Harrisburg, PA Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)

Section 9-701.4 of the Harrisburg Codified Ordinances, dating to Ord. No. 27-1918 and amended by Ord. No. 36-1986, puts the duty to fix service line leaks on the property side in the City of Harrisburg. Subsection A makes it the duty of the owners or occupants of all premises within the City to repair all leaks or breaks that occur in the water lateral lines which supply, have supplied, or are capable of supplying their premises. The clock is 72 hours after service of notice by the Director of Public Works or a designee.

Notice is considered properly served when it is left with an adult person residing upon or for the time in charge of the premises, so a notice handed to a tenant or left with the adult in charge starts the 72 hours even if the owner lives elsewhere.

Subsection B covers noncompliance. If any owner or occupant fails, refuses or neglects to comply with the notice, the Director may proceed forthwith to make or have made the necessary repairs and collect the cost from the owner or occupant according to law. The Director also has the right to cut off the water supply to the premises until the repairs are made or the cost is paid.

The context matters. Under Section 9-701.1, the rules and regulations of The Harrisburg Authority are adopted by reference and bind all customers, because the City water system was sold to The Harrisburg Authority in January 1990 and the City operates it under a management agreement. Section 9-701.3 gives an authorized agent of the Bureau of Water full access at all reasonable times to all parts of the premises to which water service is supplied for inspections. Section 9-701.8 says the water can be shut off for nonpayment, and a reconnect fee, a deposit and all arrearages and penalties must be paid before it is turned on again.