair and replacement for how the work is done and the lead service line letters for the material check.
Water main break questions
How do I report a water leak in the street in Baltimore?
Call Baltimore City 311. DPW says to report water main breaks, leaking hydrants and exterior water leaks to 311, and City residents can also report by the 311 mobile app or online.
Who is responsible for the water line from the street to the house?
In Baltimore City, DPW maintains outdoor water lines up to and including the meter. The line from the meter to the house, and the plumbing inside, are the property owner’s responsibility. DPW’s rules word the dividing point as the meter vault, or the property line where no vault exists.
Is a water main break the homeowner’s responsibility?
No. The main under the street belongs to the water utility, which is Baltimore City DPW for Baltimore City and for most Baltimore County addresses. Only the private part of the service line is the owner’s.
Does homeowners insurance cover a broken water line outside the house?
Usually not. Baltimore City DPW says homeowners insurance plans do not typically cover repairs to exterior, underground lines. Check your own policy and any home warranty plan.
What should I do when the water comes back on after a main break?
Let water run through a sink or tub faucet until it runs clear, as DPW advises customers who lost service.
Leak on your side of the meter?
If the meter test or a wet lawn points to the private line, the leak has to be located and the damaged section replaced. Speedy Plumbing Baltimore can connect you with an independent licensed plumber around the clock; see Baltimore water service line repair for how that work is priced and done.
Sources
Checked 2026-10-19. Plumbing and safety guidance changes; follow your utility’s and insurer’s current instructions.
- Baltimore City DPW: What Happens When a Water Main Breaks (bulletin, Feb. 23, 2021): https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MDBALT/bulletins/2c05fe5
- Baltimore City DPW: Cold Weather Tips (service line responsibility, Jan 2026): https://www.baltimorecity.gov/publicworks/our-work/cold-weather-tips
- Baltimore City DPW: Protect Your Water Service: https://www.baltimorecity.gov/publicworks/water-system-in-the-city/protect-your-water-service
- Baltimore City DPW: Water Main Repair Program FAQs: https://www.baltimorecity.gov/publicworks/water-system-in-the-city/water-projects/water-main-faqs
- Baltimore City DPW: Water Main Repairs Map: https://www.baltimorecity.gov/publicworks/water-main-repairs-map
- Baltimore City DPW: The Rules and Regulations for Water and Wastewater (PDF): https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/cobra/attachments/21.13-Water_and_Wastewater.pdf
- Baltimore City Code, Art. 24 § 21-6: https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/24/21-6
- Baltimore City Code, Building, Fire and Related Codes, § 2903 (plumbing permits): https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/building-codes/II/2903
- Baltimore City DPW: Baltimore City and County Form Service Line Partnership: https://www.baltimorecity.gov/publicworks/news-media/press-releases/2023-12-13-baltimore-city-and-county-form-service-line-partnership-guide
- Baltimore County: Water Issues: https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/public-works/utilities/water-issues
Water on your side of the meter?
Call Speedy Plumbing Baltimore to be connected with an independent licensed plumber. The line is answered 24 hours a day.
Call (410) 378-7792