Boston, MA Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Boston Code of Ordinances Sec. 11-6.35
- Who is bound
- Every water taker (customer) in the city
- Core duty
- Keep service pipes repaired, frost-protected, no leaks
- Cost
- At the water taker's own expense
- Remedy for violation
- Shutoff of water, no abatement, indemnify city
- Shared-pipe penalty cap
- Up to $10 added charge to restore service
- Current administrator
- Boston Water and Sewer Commission (since 1977)
Summary
Boston Code of Ordinances Sec. 11-6.35 makes every water customer responsible for keeping their own service pipes in good repair, protected from frost, and free of leaks. The duty is a standing contract condition printed on every water bill, not a one-time inspection requirement, and it applies at the customer's own expense.
Every water taker shall pay the rates for water furnished on his or her application within the time and at the place specified in the bills therefor; shall, at his or her own expense, keep the service pipes within his or her premises, including any area or vault beneath the sidewalk, in good order and repair and protected from frost; shall not allow the water to leak away or run to waste... No water taker shall demand or be entitled to any abatement of his or her water rates for any year on account of the premises being vacated... nor shall any water taker demand or be entitled to any abatement of rates, compensation or damage on account of the shutting off, or the stopping of the use, of water for any cause.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-2: Current through Ordinance 2025 C. 14, passed 11-5-2025).
Full Breakdown
" The same subsection bars hose use without paying the applicable rate or meter charge, bars unapproved changes to pipes or fixtures, and requires the taker to let the Commissioner's staff enter the premises to inspect fixtures and check for unnecessary waste. " Subsection (C) bars diverting water to other premises or purposes without a written permit, and bars opening a city hydrant, except in a neighborhood fire. Subsection (E) lets the Commissioner require all new services to carry a meter, shut off water if a taker refuses a meter, and shut off an entire shared service pipe until every taker on it complies and all charges are paid.
An editor's note attached to this chapter records that the city's water and sewer works, and the duties tied to them, were transferred to the Boston Water and Sewer Commission by Chapter 436 of the Acts of 1977, so the Commission now administers these obligations day to day even though the duty itself remains codified in city ordinance.
Violations & Fines
A water taker who lets water leak or waste, or who otherwise violates Sec. 11-6.35, has no right to any rate abatement or damage claim over a resulting shutoff. Under subsection (A) the taker must indemnify the city for all damages it sustains or is required to pay from any violation. Under subsection (E), if a taker on a shared service pipe violates the regulations, the Commissioner may shut off water to every premises on that pipe until satisfied the rules will be followed, all amounts due are paid to the Collector-Treasurer, and up to $10 more is paid if the Collector-Treasurer requires it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for fixing a leaking water service pipe in Boston?
Can the city shut off my water if I don't fix a leak?
Can I get a rate reduction because my water was shut off for a leak?
Does the city or the Boston Water and Sewer Commission enforce this rule now?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boston
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Leak Reporting Duty in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle leak reporting duty.