Manchester, NH Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Who must fix leaks
- Owner, on-premises service pipes
- Cost
- Owner's own expense
- Frost protection
- Also owner's duty
- Liability
- Owner liable for resulting damage
- Police duty
- Report leaks/waste to Mayor
Summary
Manchester property owners must keep water service pipes on their premises in good repair and protected from frost, at their own cost, or answer for the damage a leak causes.
All persons taking the water shall keep the service pipes within their premises in good repair, and protected from frost, at their own expense, and they will be held liable for all damage which may result from their failure to do so. All repairs upon meters made necessary by the negligence of a building owner or occupants shall be made under the superintendence and direction of the Board of Water Commissioners and at the expense of the building owner. ('71 Code, § 26-24) (Ord. passed 10-26-65) Penalty, see § 10.99
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-25: current through Ord. passed 6-3-2025).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 51.03, everyone who takes city water is responsible for keeping the service pipes within their own premises in good repair and protected from frost, at their own expense: this is where leak repair duty sits, not with the Water Works. Owners who let a pipe fail are held liable for whatever damage results. If negligence by an owner or occupant forces a meter repair, the Board of Water Commissioners directs that work and bills the owner for it. Separately, § 51.09 puts a duty on city police to report any leakage, waste, or unnecessary profusion of water they notice to the Mayor, alongside water-ordinance violations.
Violations & Fines
Owner liable for all resulting property damage; meter repairs made necessary by owner/occupant negligence are billed to the owner; general water-ordinance penalty under § 10.99 also applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays to fix a leaking water service line in Manchester?
What happens if I don't fix a leak on my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manchester
Compare Manchester to another location·View the New Hampshire water use rules overview
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