Sewer & Water Line Excavation in Pittsburgh, PA

Sewer and water line excavation is the digging behind most lateral and service line replacements: locating the line, opening a safe trench from the house toward the street, holding it open while the pipe is replaced, then backfilling and restoring the yard, walk or pavement. Licensed plumbers make the connections; we handle the earth.

Ownership in the city

Inside Pittsburgh Water's area, the property owner is responsible for the whole sewer lateral, from the house all the way to the public main, while the utility maintains the main and the wye at the joint. For water, the utility covers the line from the main through the curb box, and the owner is responsible from the curb box to the meter. That means a lateral replacement often includes digging under the sidewalk or street, which brings city permits and restoration into the job.

Lead service lines

Pittsburgh Water reports more than 12,500 private-side lead service line replacements. If your house still has a lead line on the private side, replacing it is a trench job from the curb box to the house. We dig and restore; the replacement is done by the plumber or the utility program.

Costs

HomeAdvisor lists sewer line replacement at $60 to $250 per linear foot, with most sewer projects between $1,388 and $5,323, and trenching itself at $4 to $12 per foot. Water main replacement from street to house typically runs $50 to $150 per foot. On hills, laterals can be long and deep, which adds to the cost.

Trench safety

Federal OSHA rules call for protective systems such as sloping, benching or a trench box in trenches 5 feet deep or more. Pittsburgh laterals are often deeper on the street side. We set up protection for the depth before anyone works in the trench.

On slopes

A trench that runs downhill can carry water and erode, and a trench across a slope can cut into it. We keep trench sections short, backfill and compact quickly, and add cutoffs or stone where water could follow the new line.

Suburban authorities

Outside the city, many municipalities and authorities have their own lateral rules, including inspections or certifications when homes are sold. We check what applies to your address before digging.