Water Pooling Near the Meter? Do This First
A service line leak runs day and night underground, and the first sign is often a soft, wet patch in the yard. Call us at any hour, because our dispatch line is open 24/7. Close the home's main valve, which is the one on your side of the meter.
Leave the utility's valve in the meter box alone. It belongs to the city, and a stuck valve can snap if forced. If water is gushing out of the ground, call the City of Dania Beach as well, since the break may be on its side of the meter.
Keep children and pets off soft ground near the leak, since soil can collapse into a washed-out hole. Photograph the wet area and the meter first.
Where the Line Runs and Who Handles Which Part
The line starts at the water main under the street, passes through the meter and runs underground to the house. A line in a home built near the Dania Beach median year of 1977 may be decades old.
Where the city's responsibility ends and yours begins can differ by utility, so ask City of Dania Beach utility customer service before you dig. The table shows the usual split, and we can help you sort out the details on your address.
| Part of the system | Where it is | Who to call |
|---|---|---|
| Water main | Under the street | City of Dania Beach |
| Meter and meter valve | In a box at the curb or property edge | City of Dania Beach |
| Service line, meter to house | Buried in the yard | Ask the city where its side ends, then call us for your part |
| Main shutoff valve and pipes inside | At the house wall and in the walls | Dania 24/7 Plumbing |
The Meter Keeps Running With Everything Off
A dial that moves when nothing is in use is the clearest sign of a service line leak. Close all fixtures, close the main valve at the house, and look at the meter. If it still turns, water is escaping between the meter and the main valve.
- Shut off every tap, the ice maker and the irrigation timer.
- Open the meter box carefully and watch for insects.
- Note the reading, including any small leak dial or triangle.
- Close the main valve at the house and wait ten minutes.
- If the dial still moves, the leak is on the service line. If it stops, the leak is inside the house.
Signs the Line Is Failing
A broken service line does not always flood the yard. In porous ground, water can drain downward and show up as a lush patch of grass or a sunken spot in the driveway. Low pressure and a high bill with no visible cause are other clues.
- Unexplained wet or spongy ground between the meter and the house
- Low pressure or a gurgle when you open a tap
- Meter running with the main closed
- A sinkhole or crack in pavement along the line
Low Water Pressure: Fixture, House or Line?
Where the pressure drops tells you where to look. One faucet that runs weak usually has a clogged aerator or a partly closed stop valve. Weak hot water only points toward the water heater. Weak pressure at every tap can come from a partly closed main valve, a failing regulator if your house has one, damaged pipe inside the house or a leaking service line.
Ask a neighbor whether pressure is down on their side too, since a city problem looks the same from inside. If the main valve at the house is fully open and the meter spins with fixtures off, the line is the likely suspect. Photograph the meter and call us.
Before Anyone Digs: Sunshine 811
Florida law requires an excavator to contact the one-call system at least two full business days before digging, and the notice is valid for 30 calendar days. Sunshine 811 says weekends and holidays do not count. The tolerance zone is 24 inches from the outside edge of each marked facility.
Gas, electric and phone lines may run near a service line. Peoples Gas serves parts of Broward County, so if you smell gas, leave the area and call 911 first. We make sure the 811 ticket is placed for any dig we perform.
Spot Repair, Replacement or Trenchless?
If the pipe is in good shape and a single joint failed, a spot repair may be enough. When the pipe is old, brittle or has leaked more than once, replacing the whole run is the safer path.
Trenchless methods can save a driveway or a mature tree. Pipe lining coats the inside of the old line. Pipe bursting pulls a new line through as it breaks the old one apart. Both need small entry pits, and soil and pipe condition decide which fits.
Service Line Repair Is Not Repiping
Repiping replaces the supply pipes inside the house. Service line work covers only the buried run from the meter to the wall. A new service line joined to corroded pipes inside can still leave you with low pressure. Our repiping page explains the interior side.
Lead is a separate question. The City of Dania Beach had to finish a lead service line inventory by October 16, 2024, and its water report says residents can ask the City Clerk for it. For a home built in the 1970s, it is fair to ask. If a lead line is found, we can talk about replacement.
Quick Checks at the Meter and in the Yard
A few simple checks help us understand the situation faster.
- Close the home's main valve and watch the meter.
- Look for wet ground, grass that grows faster or a soft spot along the line.
- Photograph the meter, the wet area and the main valve.
- Do not dig. Call 811 first, and call us to plan the work.
What Service Line Repair Costs in South Florida
National published guides put water service line replacement at about $50 to $150 per foot in one guide and $75 to $225 per foot in another. Whole projects run from about $1,500 to $12,000 in one guide. Florida prices vary, and we have no Broward figure to quote.
Length, depth and what sits above the line drive the price more than anything else.
What moves the price
- Length of the run. Per-foot pricing means a long yard costs more than a short one.
- Surface above. Concrete, pavers, trees and fences raise the cost of digging.
- Method. Trenchless work needs special equipment, while open trenching needs more restoration.
- Permits and inspections. Ask the Dania Beach Building Division what your address needs.
| Work | Published range |
|---|---|
| Service line replacement, national guides | $50 to $150 per foot, up to $225 in another guide |
| Whole project, one national guide | $1,500 to $12,000 |
| Trenchless lining or bursting, one guide | $75 to $150 per foot |
Policies differ. Some treat buried lines outside the foundation differently or sell that coverage as an add-on, and many separate sudden breaks from slow wear. Ask your insurer whether service line coverage is included.
A real number needs a look at the run and what covers it. Call (954) 697-4920, describe what you see at the meter, and we will explain the options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you handle water service line repair emergencies at night or on weekends in Dania?
Yes. Our dispatch line runs 24/7. We cannot promise an arrival time by phone. Close your home's main valve while you wait, and call the city if water is pouring from the ground.
How do I know the leak is on my service line and not the city's main?
If neighbors have low pressure too, suspect the main. If only your meter runs with the house shut off, the line between the meter and house is the likely culprit. Utility customer service can confirm where its side ends.
My meter is running with every fixture off. What now?
Close the main valve at the house and watch the dial again. If it stops, the leak is inside. If it still turns, the service line is leaking. Our leak detection page explains how we confirm.
Can you replace a service line without tearing up my yard?
Often, yes. Pipe lining and pipe bursting need small pits instead of a long trench. Soil, depth and the old pipe's condition decide.
I manage a rental in Dania Beach. Who pays?
That depends on your lease and local rules, which we cannot decide for you. We document what failed with photos and meter readings so owner and tenant can sort it out. We also take calls in nearby Pembroke Park. Call (954) 697-4920 if you need that record.
Code reference: plumbing work in Florida falls under the Florida Building Code, Plumbing (8th Edition, 2023), which is based on the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC). Ask the Dania Beach Building Division whether your job needs a permit.