# Los Angeles: Who Pays for the Water Service Line? | Who Pays the Repair?

> LADWP rules say its control and responsibility ends at its shut-off valve or meter; the service connection before that is maintained at its expense.

**Who pays:** shared

In Los Angeles, LADWP maintains the service connection from the main to its meter or shut-off valve, and its responsibility ends there.

**Boundary:** LADWP's water Service Connection runs from the distribution main to the meter or shutoff valve, and the Department's control and responsibility ends at its shut-off valve or meter; the Customer's lines and pipes lie beyond that point.

## Sources
- [Rules Governing Water and Electric Service, Rule No. 16 (Responsibility for Loss or Damage)](https://www.ladwp.com/sites/default/files/2023-11/Rules%20Governing%20Water%20%20Electric%20Service%20Oct%202008%20reso%20010%20331%20%20010%20362%20%20011%20121%20%20013%20115%20%20013%20246%20%20017%20180%20%20019%20170%20019%20201%20024%20028%20WEB%20101623.pdf) — "The Department's control and responsibility ends at its shut-off valve or meter, and the Department will in no case be liable for loss or damage on the Premises served" (accessed 2026-10-09)
- [Rules Governing Water and Electric Service, Rule No. 16 (Ownership)](https://www.ladwp.com/sites/default/files/2023-11/Rules%20Governing%20Water%20%20Electric%20Service%20Oct%202008%20reso%20010%20331%20%20010%20362%20%20011%20121%20%20013%20115%20%20013%20246%20%20017%20180%20%20019%20170%20019%20201%20024%20028%20WEB%20101623.pdf) — "All Service Connections, meters and valves, and housings installed by the Department or conveyed to the Department, however provided for, shall be the sole property of the City under the control of the Department, and will be maintained at the Department's expense except as otherwise provided in these Rules." (accessed 2026-10-09)
- [Rules Governing Water and Electric Service, Definitions](https://www.ladwp.com/sites/default/files/2023-11/Rules%20Governing%20Water%20%20Electric%20Service%20Oct%202008%20reso%20010%20331%20%20010%20362%20%20011%20121%20%20013%20115%20%20013%20246%20%20017%20180%20%20019%20170%20019%20201%20024%20028%20WEB%20101623.pdf) — "A water Service Connection consists of the pipe or tubing, fittings, valves, and related facilities necessary to conduct water from the distribution main to the meter or to the shutoff valve on an unmetered Service Connection" (accessed 2026-10-09)
- [Rules Governing Water and Electric Service, Inspection of Customer's Facilities](https://www.ladwp.com/sites/default/files/2023-11/Rules%20Governing%20Water%20%20Electric%20Service%20Oct%202008%20reso%20010%20331%20%20010%20362%20%20011%20121%20%20013%20115%20%20013%20246%20%20017%20180%20%20019%20170%20019%20201%20024%20028%20WEB%20101623.pdf) — "The Department does not assume the duty of inspecting the Customer's lines, pipes, appliances or apparatus, or any part thereof, nor assume any liability therefore." (accessed 2026-10-09)

_Last verified 2026-10-09. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/los-angeles-ca-water-service-line/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._